Charl and Adonis, principal avatars at combinedstory caught a live performance of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in SL. Here’s to forward looking arts organizations!

Here are some facts about the performance. Please refer to our flickr set for more photos.

• The program consisted of work by Kenneth Hesketh, John McCabe, Ravel, and Rachmaninov
• The RLPO purchased two islands to accommodate 40 or more avatars
• The avatars received tickets from a lottery on their web site relating to Second Life
• There was no real-time performer animation but rather video piped into Second Life from their live concert
• The audio/video feed was serviceable
• There has been significant buzz about this concert in Second Life related press, blogs, and web sites (my friends were jealous of the tickets)
• The capacity was close to full
• The RLPO created a virtual rendition of their concert hall
• The RLPO created a group to limit guests
• Avatars were attired in formal wear and respected traditional concert etiquette
• Their director of marketing of the RLPO was present and had an avatar
• The event manager was Texas Arizona (waiting to confirm design shop that produced it)
• The CEO of Linden Lab, the company that makes Second Life was present and had an avatar along with other senior members of the company (as best as we could identify!)

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is said become the first to perform a professional music concert in Second Life. The concert is to take place in an exact replica of the hall, which in RL is based in north-west England. During the live performance, avatars will be able to listen and watch the orchestra play in the 3D replica of the space.

The concert will feature works from Rachmaninov, Ravel and contemporary Liverpool composers John McCabe and Kenneth Hesketh, and will be conducted by its principal conductor Vasily Petrenko, as reported by The Sunday Morning Herald.

[Chronos Performing]

The organizers of the event said the audience will be able to interact with each other, purchase refreshments, and at the end of the concert will have the opportunity to chat to the orchestra’s conductor Vasily Petrenko [well, his avatar] and performers in the virtual bar.

This is a fairly big initiative for music in Second Life, as the organizers have said, where they hope to attract a global audience while giving greater access to classical music.