Opening concert – fathom

The opening concert of Ultima 2024 plunges listeners into an ocean of sound. fathom is a new collaboration between three pioneers of spatial audio art, Chris Watson, Jana Winderen and Tony Myatt. Inviting the listener on a sonic journey from the Oslo fjord to the ancient bed of the Norwegian Sea, it fills the Oslo City Hall with marine sound environments, using live three-dimensional spatial audio projection.

Voyage down the Oslofjord to Skagerrak, where powerful currents sweep north to break on the rock faces of the Lofoten archipelago. Above and below the surface, arctic currents mix and merge with thriving and diverse communities of wildlife. These are highly evolved, complex and fragile species now threatened by industrial exploitation. The currents carry the listener on to Jan Mayen and soundtracks from seabed to the mountain summit. Here, evolving over millennia, the ocean has its own deep voice. When allowed to speak, it offers the most eloquent appeal for its own survival.

NB: The concert is free and does not require an entrance ticket. However, we ask the audience to arrive well before the concert starts due to security checks at the entrance!

Curious to learn more about the hidden sounds of the ocean?
Listen to our micropod audioguide here, where Chris Watson and Jana Winderen discuss the creation of fathom with Rob Young, covering musical references, the concept behind the piece, and how they captured the sounds of the Norwegian Sea.