Trailer of ORFEO & LWANDA. The Soul in spiritual and transcultural traditions. VR Hybrid Opera

The trailer for “Orfeo & Lwanda: The Soul in Spiritual and Transcultural Traditions” presents a hybrid opera prototype that includes an experimental VR Experience Opera Room alongside a physical performance. Concept and stage direction are by Carla Zanin, with music by conductor Federico Bardazzi. The production features vocal soloists, two live choirs, MIDI and physical instruments, immersive 360° sound and video scenography, two dancers, and one performer equipped with a Rokoko Smartsuit. It was created within the CAPHE project and staged on June 14th, 2024, at the Cattedrale dell’Immagine in Florence, Italy.

Italian tenor Leonardo De Lisi performed the role of Orfeo physically, while Kenyan singer Priscilla Gitonga portrayed Lwanda Magere, the African hero, both physically and virtually on the platform spatial.io. Their performances integrated immersive video projection and layered the virtual onto the physical, exploring the transformation of shared myths and legends that connect humanity across cultures through archetypes.

Orfeo, from the ancient Greek tradition, represents the Western archetype of the storyteller—a symbol of music and poetry. Like a shaman, he journeys between the upper and lower worlds, entering Hades—the realm of shadows, which are the souls. There, he becomes a shadow himself, looking and facing his darkest and hidden parts to find new inspiration through the pain of his loss, the beloved Euridice.

Lwanda Magere, from Kenyan animist tradition, is a hero akin to Achilles—his life essence residing not in his body but in his shadow. It was only by targeting his shadow that his enemies could defeat him. In the myth, death becomes a path to immortality: In fact, Lwanda is now a great eternal rock where people go to receive blessings.

“Orfeo & Lwanda: The Soul in Spiritual and Transcultural Traditions” is the result of participatory research conducted through the CAPHE project, focused on the creative process in hybrid environments. It also integrates AI tools curated by fashion designer Anna Syczewska, with a focus on scenography, costumes, and the performative presence of avatars. This hybrid creative process redefined myths, legends, roles, functions, and modes of representation.

The immersive video, directed by Carla Zanin, incorporates artworks by Alessio Bianciardi, David Tozzi, students from Kenyatta University, and the collective Narratologies from Athens. As part of the research and dissemination efforts aimed at virtual audiences, the Jagiellonian University in Kraków conducted an experimental live stream of the event within the VR space of Academia Electronica on the platform spatial.io. Presented in collaboration with Ensemble San Felice Firenze and the Academy of Art in Szczecin.