The second quantum revolution as a musical spectacle: Lasers, mirrors, non-linear crystals—an experimental setup from the hi-tech laboratory in the middle of Linz’s St. Mary’s Cathedral. Entangled photons—the quanta of light—become conductors and direct Bruckner’s Perger Präludium in a way that no human could. The cathedral organists play live on the two resounding church organs and fill the Mariendom’s spectacular acoustic space. BruQner shows us a new view of our reality—a world premiere!
Anton Bruckner’s work is an integral part of music history and is recognized far beyond the country’s borders. Austria is also internationally renowned for its contributions to quantum physics—not least thanks to the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics. In BruQner, these two worlds meet. Using a musical interpretation of a so-called ‘Bell Test’, striking passages from Bruckner’s work are made audible in a new way. A sensual symbiosis of music, visuals and modern research is created.
BruQner is one of the first attempts in the world to work musically with quantum mechanics. Entangled photon pairs from lasers will take on the role of a conductor and show the incredible findings of the second quantum revolution in a performance. BruQner is completely committed to the festival motto of ‘Tradition, Innovation and Avant-Garde’. Marvel with us and hear the future potential in Bruckner’s music!
Photo: Reinhard Winkler
Photo: Martin Ringbauer, Philipp Haslinger
Bio
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Photo: Alexander-GotterClemens Wenger
AT
Clemens Wenger, born 1982, lives and works in Vienna as musician and composer of contemporary jazz, pop and electronic music. “Clemens Wenger has long become a key figure of the young scene in Vienna (…)“, Klaus Nüchtern writes in his portrait in FALTER magazine. Wenger initiated the JazzWerkstatt Wien, has directed this collective of musicians for 20 years now and heads the popular Viennese soul band 5/8erl in Ehr’n.
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Photo: Richard KüngRichard Küng
AT
Richard Küng is full professor for Computing Technologies at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. As of 2024, he is also an elected member of the youth wing of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Küng pursues an interdisciplinary research agenda at the intersection of computer science (algorithms and computational complexity), physics (quantum information and quantum technologies) and applied mathematics (convex geometry and high dimensional probability theory).
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Photo: Philipp HaslingerEnar de Dios Rodríguez
ES
Enar de Dios Rodríguez is a research-based visual artist. Her multidisciplinary work has been exhibited internationally at a wide range of institutions including Kunsthalle (Vienna), MAXXI (Rome), Kunsthall 3,14 (Bergen), Dazibao (Montreal) and Condeduque (Madrid). Her audiovisual works have been also presented at film festivals such as Kasserler Dokfest and DokuFest. She is a member of The Golden Pixel Cooperative and Junior Fellow at the ifk International Research Center for Cultural Studies.
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Photo: Martin RingbauerMartin Ringbauer
AT
Martin Ringbauer is assistant professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. He received his PhD in experimental quantum physics from the University of Queensland for his work on fundamental questions in quantum physics. Since 2023 he leads an independent research group in Innsbruck focusing on the development of new approaches to quantum computing and simulation.
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Photo: Johannes KoflerJohannes Kofler
AT
Johannes Kofler is a Senior Lecturer in the field of quantum information science at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria. He received his PhD from the University of Vienna in theoretical quantum physics. His research covers topics in quantum foundations (in particular Bell tests), quantum optics, quantum metrology and machine learning.
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Photo: Elisabeth PeheimAlexander Ploier
AT
Alexander Ploier is a junior researcher at the Institute for Integrated Circuits at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. His multidisciplinary research work has been published in fields ranging from mathematics to quantum computing. His current research focus is the combination of science and art, and especially on how to make high-end research more accessible to people not studying in this field.
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Photo: Benjamin OrthnerBenjamin Orthner
AT/GH
Benjamin Orthner, born in Austria and raised in Ghana, is an experimental physicist at the Vienna University of Technology. Returning to Austria for his higher education, he is currently completing his master’s thesis on designing, building and controlling the optical setup for the BruQner—The Sound of Entanglement project. Orthner’s previous research experience includes work in nanophotonics and computational material science, particularly developing new methods for detecting nanoplastics.
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Photo: Enar de Dios RodriguezPhilipp Haslinger
AT
Philipp Haslinger studied physics and mathematics at the University of Vienna and UC Berkeley. Since 2018, supported by the FWF Start Prize, he leads a research group at the Vienna University of Technology. Currently, his work focuses on experimental quantum mechanics and the search for dark energy using atom interferometry. Furthermore, he is part of the science-art collective SEEC Photography, whose work has been exhibited internationally, and other artistic projects related to quantum physics, visual arts and music.
Credits
A project by OÖ KulturEXPO Anton Bruckner 2024 in cooperation with Ars Electronica with the kind support of LIT-JKU, VCQ, the University of Innsbruck, TU Wien, SFB—beyondC and the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Vienna.
