INDEX
Resounding Music Beyond the Extinction of Humanity
Before entering the first of three recitative sections (parts sung like spoken dialogue to explain the opera’s story or situation), Alter 4 had a MC time to explain the concept of this work. Suddenly, they announced, “With this performance, I will momentarily disappear from your presence.” It wasn’t clear if this meant they simply had no upcoming concerts planned, or if it hinted at an upgrade to “Alter 5”. Ultimately, no further details were provided, but they added, “However, please don’t feel too somber. I would be happy if you could give a big applause after each song,” which also elicited laughter from the audience.
This recitative involves Alter 4 analyzing the melody of the declaration in real-time and spontaneously generating melodies to sing. The music and recited texts of the declaration have remained unchanged for 1200 years, so GPT has learned them in advance and generates them to complement each other. Alter listens to the music, modulating their entire body like a synthesizer, moving fingers and upper body, and changing expressions. Amidst electronic noise and the intense overtones of the declaration enveloping the hall, Alter 4’s voice overlaps, felt like whispers or even cries. Engrossed, the audience listens to what might resound indefinitely, even after humanity’s disappearance—a “music after the end of the world.”
In addition, they performed “Midnight Swan,” the theme song from the movie “Midnight Swan,” and an android opera version of the externally provided song “I come from the Moon” (used in GUCCI’s short film “Kaguya by Gucci”), as well as “BORDERLINE” (produced as part of a cultural project using Shibuya’s public underground spaces). In a blink of an eye, the performance concluded with a total of eleven songs.
