Autosymphonic
For the 125th Birthday of the automobile, Elia composed the open-air multimedia symphony "autosymphonic", commissioned by the city of Mannheim. The one-hour-long symphony is scored for 265 musicians: for symphony orchestra, 81 cars and 120 percussionists, choir, children's choir, pop band, vocal ensemble, percussion octet, live electronics and a 360-degree sound system. There were 17 conductors involved in the performance. The premiere took place at the central square of Mannheim, Friedrichsplatz, and attracted an audience of 20,000 people . Horst Hamann created the visual staging of the symphony.
After a ten-month 'car-casting', Elia created the world's first car orchestra. The 81 cars of all eras and types were played by 120 pupils as 'instruments'.
Read more about this topic: Marios Joannou Elia