Thu 12 Jun 2025 - Sun 29 Jun 2025
From Dust
Michel van der Aa
From Dust

From Dust

Michel van der Aa
Thu 12 Jun 2025 - Sun 29 Jun 2025
Thu 12 Jun 2025
-
Sun 29 Jun 2025

Program

Michel van der Aa From Dust (1 hour)

Credits

Michel van der Aa direction, composition, script 
Sjaella (Helene Erben) vocal ensemble
Madelon Kooijman dramaturgy
Roland Smeenk lead developer
Rens van de Wiel (lead), Quint Vrolijk technical artist 
Stein van de Ven (lead), Glenn Wustlich (characters), Bas Jansen 3D artist
Niels Weber animation
Michael Hussar, Sean Simon Al integration developers
Iris van Wees digital clothing designer
Ruud op den Kelder VFX developer
Judith de Zwart stylist Sjaella
Bart Wagemakers (Exalto Studio) vocal recording engineer
Aram Balian, Daniëlle de Jonge production
Rosita Wouda (doubleA) financial director
Norman Vladimir Smith publiciteit 
Het Nieuwe Kader, Niels Bosch Xsense mocap
Tomas Valecka sound engineer
Arjen Oosterbaan mocap production
Joost Rietdijk director of photography
Rens van de Wiel tooling face recording
 Anne van Brunschot, David Wolfswinkel direction assistant

with thanks to Eric Chang (Reallusion), Marek Simonik (Record 3D), Sebastian Kox (Innovatie:Lab), Abdelhadi Baaddi (Innovatie:Lab), Roelof Terpstra (Virtueel Nederlands Heren), Edwin Vermeulen 

commissioned by De Doelen with additional support by Holland Festival

In this revolutionary VR opera-installation, you’re not a spectator but an active co-creator. From Dust by Michel van der Aa (Oss, 1970) is aided by AI and creates a tailor-made world that takes shape based on your choices and interactions: a journey you won’t forget any time soon.

The experience lasts one hour and includes an intake, followed by 24 minutes of participation in a personalized story. Six singers from vocal ensemble Sjaella lead you through a magical world, where everything you see, hear and feel is uniquely yours. You enter a dark space wearing VR glasses. In front of you, a swarm of particles appears, which change shape when touched and come to life. Your movements determine how the story unfolds.

Van der Aa breaks new ground once again, building on his internationally lauded VR installation Eight (Holland Festival 2019), which the New York Times called ‘a breakthrough for virtual reality in classical music.’ This work touches on themes characteristic of his oeuvre: the loss of humanity, the thin line between reality and fiction, and the influence of technology on our perception.

Please note: From Dust is a personal experience. Therefore, only 1 ticket per timeslot is available.

From Dust is not recommended for individuals with severe fear of heights, claustrophobia, heart conditions, back problems, a history of seizures, epilepsy, or sensitivity to flashing lights. Not recommended for visitors under the age of 12.

In the weekend of 21-22 June, 750 years Amsterdam will be celebrated on the A10 ring road. For this, Ring West, South and East (between the exit to the A5 and the exit to the A1) will be closed. As a result, Muziekgebouw will be less accessible by car.