Orpheus reimagined: an exploratory study on the impact of augmented reality on experiencing classical music in a live concert

Abstract

Abstract This exploratory study investigates how virtual reality (VR) reshapes the experience of live classical music concerts. In a within-subject field experiment embedded in a concert series ( Orpheus reimagined ), 125 participants attended two performances of the same musical excerpt—once with a VR headset and once without. The VR condition featured an immersive environment synchronized with the music. We assessed attentional focus and mind-wandering, emotional and aesthetic responses, and social connectedness. Results revealed a multifaceted impact of VR. Participants in the VR condition reported reduced focus on musical details and less internally directed thought. Emotionally, VR enhanced feelings of transcendence and tension but reduced tenderness, nostalgia, peacefulness, and joyful activation. Aesthetic responses showed increased epistemic and negative emotions, coupled with decreased amusement and relaxation. Notably, VR significantly diminished social connectedness, including perceived connection with performers, audience members, and the collective experience. Participants’ overall preferences were mixed, while motivation to attend future VR concerts was high. These findings highlight a central trade-off: while VR enhances immersive, multisensory engagement and intensifies certain emotional and cognitive processes, it may simultaneously attenuate music-focused listening and the social and reflective qualities central to traditional concert experiences. The study contributes to a growing understanding of how immersive technologies transform aesthetic experiences and offers important implications for the design of future augmented concert formats.