Up to eight young singers who were successful in the prestigious “NEUE STIMMEN” competition in 2023 will come to Augsburg to learn artistic work in the digital space at the State Theater.
The State Theater Augsburg will conduct three workshops between January and April 2024 for the singing talents selected by the Liz Mohn Center. And that’s not all: one of the participating singers was cast for the mixed reality opera »Labyrinth« which will premiere at the State Theater Augsburg on March 22, 2024.
Following the “NEUE STIMMEN” competition, particularly promising young talents are selected to receive various coaching sessions as part of a masterclass, as well as knowledge and know-how to support them in starting their careers.
A novelty for the masterclass are the three workshops at the State Theater Augsburg on dealing with digital worlds. In Augsburg, the singing talents will learn:
- Handling 3D sound (January 2024)
- Singing in the metaverse (March 2024)
- Acting in a 360º video recording (April 2024)
Among the masterclass participants who will attend the workshops in Augsburg starting in January 2024, the Thai soprano Priya Pariyachart will also receive a role in the hybrid opera “Labyrinth” by Hauke Berheide, which will premiere on March 22, 2024. In this production at the Kühlergebäude of the Augsburg Gasworks, sound installation, opera action, and virtual reality combine to create an immersive theater experience. More information
For State Director André Bücker, artistic training in the increasingly present virtual worlds is a very important broadening of horizons. At the same time, he sees the collaboration with the renowned Liz Mohn Center as an award: “The brilliant young talents selected by the renowned ‘NEUE STIMMEN’ competition carry the most immediate art form of all – singing – into the future and pass it on to future generations. That the expertise of the State Theater is desired by the Liz Mohn Center is an award for our artistic work.”
Liz Mohn, President of the Liz Mohn Center and initiator of the International Singing Competition NEUE STIMMEN, looks positively on the new cooperation with the State Theater: “To be able to exist in a world of constant change, our young opera talents need good networking and excellent training. This also includes experiences in digital opera production. I am pleased that the State Theater Augsburg shares its knowledge with us and prepares our singers for the challenges of the digital future of the cultural industry.”
Dates of the digital workshops in Augsburg:
January 29-31, 2024: 3D sound (3 days)
Confident handling of a 3D recording situation where live communication or collaboration with the musical accompaniment is not possible.
March 4-6, 2024: Singing in the metaverse (3 days)
Natural movement in a motion capture suit, questions of modern performance capturing, and the lip synchronization generated by it.
April 8-10, 2024: 360º video recording (3 days)
Requirements of the 360° camera with its fixed depth of field and fixed position in the room for the performers/singers in front of it. Effects and possibilities of building presence.
The workshops will take place at martini-Park and Kongress am Park in Augsburg.
