Not only is Max Cooper widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated electronic artists of his time, but he is arguably the genre's most groundbreaking in terms of multi-disciplinary work: exploring the intersection between the arts and sciences with immersive audio-visual performances and installations, and making use of advanced technologies, Cooper - who holds a phD in computational biology - is an artist whose ambitions for his form are as innovative as his creative vision within it.

'I want to encourage the acceptance of electronic music as an art form like any other,' he says. 'Bringing electronic music and abstract audio-visual projects into concert halls, museums, and galleries is liberating - the art world opens up doors to communicate in ways that aren't possible elsewhere.'  Cooper is the first electronic musician to have performed at Athens' ancient Acropolis theatre, and this year he brings electronica to two 'cathedrals' of classical music: the Royal Albert Hall in London, and Rudolfinum in Prague. The Prague Sounds concert represents a milestone for the festival, and for the city: it's the first time a complete concert at Rudolfinum has been devoted purely to contemporary electronica, without acoustic instruments - and Cooper has worked to produce site-specific visuals, including projections and video mapping, tailor-made for this venerable concert hall.

'Cooper’s music ranges from gentle classical beauty to blissfully overwhelming abstractions. It may be conceptual, but it's also moving  Aurally stunning and cinematic at every turn.'

Resident Advisor

Cooper himself is no stranger to contemporary classical music, finding resonances in the work of minimalist composers like Philip Glass, and seeing 'more parallels than differences' between classical music and electronica, and between old and new: 'it's all one big melting-pot of patterns,' he  says.

Max Cooper at Rudolfinum is a one-off event: a meeting of past and present, and a coming-together of the best in contemporary music, visual art, technology, and architecture.

Line-up

Max Cooper – electronics, visual design