Case Study 3: Puccini's Gianni Schicchi: the première in the metaverse (Spatial.io) on May 17, 2024

The trailer, made by Michal Parchimowicz, guides viewers through the virtual scenic space of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, which premiered in the metaverse (Spatial.io) on May 17, 2024.

This is the third of three case studies included in the research project Innovative Approaches in Opera: Integrating XR and AI for Enhanced Immersive Performances, coordinated by Alessandra Montali and Federico Bardazzi for the Puccini Conservatory (Italy), as part of the European project CAPHE. The project explores innovative approaches to the conception and realization of opera, integrating artistic languages and technological tools—particularly eXtended Reality and Artificial Intelligence—to develop new forms of immersive performance.

In this third case study, dedicated to Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini, the research team experimented with an innovative integration of live performance and the metaverse. While the singers performed their parts from the score in the physical space, avatars of the characters moved simultaneously in the virtual space, enacting the roles of their respective characters. The virtual sets and digital characters, designed and created by the architects of Miastopracownia, established a fully immersive environment that serves both as a stage for the scenic action and as an exploratory space for the audience, through a series of digital galleries that allow for a deeper understanding of the opera and the artistic model presented.The audience, in this third case study, assumes a dual role: they can follow the performance in the physical space, observing the singers performing from the score, while simultaneously viewing what is happening in the virtual space on a large screen via the Spatial.io platform. Moreover, spectators can access the virtual space in first person, either through smartphones or VR headsets, experiencing a fully immersive 360-degree experience.