Project Details
Description
This research project investigates the application of immersive performance techniques and technologies in opera, with the aim of expanding the ways in which the art form is created, experienced, and understood. Hosted at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the project engages with interdisciplinary methods to explore how immersive approaches—such as spatial audio, interactive storytelling, and extended reality (XR) interfaces—can shape operatic composition, performance, and spectatorship.
Opera, while historically concerned with notions of immersion, faces challenges in adapting to contemporary audience expectations and evolving technological possibilities. Traditional modes of presentation often struggle to attract younger and more diverse audiences, and while some opera houses have experimented with technological dissemination, such efforts have had limited success in fostering deeper engagement. This project responds to these challenges by examining how immersive techniques may influence audience behaviour, facilitate new forms of artistic expression, and support the long-term sustainability of the sector.
The research is structured around three central research areas:
1. Performance Innovation. What opportunities and challenges do immersive storytelling and technologies present for operatic composition and staging?
2. Audience Experience. How does immersion affect audience engagement, perception, and interaction with opera?
3. Sector Development. What resources and knowledge are needed to integrate immersive practices into opera production more widely?
The project is developed in collaboration with leading UK opera institutions (Royal Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North, Music Theatre Wales, British Youth Opera and National Opera Studio) as well as Punchdrunk Enrichment and d&b Audio. It employs a combination of artistic experimentation, empirical audience studies, and industry engagement to produce both theoretical insights and practical methodologies.
By providing an evidence-based framework for understanding and implementing immersive practices, this project contributes to ongoing discussions about innovation, accessibility, and sustainability in opera.By providing an evidence-based framework for understanding and implementing immersive practices in opera, this project contributes to ongoing discussions about innovation, accessibility, and sustainability in the genre. Anticipated outcomes include:
1. The development of new immersive techniques specific to opera
2. A systematic analysis of audience responses in immersive opera contexts
3. Open-access resources and training initiatives to support industry adoption
4. The establishment of a research network dedicated to immersive opera
Opera, while historically concerned with notions of immersion, faces challenges in adapting to contemporary audience expectations and evolving technological possibilities. Traditional modes of presentation often struggle to attract younger and more diverse audiences, and while some opera houses have experimented with technological dissemination, such efforts have had limited success in fostering deeper engagement. This project responds to these challenges by examining how immersive techniques may influence audience behaviour, facilitate new forms of artistic expression, and support the long-term sustainability of the sector.
The research is structured around three central research areas:
1. Performance Innovation. What opportunities and challenges do immersive storytelling and technologies present for operatic composition and staging?
2. Audience Experience. How does immersion affect audience engagement, perception, and interaction with opera?
3. Sector Development. What resources and knowledge are needed to integrate immersive practices into opera production more widely?
The project is developed in collaboration with leading UK opera institutions (Royal Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North, Music Theatre Wales, British Youth Opera and National Opera Studio) as well as Punchdrunk Enrichment and d&b Audio. It employs a combination of artistic experimentation, empirical audience studies, and industry engagement to produce both theoretical insights and practical methodologies.
By providing an evidence-based framework for understanding and implementing immersive practices, this project contributes to ongoing discussions about innovation, accessibility, and sustainability in opera.By providing an evidence-based framework for understanding and implementing immersive practices in opera, this project contributes to ongoing discussions about innovation, accessibility, and sustainability in the genre. Anticipated outcomes include:
1. The development of new immersive techniques specific to opera
2. A systematic analysis of audience responses in immersive opera contexts
3. Open-access resources and training initiatives to support industry adoption
4. The establishment of a research network dedicated to immersive opera
Principal Investigator: Dr Toby Young
Co-Investigator: Dr Josephine Machon
Co-Investigator: Dan Shorten
Research Associate: Dr Amy Stebbins
Research Associate: Dr Anita Datta
| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 1/09/24 → 31/08/28 |
Collaborative partners
- Guildhall School (lead)
- English National Opera
- Scottish Opera
- Opera North
- Music Theatre Wales
- British Youth Opera
- National Opera Studio
- Punchdrunk Enrichment
- d&b Audio
Funding
- UK Research and Innovation: £1,406,318.00
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.