Universe On Stage Presents: The Black Hole Symphony
Universe on Stage is proud to announce its most ambitious production yet – The Black Hole Symphony – performed live with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) and conducted by Daniel Boico, acclaimed for his work with the New York Philharmonic. This breathtaking new experience takes place for 3 performances only.
Marking Universe on Stage’s third anniversary and their final Johannesburg performance for 2025, The Black Hole Symphony promises to be a one-of-a-kind exploration of music, science, and imagination – a symphonic journey through one of nature’s greatest enigmas: the black hole.
Composed and performed by Yasheen Modi (actuary, pianist and composer), with narration by Dr. Luca Pontiggia (PhD physicist, data scientist and speaker) and visuals by Darius Botha, The Black Hole Symphony unfolds as a six-movement orchestral story that illuminates what black holes are, what they reveal about our universe, and what secrets they hold for time travel and our future.
The music is performed alongside Yasheen by the JPO’s full string section – including 10 First Violins, 8 Second Violins, 6 Violas, 5 Cellos and 3 Double Basses with Yasheen on the concert grand piano. Every arrangement is carefully crafted and allows each section to lead and evolve through the performance.
Audiences can expect a mix of fan favourites and brand-new compositions, including: Yin Yang, Ligo, Telescope, Pre-Einstein, Sad Love, Birth of a Star, and Regulator, plus a breathtaking orchestral remix of Beethoven’s Für Elise.
“People always say the music iss incredible and moving,” says Yasheen Modi. “So one day I asked Luca – “what if we had a show that focused on the music?”. He’d always dreamed of collaborating with an orchestra, so the idea evolved and we decided to do a symphony. The first track we composed was pure magic.”
What began as a small experiment in composition has grown into an eighteen-piece symphonic journey – two acts, six movements – where music, science, and storytelling intertwine. Between each movement, Dr Luca Pontiggia narrates short tales of black holes: mysterious, poetic, and profound. Each story unfolds into music and visuals that expand the imagination, echoing the evolution of the universe itself. It is a moment for the orchestra to take centre stage – to surge, to breathe, and to let the full power of the score come alive.
The idea came to life through determination and collaboration: from cold-emailing the JPO, to connecting with conductor Daniel Boico via Instagram, to composing and scoring every note by hand. The result is a celebration of creativity, curiosity, and connection – all brought to life through the power of live orchestral music.
Dr Samson Diamond (PhD), Manager of Education and Community Engagement Programmes at the JPO, says:
“The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra is thrilled to be joining forces with Universe On Stage for this extraordinary run of shows. This unique collaboration with Yasheen and Luca promises to be an inspiring celebration of artistic innovation and shared passion.”
Join us for The Black Hole Symphony – an unforgettable fusion of art, science, and sound that will immerse you and expand your universe.
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Show Information
Universe On Stage Presents: The Black Hole Symphony
Venue:
Wits Linder Auditorium
Dates & Times:
27 November 2025 at 7:30pm
29 November 2025 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Tickets:
From R320 – R590 on sale via Webtickets
Age Restriction:
10 years and above
Duration:
Approx. : 2 hours including a 20 minute interval
