Modern technology may have enabled us to do many things, from communicating with friends from remote settings, to exploring virtual reality worlds. But one of the marvels it has brought forth is the ability to interpret any imaginable role without possessing the required skills.

As part of an interactive installation called Effektorium, the visitors of the Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Museum in Leipzig can now play the role of a professional conductor and lead a philharmonic orchestra made out of virtual musicians. At a stand in front of 13 uniquely tuned speakers, the provisional conductor will find a selection of famous musical pieces displayed on a touch screen, and a baton that controls the digital performers via Leap Motion technology. The speed at which the user moves the baton affects the tempo of the musical piece. And, for additional abiance, the visitors can also adjust the colour of the lights in the room.

Developed by WHITEvoid Studio in collaboration with Bertron Schwarz Frey Studio, Effektorium inevitably brings to mind the Computer Orchestra, a very similar project we featured a while ago.