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Historic special projects
Beethoven × Kalalumen: the Ninth in immersion
A historic concert. An extraordinary lighting creation. An immersive production entirely produced and directed by Cybel’Art for Virtual Hall®.
On 9 October 2025, Lausanne Cathedral hosted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as part of its 750th anniversary. Under Julien Laloux’s direction, the Sinfonietta de Lausanne, Ensemble vocal Arpège, the HEP Choir and four soloists brought orchestra and voices together. Renato Häusler, the creator of Kalalumen, devised a candlelit staging that revealed the architecture and accompanied the music.
Cybel’Art produced and directed the immersive version of this performance for Virtual Hall®: a real 360° recording that extends the encounter with the artists, the light and the setting.
Music, light and heritage
The Ninth is more than a monumental work. Here, it becomes an encounter between a live interpretation, a historic building and a movement of light. Thousands of candles reveal the cathedral’s spaces anew; nine lighting tableaux, described in the official programme, accompany the symphony’s journey towards the Ode to Joy.
The distinctive quality of this performance lies in the relationship between disciplines. Kalalumen’s lighting does not replace the music: it gives it a presence in space. The concert brings together guest artists and a choral community, including the HEP Choir, which comprises students and teachers.
The project belongs to the celebrations of Lausanne Cathedral’s 750th anniversary. The recording listed by Virtual Hall® documents the performance of 9 October 2025.
Cybel’Art: producing and directing the immersive experience
Cybel’Art was responsible for the entire production and direction of the immersive version for Virtual Hall®. Our work offers a new way to encounter a real performance, without recreating the artists or replacing their interpretation with a simulation.
The 360° recording allows viewers to look around and rediscover the relationship between the musicians, voices, light and architecture. The aim is not to add spectacle to an already spectacular concert. It is to convey a human presence and preserve the distinctive character of the moment.
This production reflects our approach as an agency for augmented opportunities: bringing creative work, production and distribution together to open new ways of discovering culture. Here, immersion serves a work, a heritage site and the people who bring them to life.
A collaboration with clearly identified roles
The lighting creation and staging are by Renato Häusler / Kalalumen. The musical performance is delivered by the Sinfonietta de Lausanne, choirs and soloists, under Julien Laloux’s direction. Cybel’Art produced and directed the immersive version for Virtual Hall®. These contributions complement one another, with each retaining its identity and credits.
Rediscover the concert with Virtual Hall®
The official concert page presents the artists, setting and date. It links to a Web 360° viewing page. This pathway allows visitors to discover the recording on a screen, then consult Virtual Hall®’s official information about experiences available with compatible headsets.
Access conditions, supported devices and availability are defined by Virtual Hall®. This page does not promise universal headset access or technical features that have not been confirmed.
View the official concert page
Open the Web 360° experience
Understand the Virtual Hall® experience
The concert in photographs
These photographs document the performance at Lausanne Cathedral: the illuminated nave and audience, a musician’s gesture and the lamp-bearers bringing the lighting creation to life. They are presented with permission confirmed by Cybel’Art and their original credits.
Explore Kalalumen’s complete gallery
Reporting on an extraordinary moment
24 heures — 7 October 2025
“Cathédrale de Lausanne: Renato Häusler l’illumine pour Beethoven” — Matthieu Chenal. This report introduces the preparation of Renato Häusler’s illumination of the Ninth for the cathedral’s 750th anniversary. Its public summary describes nine lighting tableaux and a major collective undertaking. The full article is reserved for subscribers.
Read the 24 heures article, in French
L’Événement syndical — 9 October 2025
“Chef d’orchestre, au cœur d’une passion” — Aline Andrey. This profile of Julien Laloux reports on a concert rehearsal and the encounter between musicians, singers and lamp-bearers. It explores the human dimension of a project that brings Beethoven’s music together with Kalalumen’s lighting creation.
Read the profile of Julien Laloux, in French
A voice from the cathedral
“Dorénavant, la 9ème sonnera lumineuse.”
Jacques Lettry, in a testimonial published by Kalalumen. In translation: “From now on, the Ninth will sound luminous.” His words describe the live cathedral performance, not a review of the virtual experience.
Read the testimonials collected by Kalalumen, in French
Questions about the project
Which performance of Beethoven’s Ninth is presented here?
This is Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, performed at Lausanne Cathedral for its 750th anniversary, with lighting by Kalalumen. The Virtual Hall® concert page lists the performance of 9 October 2025.
What was Cybel’Art’s role?
Cybel’Art entirely produced and directed the immersive version of this performance for Virtual Hall®. The lighting creation is credited to Kalalumen and musical direction to Julien Laloux.
Is this a real recording or a digital reconstruction?
It is a real audiovisual recording at 360°. It should not be confused with volumetric capture, a hologram or musician avatars.
Where can I discover the recording?
The official Virtual Hall® concert page links to the Web 360° experience. For headset-based virtual reality options, consult the official experience and compatibility information.
Performers and credits
- Work: Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125.
- Setting and context: Lausanne Cathedral, Switzerland — 750th anniversary.
- Listed performance: 9 October 2025.
- Orchestra: Sinfonietta de Lausanne.
- Choirs: Ensemble vocal Arpège and the HEP Choir.
- Conductor: Julien Laloux.
- Soloists: Gunhild Lang-Alsvik, soprano; Caroline Meng, alto; Manuel Günther, tenor; Christian Immler, bass. Names follow the Virtual Hall® concert page.
- Lighting creation and staging: Renato Häusler — Kalalumen.
- Immersive production and direction for Virtual Hall®: Cybel’Art.
- Photography: © Grégoire Fillion; © François Vittoz, as credited in the captions.
- Editorial presentation: Cybel’Art — prepared from project documentation and the public sources cited.
Virtual Hall® is a brand of the Fondation de l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, designed by Cybel’Art. The Ninth presented here is performed by the Sinfonietta de Lausanne and must not be attributed to the OSR.
Read the official Kalalumen programme, in French
View the Virtual Hall® concert page
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