Pilots
Revealing opera
The Gran Teatre del Liceu explores the potential of digital technology in the co-creation of a community opera with the organisations, associations and people of the Sant Andreu district of Barcelona. This pilot asks: How can digital technology help engage a community during an opera co-creation process? Amplify’s work will focus on the oral history aspect of the process, building an archive of recordings that can be exploited in a diverse range of platforms and events during the co-creation process.
Technology tested
AMPLIFY IMMERSIVE
Immersive video technology to share more widely the lived experiences of local people that have inspired the opera.
Description of pilot
The Liceu pilot is developing a new opera production with residents of the Sant Andreu District, in which community members are participating jointly in its co-creation.
The project will reflect the identity and lived experience of the people involved so that the opera will be unique, giving voice to its participants realities, history and diversity.
The community will participate in the co-creation with artists and professionals from the sector, to bring access to culture for people in vulnerable situations or those who are far from the operatic world.
They will be involved in four areas of action:
- Musical writing and dramaturgy
- Musical and choral performance
- Construction of technical and stage elements
- Communication and marketing
Our goal
People from Sant Andreu will participate throughout the process of artistic co-creation with the aim of promoting social cohesion through artistic creation and making talent visible. People will share their memories of important aspects of the neighbourhood history, including the Trinitat Vella prison, Fabri I Coats factory and cheap housing in Bon Pastor. Video recording of these memories will raise awareness of the value of Sant Andreu’s place in the history of Barcelona and provide material for artistic events and interventions in support of the opera co-creation.
Challenges
The heritage material will be recorded in conventional and volumetric video. The second will mean travelling to a studio, perhaps in the Netherlands or Germany, which raises cost and logistical challenges. The second iteration will be to develop innovative artistic formats with which to share the material to raise awareness of local history and of the opera project.
The technological solution
Immersive video technology will bring a contemporary form to memories and archive materials which can then be presented to people in Sant Andreu and at the opera house in artistic formats and events that bring to life these past events. Technology might also help us to connect different stages in remote locations spaces in these events.
The mission of the Liceu Opera House is to inspire, impact and transform societies and people through the Arts, and specifically through opera.
Expected impact
The project uses a human-centric approach that balances tools and their use, so the entire project must offer not only innovative technologies, new ways of working and improved audience experiences, but also sustainable economic models consistent with the beliefs, values and practices of creators and audiences for broader societal benefit.
Planned activities
Creation of the libretto
Recording of people’s memories
Creation of the posters and creation of the musical composition
Evolution of the rehearsals with the choirs
Creation of the scenographic project
Artistic collaborations with the community around oral history
Implementation of AMPLIFY technology in the co-creation process with the district
Premiere of the opera in June 2027
