‘Shimmer and sparkle’: Hull Phil to use lasers for first time in season finale

RUSSIAN PROGRAMME: Musical director Simon Chalk

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Hull Philharmonic Orchestra is promising a dazzling and spectacular finale to its 2025/26 concert season next month by using a laser light show for the first time.

The orchestra is joining forces with city-based Indigo Shiba lasers for its Jewels of the East concert at Hull City Hall on Saturday, May 9.

‍The event will be further enhanced by animated projections from Hull’s Feral Art School.

The programme of Russian music culminates in Mussorgsky’s iconic Pictures at an Exhibition in which the artwork will be brought to life with projection mapping. The laser show will create a “liquid sky” effect that can be experienced by the audience from above and below.

It is the first time the orchestra has used laser technology in a concert, and organisers say the performance will “literally shimmer and sparkle”. The effects have been specially designed to enhance the Russian-themed programme adding a new dimension to the concert experience.

‍‍Peter Walker, chair of Hull Philharmonic, said the orchestra was keen to experiment with combining music and technology and to connect with other local arts organisations.

‍‍“We are thrilled that we are able to showcase the work of Feral Art School by utilising the expertise at Indigo Shiba Lasers, while giving our concert-goers an alternative way to appreciate this brilliant programme of music,” he said.

Conducted by musical director Simon Chalk, the full programme comprises Shostakovich’s celebratory Festive Overture, Ustvolskaya’s evocative Symphonic Poem No 1, Glazunov’s panoramic Summer from the Seasons and Mussorgsky’s magnificent Pictures at an Exhibition orchestrated by Ravel.

‍‍Chris Atkin, who runs Indigo Shiba Lasers, is no stranger to enhancing live music. He works with many established electronic music acts and promoters including Déjà vu Events, Café Mambo Ibiza Classics in the Park and the three-day Parklands Festival.

‍The concert starts at 7.30pm with a pre-concert talk free to ticket holders at 6.30pm.

Tickets are priced from £8.50 to £31 and concessions are available

You can book from the Hull Box Office here.