English National Opera along with HoloEdge Digital, CoSTAR Network, d&b audiotechnik, and the Guildhall Immersive Opera Fellowship are exploring how opera can be experienced through immersive 5G technology.

Through the app, HoloEdge Classical, audiences can download volumetric performances featuring 360° VR scenes, and both 3D and 2D productions to enjoy anywhere. The VR technology allows the viewer to witness the drama from any angle. There is also a livestreaming component.

So far, this technology has been used to produce ‘Tosca VR’ from the Irish National Opera and most recently, English National Opera’s “Carmen” was livestreamed from the London Coliseum to Belfast’s Studio Ulster. This performance successfully combined real-time spatial audio, low-latency 5G architecture, and scalable headset-based distribution.

The impetus for this project is to harness the power of technology to enhance the entertainment and tourism industries in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. By using this technology, these experiences are made more accessible to audiences.