Whitney Houston returning to the stage thanks to high-calibre AI technology
Whitney Houston's vocals have been isolated from recordings for a new symphonic concert series celebrating the late music legend's legacy.
The late Whitney Houston is returning to the stage thanks to AI stem technology.
The seven-city tour will be backed by a full symphony orchestra and see the music legend's vocals isolated from recordings thanks to leading stem separation technology firm Moises.
The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration is all thanks to the estate of Houston, Primary Wave Music and Park Avenue Artists.
The US concerts will kick off at Cincinnati Music Hall on September 20 and 21, with further dates in Wilmington, Thousand Oaks, Carmel, Waukegan, Palm Desert, and Mesa.
Moises CEO Geraldo Ramos said in a statement issued to Variety: "This project demanded exceptionally high-caliber stem separation, something Moises leads the industry in achieving.
"We had to isolate Whitney's vocals from fully mixed recordings without compromising the emotional power of her performance. A concert like this simply wouldn't have been possible five years ago, before stem separation technology reached the precision and fidelity we're now able to deliver."
Pat Houston, executor of the estate, said: "We knew this had to be done right.
"Moises and our partner Park Avenue Artists elevated the idea with the heart, care, and creative excellence that Whitney always embodied. The result is something truly special: a gift for longtime fans and a powerful introduction for a new generation discovering her voice."
Ross Michaels, co-president of Park Avenue Artists, commented: "This project demonstrates how legacy artists and their estates can create meaningful experiences for music lovers through the thoughtful use of AI technology.
"The Voice of Whitney is the first of several planned collaborations that will use AI to illuminate new dimensions of an artist's work. It's a powerful example of how AI can honor artists' legacies while enriching the audience experience in beautiful and respectful ways."
Houston - who died in February 2012, at the age of 48 - previously returned to the stage as a hologram.
The Higher Love singer was first introduced as a digital replica in May 2016 for a duet with Christina Aguilera on The Voice.
However, her family made further plans after deciding the hologram wasn't up to standard.
Her sister-in-law Pat Simpson said at the time: "We were looking to deliver a ground breaking duet performance for the fans of both artists. Holograms are new technology that take time to perfect, and we believe with artists of this iconic caliber, it must be perfect. Whitney's legacy and her devoted fans deserve perfection.'
"After closely viewing the performance, we decided the hologram was not ready to air. We have much respect and appreciation for Christina, and she was absolutely flawless."
Following further development, An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour took place between 2020 and 2023.
