COMPOSER ILAN ESHKERI PREPARES TO BRING THE ASTRONAUT EXPERIENCE TO AUDIENCES ACROSS THE UK IN A LIVE VISUAL CONCERT

‘Space Station Earth’ is a long-form musical work by Ilan Eshkeri, created in collaboration with the European Space Agency uniquely capturing ‘The Overview Effect’: the profound awe astronauts feel when viewing the Earth from orbit. Performed on synthesisers, supported by orchestra and choir, and accompanied by a triptych film of high-definition footage filmed by astronauts from the International Space Station. The film – written and directed by Ilan – unfolds in synchrony with the music and functions as a visual expression of its emotional narrative. 
 
This summer will see ‘Space Station Earth’ tour the UK with shows in Glasgow, London, Birmingham and Manchester following a rapturously received sold-out premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2022.

As Artemis II launches this week, the extraordinary ‘Space Station Earth’, created completely by Ilan, reflects a shift in how humanity understands its place in the universe, shaped by our ability to see the planet from space. To see through the eyes of an astronaut is to encounter Earth as a whole: finite, intricate, and in motion. This perspective was first articulated by astronauts and is now being explored and made accessible through this live performance. Framed by the idea of Earth as a space station, it asks what it means to join the crew, as a recognition that there are no passengers, only participants within a shared system that we are only beginning to truly understand.

Ilan Eshkeri says, “Human spaceflight will be at the forefront of public consciousness in 2026, with the planned Artemis II mission taking humans back to the moon. This created the perfect opportunity to bring back ‘Space Station Earth’ to give audiences the opportunity to see through the eyes of an astronaut.”

Ilan Eshkeri is a composer whose work is centred on the expression of emotional narratives through evolving musical forms. His compositions are built from repeating melodic material that changes gradually through harmonic layering and rhythmic variation, allowing emotional states or trajectories to develop within a post-minimal aesthetic.

Ilan’s musical language reflects a background spanning contrasting traditions. He trained classically on the violin from an early age and later became self-taught on the electric guitar, shaped by a punk rock attitude. His synaesthesia, through which sound and colour are perceived together, informs a close relationship between aural and visual aesthetics.

Eshkeri has developed a body of work across live performance, theatre, ballet, film, television, and video games, applying the same narrative focus across each medium. His large-scale concert and site-specific works have been presented in major cultural settings including the Royal Albert Hall and the Tuileries Gardens of the Louvre, as well as at Sadler’s Wells, Rambert Ballet, and New York City Center. Some projects have been realised through access granted by organisations such as the European Space Agency and NASA.

His work for film, television, and interactive media continues this approach. His scores include cult films such as ‘Layer Cake’ and ‘Stardust’, while the musical language of ‘Coriolanus’ contributed to a broader shift in contemporary scoring approaches. His interactive work includes ‘The Sims 4’, a cultural phenomenon whose scale and sustained engagement have given its music significant influence within popular music culture.

Eshkeri’s work has been recognised through major international awards and nominations, including the Emmy, BAFTA, and Ivor Novello Awards.

The dates are:

MAY
28th – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
31st – London, Royal Festival Hall

JUNE
5th – Birmingham, Town Hall
6th – Manchester, AVIVA Studios