Genesis in light: the show

Six acts, no titles

The organiser describes the show as a 30-minute immersive light show that tells the story of creation, divided into six acts, a production of light, music and architecture. Its own account runs from the emergence of light and the separation of water to the formation of land and the blossoming of life. The organiser does not publish titles or running order for the six acts, so this guide does not invent them. What the sources do say is that the show moves from beginnings to abundance, in light and music, across the surfaces of the church.

Genesis, read in order

The first creation account in Genesis describes six days of creation followed by a seventh of rest. Light comes first, then the sky that separates the waters, then dry land, seas and plants. The sun, moon and stars follow, then creatures of the sea and air, then land animals and humans. The organiser says only that the show is inspired by Genesis and has six acts. It does not say the acts match the days, so treat the sequence as background that will feel familiar, not as a programme.

Who made it

The organiser credits Max Emanuel Cenčić with production and artistic direction. He is a countertenor born in Zagreb in 1976, who sang with the Vienna Boys' Choir as a boy and made his Vienna State Opera debut in 2010, according to Wikipedia. Adam Lukas, an Austrian Emmy-winning composer, wrote the score. Marin Petkov of MP-STUDIO is credited with video animation, and Georg Fuchs of Concept Solutions with light design. The show opened in late November 2024, and press reports put about 200 invited guests at the premiere. Cenčić has said he wanted a show that respects the church's sacred character and is open to anyone, whatever their age, religion or prior knowledge.

How projection mapping works

Wikipedia defines projection mapping as a technique that turns objects, often irregular ones, into display surfaces for video. Software models the real surface, then fits the image to it, and operators use masks to match the picture to a building's shapes. A Gothic interior is a demanding surface, full of ribs, arches, piers and windows, and the organiser says modern projection technology was used to work the neo-Gothic architecture into the design. The result is that the light follows the stone instead of landing on a flat screen. Wikipedia traces the technique's early forms to the late 1950s, and festivals such as Lyon's Fête des Lumières now use it to decorate buildings.

The score

The music was composed specially for the show and is orchestral. Press coverage of the opening describes it as ranging from ethereal and meditative to powerful and festive, and the show's arc runs from the Big Bang to the emergence of life. Adam Lukas has written film scores, including work in Hollywood in the team of Hans Zimmer, per the same coverage. The booking page lists no performers, so the sources describe a composed score that accompanies the projections, not a concert in which musicians play.

What visitors say

Visitor reviews praise the projections across the church and a soundtrack many find moving, and several call it a highlight of a Vienna stay. Some visitors found parts of the imagery, such as projected animals, less to their taste, and others wished the filming rules were enforced more strictly. One reviewer noted that a lit emergency exit stopped the rear of the nave from going fully dark. It is a short, quiet show in a dark room: if that suits you, the reports are warm, and if you want a loud spectacle, look elsewhere.

Read next: Light of Creation: booking