The Universe at an Exhibition - Allentown Band's 2025 Family Concert at Miller Symphony Hall

Overview

The “Universe at an Exhibition” consists of a live performance of “Pictures at an Exhibition” by the Allentown Band, accompanied by a high-definition science film produced specifically for Mussorgsky’s masterwork. The presentation connects astronomy, photography, and music to enhance understanding. The Award-Winning Film features images, animations, and science visualizations from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), as well as historical illustrations aimed to inspire audiences to encourage them to learn more about the music and the universe. The performance includes an introduction by Dr. Salgado about the music, science and creative process involved in creating the film.

José Francisco Salgado, PhD, is an Emmy-nominated astronomer (BS in Physics, Univ. of Puerto Rico; PhD in Astronomy, Univ. of Michigan), experimental photographer, visual artist, and public speaker who creates multimedia works that communicate science in engaging ways. He works as an astronomer and science visualizer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. As a co-founder of KV 265, a non-profit science and arts education organization, Dr. Salgado collaborates with symphony orchestras, concert bands, composers, and electronic and chamber musicians to present films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about the Earth and the Universe. His “Science and Symphony” films have been presented more than 90 times in 14 countries with orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. His films “Gustav Holst’s The Planets” and “Astronomical Pictures at an Exhibition” were named by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO as Special Projects for the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009).