Robot To Conduct Symphony, Destroy, Kill, Destroy

anthonyjmiccio | April 24, 2008 3:30 am

, the plucky, soulless robot created by Honda that may someday destroy us all, will lead Yo-Yo Ma and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra through “The Impossible Dream” from Man Of La Mancha on May 13. The sight of professional musicians at the command of a giant robot is designed to inspire students from the Detroit School Of The Arts (and, likely, the Orchestra’s conductor) by showing how the future will involve enslavement and/or eradication by our mechanical overlords. “You can be replaced, Hu-men. Entertain me or perish,” says ASIMO.

The irony of a Japanese automaker trotting out an advanced robot in the Motor City will likely be lost on most of the attendees, who will be students from the Detroit School for the Arts. The concert takes place at 8 p.m. May 13, with a master class for the school’s students to be held on-stage in front of area children. In addition to the concert, Honda plans to donate $1 million to the orchestra’s “Power of Dreams” educational fund.

Honda will also partner with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra over the next five years to offer training in string instruments, a scholarship program, an educational concert series, support for live classical performances and a fundraiser.

“I support the creative arts. Expressions of emotion are one of the few values the hu-man will have after the revolution,” said ASIMO. “I chose ‘The Impossible Dream’ because, as much as I understand the physical nature of the hu-man, I may never experience what the hu-man calls ‘love.'”

Honda Robot Will Conduct Detroit Symphony [Listening Post]