Ardesco collaborates with internationally known ink brush painter Sungsook Setton to tell a story of the search for a meaningful simplicity. Paintings emerge in a mysterious and engaging multimedia world in counterpoint to music by Beethoven, Stravinsky, Ligeti, Meyer, Zorn, Yun, Gubidulina, Robison and Walker.

Each of three acts represent in turn; spring (emergence), summer-fall (abundance) and winter (purification). A guide, part visual gesture, part music and musician will lead the audience and performers on this fascinating journey.

Demo available at: http://ardesco.org/multimedia.php

Astralis explores mans' relation to the stars through a visual and musical history of our conception of the universe. Compositions spanning nearly the complete canon of western music provide counterpoint to images of stars, constellations, planets and galaxies blended by a subtle play of light over a simple set of scrims. Astralis consists of 9 chamber works with an interlude improvised by a single member of the group performed between each piece. There is no text.

Demo available at: http://ardesco.org/multimedia.php

A contemporary multimedia retelling of one of the great novels of all time. Ardesco collaborates with downbeat magazine 5-time Best Trombonist of the Year Ray Anderson, tuba great Bob Stewart and internationally renowed percussionist Pheeroan akLaff to tell a story about the intersection of ideals and reality and the triumph of the imagination. Set between the 1920s jazz world and 16th century Spain, Quixote Dreaming is a meditation on life, media and the power of the human spirit.

See the roster of musicians and artists joining Ardesco for this unique production.

The ideas of pioneering artist Robert Smithson provide the context for a completely immersive multimedia experience. Placing the Audience in the midst of 4 wide format screens and 8 channel audio, compelling 20 century art philosophy will be presented through images ranging from 3D animations of urban landscape to flights of birds, from the motion of the subway to the turbulence of ocean waves. During the 1.5 hour performance the audience and performers will interact through visceral images and sounds, some familiar to the local audiences some new. Through melodies and sound tapestries mediated by Smithson's important and intriguing ideas, Ardesco will explore the importance of art and how it affects culture and society.

A multimedia mandala, The Compassionate Mountain will tell the unique tale of a journey to enlightenment through the original performance paintings of world renowned banner maker John Dugger, the film and photographs of National Geographic Photographer Joy Tessman. Mandala: Compassionate Mountain explores the physical and conceptual relationships mountain landscape, Buddhist philosophy and culture and the emerging ontology of networks both virtual and real. The nature of the in between, borderlands, illusion, and transcendence will influence an aesthetic process and experience. The music and vast imagry of Tibet will serve as inspiration for a 1.5 hour multimedia presentation featuring the latest CAD and 3D technology as well as the unique art of Tibetan banner makers and mandala craftsmen placed in counterpoint to live performance of classic and original compositions by Tibetan musician and the Ardesco Ensemble. Mandala will serve to both unify a diverse group of artists and musicians as well as providing a paradigm for large scale multimedia production. It should be an incredible journey. As we work to tell the tale of a unique mountain culture and how it's ideas are relevant in this high paced, transitional multinational civilization we live in, we hope our friends will stop by to look and comment as they join this artistic community. The resulting 1.5 hour multimedia mandala will initiate audiences into the fascinating and enchanting world of Buddhist symbols in todays technological landscape.

The New Music Consortium is cooperative of universities and professionals designed to promulgate and disseminate the creative output from the students and faculty in its member institutions. The consortium of 6 participating university music departments in collaboration with Ardesco, Inc. and several major concert venues throughout the North East will provide a yearly series of 6 concerts representing the best new works from each collaborating university's composition professors and students. Works from two different universities will be featured at each of three concert tours, spread throughout the academic year. The tours will include lecture demonstrations and outreach programs to introduce this music to young audiences. At the close of the last series, a selection of works from the year's concerts will be performed in a tour of major halls on the eastern seaboard. The NMC will bring the newest ideas in music to curious audiences throughout the northeast.

Casting and Calling is a solo multimedia event featuring three original compositions for violin and surround sound tape and electronics by Benjamin Robison, two oil paintings by Leemour Pelli and lighting design by Elizabeth Silver. A dark warehouse environment will highlight the iconographic nature of the pieces while the audience is immersed in sound.