Walking inside a moving symphony
Composer transforms Beijing into a groundbreaking fusion of sound, space and human connection, Chen Nan reports.
"I've always been fascinated by how a city tells its story, how it reveals hidden corners, unnoticed details, and the pulse of daily life," Huang said during an interview with China Daily from his studio in New York on Oct 10. "When I travel to a new place, I enjoy wandering without a map, discovering those quiet spots that aren't famous but are full of meaning. City of Floating Sounds is my attempt to create a work that invites people to experience a city this way — through interaction, exploration, and discovery."
For Huang, who is known for fusing Eastern and Western traditions into a distinctive artistic voice, the project represents years of conceptual exploration into how music can reframe human experience in the urban environment.
The idea first took root in 2017 at the Manchester International Festival, where Huang began experimenting with the concept of interactive, site-specific soundscapes. Inspired by his passion for travel and his desire to bridge the gap between locals and visitors, he envisioned a work that would allow audiences to "live" within the music — engaging directly with the city and its people.
