A new opera at London's Royal Opera House promises to immerse audiences in a "hyper-reality" made possible by virtual reality.
The work is called “Current, rising” and is billed as the world's first in virtual reality. It goes on stage at the Linbury Theater starting from May 20th, and continues until June 9th unless further performances.
Opera VR: you will hardly fall asleep
Narcoleptic friends or pitiful spectators who usually fall asleep during the third act, sometimes the second, of any theatrical performance: don't worry! The VR work has a decidedly affordable cut. It lasts 15 minutes with performances scheduled throughout the day for up to four people at a time. Safety first! Participants choose their time slot when purchasing tickets, which cost between approximately 18 and 25 euros.
Shortly before the start of the show, spectators put on headphones and a VR headset connected to a computer that they will carry with them in a backpack. Once the show starts and they enter the VR world, they will be able to see the avatars of the other three people in their group.
Opera VR: What should we expect?
Le Traditional plays tend to feature characters who lead viewers on a narrative journey, but that doesn't appear to be the case with the VR play. In this piece, however, the participants "will cross the landscapes of the night together, from dusk to dawn, exploring concepts of isolation, connection and collective reimagining", according to a Press release presenting the event.
This seems like a rather vague and enigmatic synopsis for a work. Especially if the format is already experimental too. Wanting to find a more concrete reference, I read that “Current, Rising” is inspired by the liberation of the character Ariel in Shakespeare's famous “The Tempest”. As it all comes back, the great Masters are always there.
A new page of this theatrical genre?
“Current, Rising” probably won't overturn the world of opera as we know it. It's a genre that has existed more or less unchanged for centuries, and many traditionalists will no doubt prefer the standard format to virtual reality .
Of course, however, it could mark the beginning of a new "rib" in the evolution of the Work. Director Netia Jones is already writing the sequel (ok, if it's 15 minutes it might not take years) and he's excited.
“This is not the future of opera,” he says, “but it could be one of its futures.”
