Olga Janković, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stanković, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade
keywords: opera, MetaHuman, digital technology, sustainability
In 2022, MetaHuman technology developed by 3Lateral - Epic Games entered the opera stage for the first time. It was used in the last scene of the chamber opera Clean Water composed by Olga Janković and staged by Natalija Stanković, premiering that autumn in Belgrade, Serbia. The main character who goes through a series of dehumanizing treatments ends up existing only as his digital self. The singer on the scene remains silent while his avatar sings the final number. Although used to depict a tragic human condition in the story, the positive impact of using MetaHuman technology in opera practices is yet to be discussed and feel optimistic about. The cooperation of opera creators and the IT sector could contribute to a cultural practice that strongly addresses young audiences' digital-orientedness, ensuring the art form's future relevance. An entire opera created with 3Lateral MetaHuman technology could reach global audiences and provide immersive experiences without the need to travel. Creating digital avatars could enable a more inclusive space in the opera world for singers with any kind of disability that prevents them from stage performances. Alongside possibilities, the limitations of integrating MetaHuman characters into opera practices are to be discussed, especially concerning the level of authenticity and emotional depth.
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Olga Janković completed her Master's degree in Composition at the Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade. Her works are being performed in Serbia, Russia, Montenegro, USA and Canada. She is engaged in cinematic music, music for video games, and is also very dedicated to interdisciplinary projects. She is the author of a whole-evening omni ballet "Krosna”, producer and one of the composers of the multimedia project "An Ordinary Man" and librettist and composer of the chamber opera "Clean Water, presented with the City of Belgrade Award for Youth Creativity in the field of art. Olga is currently a PhD student in composition at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade and working on a video opera "It Will Rain".
Natalija Stanković is an opera stage director based in Belgrade. She holds a master's degree in Music theory from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade and a master's degree in Opera Directing from Verona Opera Academy. She worked as an assistant director at the Teatro Filarmonico di Verona, Abay Opera House, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Ente Luglio Musicale Trapanese and did an internship at the Arena di Verona Opera Festival. She directed several operas, focusing on children's repertoire and contemporary Serbian composers. She is a Ph.D. student and a junior researcher at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade.