INTRO
For the Historische Oper am Gänsemarkt, URBANSCREEN created animated stage designs for a live performance of the opera "Dido und Aeneas," with pieces by Purcell and Graupner, at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
The project's starting point was the Old Opera House at the Gänsemarkt in Hamburg, which existed from 1678 to 1738. Research into the building introduced the team to a baroque opera, historical instruments and period copper engravings.
Key challenges
turning children's watercolours into stage animation
projection for a live baroque performance
researching the old Gänsemarkt opera house
Stage Designs by Students
In collaboration with Ilja Dobruschkin of the Historische Oper am Gänsemarkt, URBANSCREEN developed the stage designs together with students from a fourth and a fifth grade in Hamburg and Osnabrück. Ilja and his orchestra colleagues first introduced the students to the opera's content and music; the students then responded to its emotions and themes intuitively, working with watercolors and iPads.
Animated Stage Sets
The students' designs were brought to URBANSCREEN's studio in Bremen, where they were transformed into animated stage sets for the performance, which premiered on 2 December 2020.
CREDITS
Commissioned by: Historische Oper am Gänsemarkt gUG
Premiere: 2.12.2020
Creative Direction: Till Botterweck
Dramaturgy: Lydia Liedtke
Animation and editing: Lennart Liedtke, Mali Gabrielli, Moritz Janis Richartz
Technical Implementation: LYNX Media Systems
Documentation — Camera: Lennart Liedtke, Mali Gabrielli
Documentation — Editing: Lennart Liedtke, iona w.
Documentation — Music: iona w., with excerpts from the opera
Photos: URBANSCREEN