AI Brings Russian Composers to Life in Multimedia Symphony

A new Moscow performance uses artificial intelligence to animate historic composers and explore the intersection of classical music and modern technology.

Russia recently hosted an innovative exhibition as part of the multimedia performance 'Symphony of Innovations.' The event drew hundreds to the State Academic Maly Theater to experience classical music performed by international competition laureates — and to see what happens when neural networks meet Rachmaninoff.

In the theater’s foyer, the exhibition 'Dialogue of Art and Technology' offered a deeper dive into the fusion of old and new. Using AI, visitors could interact with digital installations about legendary composers like Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin, and Sergei Prokofiev. Most strikingly, AI-generated animations brought these figures to life, placing them virtually on the streets of modern-day Moscow.

Technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in Russia’s cultural scene. In one performance, an AI sang alongside a human vocalist, recreating the iconic duet from 'The Phantom of the Opera.' According to project organizers, neural networks are now being used to help create new compositions. However, these AI-generated works often resemble remixes of existing music.

AI is also gaining ground in Russian cinema. Neural networks are powering a television series about artificial intelligence itself, and full-length AI-assisted films have begun to earn acclaim on the international festival circuit.