How To Build An Orchestra, a free interactive installation at Yamaha Music London, uses Yamaha’s Sound xR Image technology to turn the LSO’s new recording of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker into a virtual orchestra visitors can walk through.
This December, Yamaha Pro Audio and the London Symphony Orchestra are partnering on How To Build An Orchestra*, a free, family-focused experience in the heart of London. Visitors can stand in the conductor’s position and feel the energy of a symphony orchestra at first hand, then walk through the virtual orchestra section by section, activating strings, woodwind, brass and percussion individually and combining them to build the full performance.
A multitrack Nutcracker
Conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and recorded by the orchestra’s label, LSO Live, the multitrack recording was made at LSO St Luke’s, the orchestra’s home in a Grade I listed church, whose ambience brings all the light, shade and drama of Tchaikovsky’s music to life. Yamaha’s Sound xR Image technology transforms it into a hands-on virtual orchestra.
The system
The installation is based on a Yamaha DME7 digital mixing engine running Sound xR Image, with four XMV8280-D multichannel amplifiers powering an immersive array of VXS5 full-range speakers and VXS10ST subwoofers, chosen for their high-quality reproduction and discreet size.
With the speakers placed in the same positions as the sections of the orchestra, Sound xR Image reproduces the spatial position of each section precisely. The scalability of Sound xR means the intensity of the orchestra can be experienced in a space measuring 8 by 4 metres, a more compact footprint than has typically been available at a London attraction.
The system was first set up at Yamaha UK’s Milton Keynes headquarters, where it was tuned by Yamaha’s Tom Rundle with Mike Walker of Loh Humm Audio, a company known for its work on the audio quality of theatre experiences. It was then moved to Yamaha Music London’s historic piano hall, which still features cabinets designed to display sheet music by composers such as Handel and Bach.
We are proud to partner with the LSO for this free, family-friendly attraction, which demonstrates how Sound xR can be used to create fully interactive experiences at a small scale. Yamaha has always been associated with education, helping people of all ages to be inspired by music. We hope this installation will help people to get into the festive spirit and be one of London’s go-to attractions in December, said Alex Warren, Manager, Pro Audio Yamaha UK.
How To Build An Orchestra opens on Saturday 28 November and runs throughout the festive period, except 25 and 26 December, at Yamaha Music London, 152-160 Wardour Street, W1F 8YA. Times and tickets are available through the How To Build An Orchestra page on Eventbrite. The LSO’s new recording of The Nutcracker is released for streaming and download on Friday 4 December 2026.
* The experience is named after the children’s book by Mary Auld, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, produced in association with the LSO and Hachette Children’s Group.
Products used: Yamaha DME7 with Sound xR Image, 4 XMV8280-D amplifiers, VXS5 speakers and VXS10ST subwoofers.
Photos: © Yamaha
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