Inspired by the stars
Art and science came together in perfect harmony this October for a unique event at UNESCO’s grand auditorium in Paris. Hosted by the legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the show was a mix of music and space-related chat with special guests, including some familiar faces from ESA.
Organised by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the show was entitled ‘An Invitation to Create the Future’ and brought together a diverse range of guests from music, academia, science and the space industry.
Between musical performances that ranged from classical to pop, they discussed the future of our planet and the role of space in inspiring and creating it.
Among the guests who joined Yo-Yo Ma on stage to share their thoughts and experiences on this theme were ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, who both answered questions from the audience.
The show culminated in a musical performance where everyone was involved, including Matthias Maurer assisting on the piano and the audience participating by creating a ‘galaxy of stars’ with the flashlights on their phones.
The final number was a powerful version of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ with a lead vocal by singer-songwriter Imany, which provided a reflective ending to the show.
UNESCO’s mission to foster mutual understanding and respect for our planet has a close affinity with ESA and its values. The inspiring lesson highlighted by this show’s dialogue between music and science was about the value of cooperation and how humanity can achieve great things by working together.
You can watch videos from UNESCO’s ‘An Invitation to Create the Future’ here.
