Ars Electronica turns Linz cathedral into a musical instrument
Thursday 10th September 2026 on 05:15 in
Austria
Ars Electronica officially opened at Linz Cathedral on Wednesday evening, with the church itself transformed into a musical instrument, according to ORF. The festival’s programme brought together five centuries of music history, electronic soundscapes, dance and new forms of performance.
This year’s festival explores what it means to be human under the title “Negotiating Humanity – Future Begins”. The opening addressed that question through music and performance as well as discussion.
From Tallis to Messiaen
The Company of Music, conducted by Johannes Hiemetsberger, performed vocal music by Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis. The Bruckner Orchestra Linz, led by Markus Poschner, played the prelude from Richard Wagner’s “Parsifal”, György Ligeti’s “Lontano” and Olivier Messiaen’s “L’Ascension – Quatre méditations”.
Traditional concert music met contemporary sound art as Japanese composer and sound artist evala and soprano Ayako Tanaka turned the cathedral into an instrument. Electronically processed sounds and Tanaka’s voice were combined with the architecture of the church interior. The installation can also be experienced at the cathedral during the rest of the festival.
Dance and new music
TANZ LINZ presented an excerpt from “Worship”, a new production by Drew Jacoby about ritual, community and devotion. In the cathedral, movement, sound and architecture merged into an immersive experience. The full production will premiere at the Musiktheater Linz on September 26.
“RISE” by Crystn Hunt Akron was also presented for the first time. The composition explores resilience and the process of becoming. Cathedral organist Gerhard Raab provided another musical highlight on the Rudigier organ with works by Olivier Messiaen.
The opening at Linz Cathedral reflected the festival’s broader focus on encounters between tradition and technology, and between humans and machines, as well as on how people want to shape their shared future.
This year, Ars Electronica is using Linz’s entire city centre as a stage, with more than 40 venues. The festival runs until September 13.