Second Life Orchestra

Posted by Sarah Canice Funke Sep 1, 2007

Lose the coat and tails. Now you can enjoy a night at the symphony in the comfort of your own home. Taking advantage of the increasing popularity of the online virtual community Second Life, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is set to perform what the BBC describes as the "first professional music concert" on September 14.

Within Second Life, users can navigate through buildings, shops, and landscapes, communicating with other users via chat. Users choose characters, called avatars, which they then maneuver through the virtual community. Real money is also exchanged, as users buy virtual clothes in virtual shops or purchase virtual islands where their avatars can live.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic won't be the first time that musicians have entered the virtual world of Second Life. Warner Brothers advertises Regina Spektor through a virtual New York loft. Another user poses as U2 and streams the Irish band's music to Second Life. However, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is supposedly the first musical group to actually stream their own music as a live concert.

For a brief introduction to Second Life, please view this short video.