Can synths belong in an orchestra?
London-based AV artist and ‘immersive-first’ producer Halina Rice is known for blurring the lines between music, technology, and art. Her latest project, The Path, brings together orchestral instrumentation and Peak.
Blending electronic and orchestral worlds
Commissioned by PRS Foundation, BBC Concert and Symphony Orchestras, and BBC Radio 3 for the New Music Biennial 2025, The Path is a 12-minute composition exploring movement and transformation which draws inspiration from Halina’s experience walking long-distance UK paths with friends for whom the piece is dedicated. The recording was performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra, weaving together classical instrumentation, spatial audio, and live synthesis.
“I wanted to explore what happens when orchestral and electronic ideas meet in a meaningful way,” Halina explains. “The Novation Peak played a huge role in making that happen.”
Why Peak?
At the heart of this crossover performance is the Novation Peak. Its hybrid engine allowed Halina to design sounds that felt simultaneously organic and otherworldly complementing the orchestra while adding a voice of its own.
“I loved how the Peak could create tones that felt alive and slightly unpredictable,” she says. “But I still had the control I needed to shape those textures in real time.”
The built-in reverb and delay were key in helping the synth sit naturally within the orchestral mix which added space, atmosphere, and texture.
Shaking up classical performances
This wasn’t about placing a synth on top of a traditional score. Halina integrated Peak into the composition’s structure, letting it echo, challenge, or even lead the orchestra at times.
“The synth wasn’t an add-on, it was another part of the ensemble,” she says. “That sense of dialogue between instruments felt completely natural with Peak.”
The result is a performance that’s not only musically striking, but a clear signal of how synthesisers can be used in classical and scoring contexts on equal footing with traditional instrumentation.
Performing with Peak
With her background in immersive AV shows and spatial installations, Halina values instruments that offer both sonic depth and intuitive control. For a live performance setting, Peak delivered on both fronts.
“When I’m on stage, I want immediacy, I need to be able to respond to the moment,” she says. “Peak gives me that. It’s expressive and reliable.”
What lies ahead on The Path?
Following its debut as part of Bradford 2025, City of Culture, The Path will be performed again at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on July 5th, and broadcast on July 3rd on BBC Radio 3. For Halina, the project reflects a growing space where electronic and orchestral approaches can not only coexist but inspire one another.
“This piece is about connection, between people, between musical languages,” she reflects. “The Peak helped me explore those connections in a completely new way.”
Listen to The Path on BBC Radio 3, July 3rd 3pm and then available on BBC Sounds
Previous release
Photo credits: Nida Mozouraite @photomanicphotography and Michal Augustini