Employing elements of architecture, content and, above all, music, Austria Expo 2025 pavilion in Osaka greets visitors with an audiovisual installation that brings its ‘Composing the Future’ theme to life, both artistically and technologically – a self-playing grand piano appears to interact live with an invisible orchestra in a perfectly synchronised performance by a Midi-controlled instrument with a multichannel audio recording.
Mozarteum Salzburg University was responsible for the technical realization of the elaborate sound installation, for which it relied on IP-based Lawo technology, production for the installation having taken place at the university’s Max Schlereth Hall. The production team used the IP-based Lawo production infrastructure installed there as part of a recent modernisation project: a 48-fader mc²56 production mixing console with redundant A__UHD core units, A__stage64 and A__mic8 audio I/O interfaces and IP networking via Lawo Home. This IP platform provides direct access to all networked resources and enables centralised configuration and system control via an intuitive user interface.
The orchestral recording was carried out in two stages. First, the piano part was played on a Bösendorfer Enspire grand piano with both its Midi data and audio signals recorded. In the next step, the audio tracks were played back to the conductor and the ensemble as a headphone guide – allowing the orchestra to perform in sync with the piano, without any acoustic interference from the instrument itself. Lawo A__stage interfaces were used to record the various instruments and sections with a 7.1 microphone array and additional spot mics, and the recording was mixed on an mc²56 audio console.
The console’s flexible routing and monitoring made it possible to precisely balance both the Midi-controlled grand piano and the orchestral recordings. With the help of dynamic automation functions and the integration of directly controllable Waves SuperRack plug-ins, a detailed sonic image was created – one that combines orchestral depth, spatial definition, and exceptional transparency.
In the pavilion, an automation system ensures that the musical installation operates reliably throughout the duration of the Expo. A media server controls both the Midi data for the Bösendorfer grand piano and the playback of the multichannel orchestral recording. Audio output is delivered via a room-tuned multichannel system, offering visitors an immersive listening experience – as if the piano and the orchestra were actually performing live in a premium concert hall. Although the perfect synchronisation of the physical grand piano with the recorded orchestral performance showcases the technical sophistication underpinning this project, visitors will first and foremost be struck by the emotional resonance it triggers.
Thanks to the integrated media and control systems at the pavilion, the playback environment is fully automated, redundantly secured, and designed for continuous operation with consistently high playback quality. The clarity and spatial dimension of the sound installation are largely made possible by the Lawo technology used for this production.
In preparation for such complex productions, the Mozarteum University Salzburg had modernised its audio control rooms. By choosing Lawo mc² consoles and transitioning to IP-based audio working, the university’s infrastructure meets the highest professional standards. The Home platform supports networked operation across multiple control rooms, offers swift access to all signals, and significantly simplifies session management.
This technical foundation has not only proven its worth in the Expo project, but also offers benefits in day-to-day academic applications. Students and staff gain hands-on experience with professional workflows – from microphone set-up and complex multitrack recording to automated mixing and final mastering. The installation created for the Expo is, therefore, more than just a showcase of Austrian innovation; it is also a milestone for hands-on education.
With this installation, Austria’s contribution to Expo 2025 sends a message: music as a bridge to the future, supported by technological excellence. Composing the Future in the truest sense.
More: www.lawo.com