Exploring Innovation in Opera with the HEAT Project
We are thrilled to announce our participation in the HEAT project. Hybrid Extended reAliTy (HEAT) aims to create next-generation distributed experiences, allowing users to be realistically immersed in hyper-realistic 3D spaces and share these experiences with others, regardless of location. This is an exciting opportunity to explore how holograms can enhance the audience experience in opera.
INO Executive Director Diego Fasciati attended the first consortium meeting, which was held on the 9th and 10th of July 2024 in Cagliari, Italy, organised by the HEAT coordinator, the University of Cagliari, and serving as a robust platform for collaborative dialogue.
Discussions covered user insights, platform architecture, pilots and content production, as well as measuring evaluation metrics and methodologies. These conversations provided valuable insights into what end-users need as well as the scenario’s platform will address, including modern theatre acts, music festivals, and opera performances.
For the Irish National Opera (INO), this project is an exciting opportunity to explore how holograms can enhance the audience experience in opera. We aim to engage remote participants, whether they are audience members watching from home, appearing as holograms in a real-world performance, or singers and actors interacting with the performance as holograms from remote locations.
INO Digital Producer Sarah Halpin "Over the last few years we've been afforded some great opportunities to explore the intersection between opera and technology and we're thrilled to take our next step in this journey with the Horizon funded project Hybrid Extended reAliTy (HEAT). During the course of the project, we'll be examining the role that holographic technologies can play in opera, how they can impact the way we present performances and the way audiences experience it. We're very excited to see where we end up!"
It's still early days, and we are in the process of defining the pilot project and the technologies that will be used. Over the next year to 18 months, we will work closely with our partners to prepare for a performance slated for 2027. This exploration is a vital step in our ongoing commitment to innovation in opera.
We are excited about the journey ahead and confident that with the continued dedication and expertise of our partners, we will achieve our project goals.
Stay tuned for more updates as we progress!