BANIJAY AMERICAS BRINGS ACCLAIMED EUROPEAN PHENOMENON 'LUMINISCENCE' TO THE U.S.

Following Its Sold-Out European Tour, Luminiscence Opens Tonight at The Basilica of Saint Mary, Inviting Minneapolis to Experience Light and Connection

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, October 31, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The immersive sound and light experience, ‘LUMINISCENCE,’ opens to the public today. The show, which shares the unique history of each location where it is performed, takes the audience on a musical and visual journey through the life of The Basilica of Saint Mary, told through a dialogue between the Basilica itself, its architect and a young girl from Minneapolis who plays a pivotal role in its story. LUMINISCENCE has captivated over one million spectators in Europe.

“Telling the unique story of each site where LUMINISCENCE is performed is what makes this experience new in every location,” said Romain Sarfati, co-founder of LOTCHI, creator of LUMINISCENCE. “It is an honor for us to unveil unique stories, custom-designed for each location, offering a singular experience while preserving the heritage of these exceptional spaces for generations to come.”

The basilica is illuminated via 360-degree video mapping, while spectators listen to the rich and varied history of a U.S. landmark accompanied by a blend of live choir, organ and instrumental music. The performance begins with Debussy’s La Cathédrale Engloutie and Smetana’s The Moldau and moves through works by Bach, Saint-Saëns, Verdi and Grieg, among others, highlighting scenes of light, stained glass and the passage of time. Accompaniment for live orchestra evenings features violins, violas, cello, upright bass, harp, trumpets, trombone and flute. The journey culminates with Vivaldi’s Gloria and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, blending art, history and sacred space into one immersive experience. The Luminiscence Orchestra features musicians from the Twin Cities’ STRINGenius.

A portion of the proceeds will support the restoration of The Basilica. More information can be found at restoreourbasilica.org.

“The Basilica’s rich history comes to life through this moving experience,” said Fr. Daniel Griffith, pastor at The Basilica of Saint Mary. “Our story, including our triumphs and challenges, is a unique part of Minnesota heritage and we are thrilled to share it.”

The Basilica of Saint Mary, which will mark the 100th anniversary of its designation as the first U.S. Basilica in 2026, is the kickoff location for LUMINISCENCE in the United States. LUMINISCENCE has celebrated the history and heritage of cathedrals throughout Europe and is now bringing this immersive live music experience to the United States, telling the story of America’s landmark places of worship, as the country celebrates its 250th anniversary year. LUMINISCENCE was created by Lotchi (a Banijay Live company) and is produced in the U.S. by Banijay Americas.

“Experiential storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to connect audiences today,” said Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas. “Across Banijay Americas, we’re building a portfolio of experiences that extend from the screen into shared community celebrations - from the transformative spectacle of LUMINISCENCE to live formats like MasterChef Live and Banijay Apresenta in São Paulo. Each celebrates creativity, connection and the joy of coming together.”

The show opens to the public on Friday, October 31, at The Basilica of Saint Mary in downtown Minneapolis, and continues through early 2026. A media and community preview night on October 30 played to over a thousand guests and some dates have begun to sell out.

Performances run on select weekdays and weekends and include options with live choir and orchestra, live choir only or recorded music. Ticket prices vary depending on type of experience and discounts are available for youth, students, seniors, military members, families and larger groups. More information can be found by going to luminiscence.com/minneapolis.

The Minneapolis run includes over 100 shows, with voice talent for the narration featuring Margot Cluster, Ella James, Brock Foster Powell and Oliver Vaquer.

The experience has already been staged in historic cathedrals in several European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Media Assets: Assets can be downloaded at this link, Luminiscence Media Assets. Still photos should be credited as LUMINISCENCE/Banijay Americas/Mike Bowman. Video credits should be credited as LUMINISCENCE/Banijay Americas.

About The Basilica of Saint Mary
Designed in the Beaux-Arts style by an acclaimed French architect, the Basilica – on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places – located in downtown Minneapolis, is a welcoming Catholic community committed to the well-being of the city. It is a center for the arts and a place of refuge for the poor. The Basilica provides quality liturgy, religious education, pastoral care and hospitality to all. The parish is the spiritual home to over 6,500 families of all ages, races, ethnicities and economic backgrounds.

2025 marks 100 years since the interior completion of the Basilica and 2026 marks 100 years since it was named the first basilica in the United States.

www.mary.org

About LOTCHI
Lotchi creates immersive experiences designed to spark inspiration and wonder. By combining creativity, technology and innovative storytelling, the company produces shared, memorable moments that reconnect audiences with beauty, imagination and each other. Lotchi develops and delivers its own large-scale productions in exceptional venues worldwide.

www.lotchi.live

About Banijay Americas
Banijay Americas is a leading creator and producer of entertainment content, composed of production companies and facilities across the United States and Latin America. A division of the global production and distribution group Banijay Entertainment, Banijay Americas includes subsidiary production companies such as 51 Minds Entertainment, BD4, Bunim/Murray Productions, Endemol Shine North America, and Truly Original in the United States; Banijay Mexico & U.S. Hispanic, Endemol Shine Boomdog, and Wide Angle in Mexico; and the Brazil-based A Fábrica, Endemol Shine Brasil, and Banijay Studios Brasil. Together, Banijay Americas is home to more than 70+ original series, including some of the biggest brands in television, producing over 2000 hours of original content annually.

Kate Monaghan Connolly
Honor & Gold
kate@honorandgold.com

Teaser of U.S. Debut of 'LUMINISCENCE' at The Basilica of Saint Mary

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.