First Person Singer – Pilot Study and Prototype

The First Person Singer (FPS) project aims to experimentally create prerequisites for a
new operatic format offering the audience first-person perspectives from individual
characters through personalized streaming. By equipping opera singers with body
cameras and microphones, the project allows beholders to experience the plot through the eyes and voices of individual performers. This approach enables multiple musicodramatic experiences and performances can be revisited sequentially from different point of views to provide new empathic insights and emotional depth over time. Key to the project is the development of a prototype, set to be tested in 2025, which will explore the technical and creative challenges of integrating first-person perspectives into opera. Furthermore, questions about how technology can expand and support the role of the opera singer in a digital context are in focus. Unlike many interactive operas that minimize singer’s achievement or replace them with avatars, the concept ensures the singer remains an active, multimodal agent at the center of the performance. The project also sparks philosophical and societal discussions, aiming to challenge traditional opera norms and audience expectations. Connecting to broader societal shifts, fostering access to art and inviting reflection through multiple perspectives, it aims to engage new audiences, promote viewpoint diversity, and encourage critical reflection on the complexities and ethical issues of the human digital experience.