“Science and music collide in ‘Black Hole Symphony’ at the Museum of Science”
— Karen Campbell, Boston Globe
“In its dedication to the new and unknown, Black Hole Symphony inspires as much as it informs.”
— New Scientist, Bethan Ackerly

BLACK HOLE SYMPHONY is an immersive production from the Museum of Science, Boston and Multiverse Concert Series, scored by composer David Ibbett. Audiences embark on an symphonic journey through spacetime, performed by a live orchestra accompanied by stunning, immersive visuals by the animators of the Charles Hayden Planetarium - either flatscreen or planetarium format.

  • The show has reached over 5,000 audience members in 30+ performances in full symphony and chamber-electronics versions.

This revolutionary show is a unique collaboration between astrophysicists of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and Black Hole Initiative, animators from the Museum of Science, Boston. Composer David Ibbett has sonified (light->sound) the light of black hole galaxies as musical notes and chords, woven into a dramatic electro-symphonic score that reveals a hidden universe beyond the scope of our eyes. Over the course of an evening, audiences are plunged into deep space riding relativistic jets of plasma, guided through the dense dust torus, broad-line clouds, and ultimately reach the blazing accretion disk on the event horizon of a supermassive black hole.

Testimonials from Orchestras

Maestro Jeffrey Dokken, Rome Symphony

“Working with composer David Ibbett on Black Hole Symphony was an absolute delight. The composition itself is remarkable— musically accessible and engaging, melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically intricate, rocking and energizing, and deeply beautiful—and then you remember that it is rooted in actual groundbreaking science, and your mind is completely blown. The music is simply extraordinary. Ibbett’s ability to blend science and music is second to none, and the overall experience he and his team have created—with narration, educational elements, a spectacular soprano solo as part of the symphony, and stunning visuals—made the concert unforgettable to be part of. It was a tremendous honor to conduct the full symphony premiere, and I have no doubt that this work is destined for a long and impactful life. To top it all off, David is a wonderful collaborator and an even better person.”

Tian Hui Ng, New England Philharmonic

"David Ibbett brings the symphonic world into dialogue with the most exciting developments in the scientific world. Our audiences have been dazzled, transported, and have fallen in love with music in a whole new way."

Deanna Hoying, Orchestral Manager Symphony New Hampshire

"Symphony New Hampshire’s partnership with the Multiverse Concert Series opened new pathways to audiences we might not otherwise reach. By blending orchestral performance with immersive, cross-disciplinary experiences, we engage curious listeners in fresh and unexpected ways—reinforcing our commitment to innovation, accessibility, and the evolving role of the orchestra today."

Interested in booking or performing Black Hole Symphony?

Versions available symphony orchestra, chamber or quintet with electronics.

Contact connect@multiverseseries.org

“Bringing the science of the universe to everyday listeners through music.”
— GBH News
“Science and music illuminated the wonders of the larger cosmos within that seemingly microcosmic dome”
— Stephanie Oestereich, Boston Music Intelligencer

Images from the Rome Symphony of Georgia, 2025

Black Hole Symphony’s score is informed by science: the sonification of astrophysics data

Read the Cosmic Traveler’s Guide:
the show accompanying booklet on the rich science of black holes and how this data is woven into music

Images from our 2023 Tour to the National Academy of Sciences, DC

Photos © Bruce Guthrie

Black Hole Symphony Feature on GBH News with
Jim Braude and Margery Eagan

(music starts at 2h 15 min)

Clips from the Score

Images from the Visuals and Premiere Performance

Photos by Rajarajan Palanimurugan

 
 

The Black Hole Symphony Team

Produced By
Museum of Science, Boston
Multiverse Concert Series

Science
Anna Barnacka, Lead Scientist, Harvard CFA
Mojegan Azadi, Harvard CFA
Martin Elvis, Harvard CFA
Peter Galison, Harvard University
Fabio Pacucci, Black Hole Initiative
Priya Natarajan, Yale, Black Hole Initiative
Dan Schwartz, Harvard CFA

Animation
The Museum of Science, Boston

Music
David Ibbett, composer, conductor

The Multiverse Symphony Players:
Agnes Coakley - soprano
Johnny Mok - cello
Matt Russo - guitar
Ryan Shannon - violin
Jessica Smith - flute/piccolo