Robot conducts Detroit orchestra


A symphony orchestra was handed over to a robot for the first time this week when Honda's "Asimo" robot conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in a performance of "The Impossible Dream" prior to a Yo-Yo Ma concert on Tuesday.

"'It's exciting to see. The technology is mind boggling,' said bass trombone player Randall Hawes, who has played with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for 22 years. "I was struck by how fluid the walk was when it came out and how still it was."

But Hawes doesn't think the diminutive white robot will replace human conductors any time soon.

"We react to it. It doesn't react to us," he said. "That's the only thing that's missing. We knew when it was going to stop so we stopped."

The symphony extended the invitation to ASIMO earlier this year after Honda donated one million dollars to establish The Power of Dreams Music Education Fund, which will support music education to underserved children around Detroit.

(Via Towleroad)

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