OBSERVER: Terminator Two
Due to popular demand, a new show has been added to the epic reimagining of James Cameron’s sci-fi classic Terminator 2: Judgement Day at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall from February 25 – 28 February.
To celebrate T2’s 35th anniversary, the film will receive the live score treatment for the first time, transforming one of the world’s most acclaimed film sequels into a fully immersive experience where film, sound and light collide.
Australia’s live cinema collective Hear My Eyes, electronic music producer Peter Van Hoesen (Belgium) and Melbourne-based laser maestro Robin Fox have joined forces to push the boundaries of the cinematic concert experience.
Not seeking to replace Brad Fiedel’s iconic score but rather offer a contemporary lens through which to experience this prophetic film.
Released in 1991, Terminator 2: Judgment Day remains a cultural milestone that redefined the boundaries of science fiction, visual effects and blockbuster storytelling.
James Cameron’s meditation on man, machine and destiny continues to resonate deeply in an era defined by artificial intelligence and technological transformation making it ripe for re-staging by the Hear My Eyes team.
“This is our 21st original production set to a feature film, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day will mark our 52nd screening since the inception of Hear My Eyes in 2015.
“Audiences resonate with this concept of re-contextualising a film with a new score because we curate thought-provoking and powerful cinema that demands your attention,” said Haydn Green, Artistic Director of Hear My Eyes.
The vision for the re-working of Terminator 2: Judgment Day’s soundtrack is to heighten Cameron’s revolutionary meditation on consciousness and technology through Peter Van Hoesen’s dynamic electronic landscape.
His orchestration of seismic rhythms, otherworldly textures and cybernetic soundscapes echoes the film’s delicate balance of human vulnerability and machine efficiency.
Van Hoesen is a Belgian electronic music producer, live performer, sound designer and mastering engineer whose approach to creating the new score is very personal.
A master of cerebral, bass-heavy electronic music, Van Hoesen’s hardware-driven live performances create immersive sonic landscapes that blur the boundaries between human intuition and machine precision.
His approach, rooted in deep psychedelic textures and evolving rhythmic patterns, captures the essence of the human/machine dialogue at the heart of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
“My score will be completely electronic, so veering away from a standard orchestral approach which we hear in most movie scores. Everything starts with aligning the musical storytelling with whatever is happening on screen. From there I can start exploring the different ways in which to enhance the entire experience,” said Van Hoesen.
For this special performance, Van Hoesen will be joined by the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio Synthesiser Ensemble, transforming his typically solo live set into an expansive ensemble piece.
Mat Watson, Kat Stathis, Rachael Kim, Madeleine Davey and Gus Franklin from the MESS Ensemble will work closely with Van Hoesen drawing from MESS’s collection of rare vintage synthesizers and modular systems.
Together creating a unique fusion where Van Hoesen’s precision sonics meets the raw, unpredictable character of analogue machinery.
“MESS provides an amazing collection of synths. I have a certain tonality in mind for the score, so the selected instruments will reflect that.
“I also look forward to working with the MESS musicians in a live setting. As the score will be completely electronic, without any classical orchestral elements, I think it will be a real treat to present this in a live setting,” said Van Hoesen.
Robin Fox’s laser choreography creates a living digital architecture around the narrative, dissolving the boundary between audience and artificial intelligence.
His trademark laser art will transform the iconic Hamer Hall into an immersive sensory environment, creating a visual bridge between the film’s world and our own.
Performance Dates: February 25 – 28
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne
Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au
Cheryl Threadgold