According to Reuters, at the end of June, a robot named EveR 6 conducted a concert at the National Theater of Korea. This marked the first time a performance of this kind has been held in Korea.
Not dressed in the typical tailcoat of conductors, EveR 6 nonetheless managed to wield a baton to lead the musicians of the Korean National Orchestra. EveR 6 conducted 3 out of the 5 pieces performed during the evening, including a segment performed jointly with Mr. Choi Soo-yeoul, the principal conductor of the orchestra.
Robot EveR 6 conducts the symphony orchestra in Korea. (Photo: Reuters).
“The robot’s movements are very impressive. EveR 6 can perform much more detailed movements than I imagined,” shared Mr. Choi.
However, according to the Korean conductor, the biggest limitation of EveR 6 is its inability to hear. “The musicians made great efforts during rehearsals to understand the robot, knowing that it could not hear. The performance showcased the special connection between humans and machines in creating art,” Mr. Choi stated.
Attending the performance, Mr. Lee Young-ju, an audience member researching Korean music, noted that EveR 6 was very good at keeping tempo. However, the robot did not possess the ability to elevate the atmosphere of the performance to a climax like a human conductor could.
Another audience member, Song In-ho, also felt that EveR 6’s performance was at a basic level. “I believe it could do better if equipped with artificial intelligence to understand and analyze music,” Mr. Song remarked.
After the performance, EveR 6 bowed to the audience amid enthusiastic applause. According to Reuters, EveR 6 is a robot with two flexible arms, designed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology.
EveR 6 and conductor Choi Soo-yeoul. (Photo: Reuters).
