OPENDRAMA - Networking Opera

Opera is one of the most universally known and
appreciated forms of art. Its heritage encompasses four
centuries of creation, performance, criticism, emulation and
- in modern time - analogue and digital recording on vinyl
records, CDs, DVDs and video tapes/video discs. Despite
the wide availability of audiovisual reproductions, though,
no significant result has yet been attained in delivering the
magic of opera to users in deeply interactive, creative and
entertaining ways, by making use of multimedia technology
and extending beyond the constraints of off-line
media. The failure of dedicated hybrid media such as the
ill-fated Enhanced CD or CD Extra has further constrained
a potentially huge market, that is now ready to endorse a
new generation of high-quality network services
encompassing both rich-interactivity broadcasts and
sophisticated "opera-on-demand" personal and group
experiences.

Aim of the project is the development and integration
of advanced multimedia solutions in order to provide new
enhanced user experience in the dynamic interaction with
the heritage of lyric opera and other vocal dramatic music
(cantatas, oratorios, masses, Lieder, society and
entertainment music, etc.). The main objective is to open
this unique heritage to a novel dimension of learning,
exploring and entertainment, with a special emphasis on
real-time and multi-user interaction and on the delivery of
rich and adaptive cultural objects on telecommunications
networks based on the Internet and its integration with
other media.