Opera House releases new digital programming to bring community together in tough times
The Sydney Opera House will turn homes around the world into tiny, individual theatres today with a free program of online events and performances to entertain the masses as coronavirus restrictions force people in hibernation.
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The Sydney Opera House on Wednesday launches a free program of online events and performances that will turn people's homes into individual theatres.
The program is designed to be enjoyed simultaneously by a global audience, although viewers will be free to watch on demand.
The Opera House was keen to launch this new digital offering because the arts are a vital focal point to lift the spirits of the community in tough times, CEO Louise Herron said.
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"The Opera House was built to serve the community through thick and thin, and this is a bit of a thin time," Ms Herron said.
"From our house to yours, let's put some great digital content up. Every day from Wednesday to Sunday there will be one new piece of content. It will be announced in advance, and people will be able to go online and basically share the experience."
The Opera House trialled the idea on Saturday with Piano Day, an event that was watched by 50,000 people around the world.
"There was simultaneous chat the whole way, and also some really interesting comments that people had," Ms Herron said.
The new weekly program will see live recordings, never-before-seen footage, podcasts, long-form articles and behind-the-scenes content broadcast on the Opera House website, according to program director Fiona Winning.
"We're hoping that people will really love this," Ms Winning said. "We'll make it as relevant, uplifting and inspiring as possible, and always encouraging for people to comment and find ways for us to improve what we do."
The digital offerings roll out at 6pm. The first week of programming will show the diversity of what the Opera House does best.
On Wednesday Missy Higgins' live concert on the Opera House Forecourt on Valentine's Day last year will be broadcast.
On Thursday, it will broadcast a filmed in-conversation with American writer Chanel Miller, whose book is about her experience of sexual assault and the legal system. The talk was originally heard this year in the Opera House's All About Women festival.
On Friday, film footage of last year's Dance Rites competition will be broadcast. This event drew 350 indigenous dancers to the Opera House from across Australia.
"Dance Rites is a competition but it's also where communities pass on and revitalise song, dance and language," Ms Winning said.
On Saturday, the offering will be the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart in Beethoven's masterful Ninth Symphony.
And on Sunday the site will host a screening of The Writers Room with Celia Pacquola, Josh Thomas, Luke McGregor and Dan Harmon. These television show writers will share their secrets on such topics as character creation and plot development.
"We will over time build up a whole range of work on the site," Ms Winning said. "We're learning from doing this. We might not have done a digital program in this way had it not been for COVID-19 but we're responding to this moment and going what's possible? What can we do?"
While the Opera House remains empty of everyone but security officers and safety teams, it is still buzzing with builders as the $150 million project to renovate the Concert Hall continues apace, Ms Herron said.
Check the Opera House website for digital program times.