The Radio Science Orchestra
In 1994, Bruce returned to the stage with the Radio Science Orchestra – a theremin-led ensemble which included founder members composer/arranger Chris Elliott (Moulin Rouge!) and Andy Visser (ONL). Since then, the ensemble has given numerous performances – always promoting the theremin.
These events have included the Glastonbury Festival, with Moscow’s Lydia Kavina (inventor Leon Theremin’s great niece), a special live score for the first public showing of Ray Santilli’s notorious Alien Autopsy film, an interactive soundtrack for the Turner-nominated Superstructure With Satellites at the Tate Gallery, and a three month installation on London’s South Bank in 2004. Shell commissioned the weather-dependent "Electric Storm" which featured a 24 hour interactive soundtrack & 40 loudspeakers across the post- war site, with lights, music and artificial fog created from water which was pumped from the Thames. All the power for the show was derived from a huge wind turbine, specially installed alongside the Waterloo footbridge.
Also in 2004 Bruce and his son Kit took the Theremin and the Radio Science message to China, for a series of outdoor shows, attended by thousands of people, during Shanghai’s first International Pop Festival. The pair were presented with a special award of excellence to mark the occasion. This was the first time that the theremin had been played live in front of a Chinese audience.
Shortly after that, the RSO scored a three minute viral commercial for Greenpeace featuring a ‘Galaxy’ of British stars.
The association with Grace Jones continued with the RSO co-writing and producing the title track for The Avengers movie, sung by Miss Jones. When Jones appeared with Luciano Pavarotti, it was to sing the duet "Pourquoi me reveiller" arranged by Woolley and the RSO.
Woolley has demonstrated the Theremin in numerous Radio and Television broadcasts with appearances on MTV, EBN, BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC World Service Television News, ITV, Channel 1, Channel 4, Radio 2, (including the Chris Evans Drivetime show in February 2008) Radio 3 and Radio 4.
Read more about this topic: Bruce Woolley
Famous quotes containing the words radio, science and/or orchestra:
“Local television shows do not, in general, supply make-up artists. The exception to this is Los Angeles, an unusually generous city in this regard, since they also provide this service for radio appearances.”
—Fran Lebowitz (b. 1950)
“No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power.”
—Jacob Bronowski (1908–1974)
“As the artist
extends his world with
one gratuitous flourish—a stroke of white or
a run on the clarinet above the
bass tones of the orchestra ...”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)