Hanging three flights of stairs above The Shed‘s McCourt space at Hudson Yards, a 65-foot-diameter sphere floats in mid-air. With its glowing lights and breathtaking facade, Sonic Sphere looms mesmerizingly at 34 feet above the ground. Its interior is adorned with over 100 speakers scattered about in order to give guests an out-of-body musical and visual experience.
Sonic Sphere, The Shed, New York, June 16 – July 30, 2023. Photo: Ahad Subzwari. Courtesy The Shed.
Guests climb roughly 50 steps to enter the concert hall through a haze of colored lights and ethereal music. Upon entering, they take their seats in a netted seating area with their bodies angled toward the ceiling in order to obtain the full effect. As the show begins, the netting that forms the seats begins to vibrate along with the music. The Sphere’s many lights change in time with the rhythm, offering a complete multi-sensory journey.
Sonic Sphere, The Shed, New York, June 16 – July 30, 2023. Photo: Ahad Subzwari. Courtesy The Shed.
Lights blossom and move in patterns that cover every inch of the Sphere, transporting guests out of the building and into what feels like a different space as they are encompassed by this otherworldly experience. The music drifts out of speakers surrounding each listener from every side, ultimately swallowing them up in its beats and vibrations.
Located at 545 W 30th Street, from now until July 30th The Shed‘s Sonic Sphere will feature an impressive list of dynamic artists curated by Artistic Director Alex Poots, including The xx, Carl Craig, Steve Reich,Madame Gandhi, and Yaeji. The massive sphere can accommodate 250 visitors at a time for its 45-minute shows, some of which are live while others are pre-recorded.
On June 30th and July 1st Sonic Sphere will welcome world-renowned pianist Igor Leviton to perform Morton Feldman’s Palais de Mari. His performance will be accompanied by distinctive visual art created by Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija.
Sonic Sphere, The Shed, New York, June 16 – July 30, 2023. Photo: Ahad Subzwari. Courtesy The Shed.
The Sphere is based on an idea originally proposed by German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. shStockhausen designed a nearly spherical concert hall in 1970. Before coming to Manhattan, the Sphere popped up around the globe at Chateau du Feÿ’s creative commune, London, Mexico, Black Rock City, and Miami.
Sonic Sphere at The Shed is possible through the dedication of many forward-thinking architects including Ed Cooke, Merijn Royaards, and Nicholas Christie in addition to the greater Sonic Sphere team. The minds behind the sphere aim to create a space that focuses on reinvention and challenges the traditional relationship between technology and experience.
Sonic Sphere, The Shed, New York, June 16 – July 30, 2023. Photo: Ahad Subzwari. Courtesy The Shed.
“We are excited to bring this architectural, experiential statement to the middle of the most vibrant city in the world. This spherical concert hall asks questions about the type of architecture that best serves our cities and communities. How can it adapt to our changing societal needs, bringing us together at a time when technology is driving us apart,” the team stated.
Sonic Sphere, The Shed, New York, June 16 – July 30, 2023. Photo: Ahad Subzwari. Courtesy The Shed.
Tickets can be purchased on The Shed’s website and guests are encouraged to wear flat-soled shoes and be mindful of small personal items that could become loose and fall from the sphere.
