A virtual reality opera and philosophical journey 

How do we relate to a world of fleeting things? Are you part of that world or just an observer? Are you a body or do you simply have one? Step into a VR adventure that explores the origins of melancholy. 

A reflective musical dreamscape
Songs for a Passerby is a virtual reality (VR) opera by Celine Daemen about our fragile and ever-changing relationship with a fleeting reality. Wearing a VR headset, you’re invited to explore a musical dreamscape at your own pace. Follow your own three-dimensional reflection through a series of scenes: a dying horse, a choir of murmuring voices, two dogs at play. Along the way, you’ll hear a choir singing as though the music is flowing through them rather than being created by them: light, elusive, and impossible to hold onto. 

An award-winning experience of melancholy
Songs for a Passerby won the Grand Prize at Venice Immersive 2023, part of the Venice Biennale. Inspired by the writings of philosopher-poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Celine Daemen seeks to evoke that familiar feeling of melancholy that many of us recognize.  A moment when we are no longer entirely one with the world, but find ourselves standing outside it.  

Discover what it feels like to be both a body moving through space and a mind observing it. 

How it works

Each visitor books an individual time slot of approximately 30 minutes. A new time slot starts every 15 minutes.

Coming with a group? Simply book multiple tickets for the same time slot.

Opening Times & Available Time Slots

• Thursday 21 January and Friday 22 January: admission starts at 6.00 pm. The last available time slot begins at 10.30 pm.
• Saturday 23 January: admission starts at 2.00 pm. The last available time slot begins at 10.30 pm.