Constrained creativity : a digital presentation of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte

Abstract

This practice-based thesis investigates the processes involved in the creation of a digital opera production under constrained conditions. In the wake of the World Health Organisation declaring a global pandemic in early 2020, stringent lockdown restrictions were implemented to help curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The subsequent closure of all performance venues greatly impacted the performance of opera. Academic activities on university campuses were also suspended with immediate effect. This caused the indefinite postponement of the annual production of the Classical Voice and Opera Studies programme at the School of the Arts, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. It was imperative to find a way that would permit the students to still perform in a production. In consultation with the singing lecturers and programme director, it was decided that we would endeavour to create a digital presentation of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte KV 620. This opera was selected for its suitability as a student workshop production. In addition, its fairy-tale setting would lend it well to a digital interpretation. Adopting a practice-based approach allowed for the investigation of both the practice as well as the artefact created through said practice. The research design proposed by Steele (2016) was used, as it corresponds to the different phases associated with the creation of an artefact, namely planning and preparation, practical studio action and reflection. The actions taken and techniques developed during the first two phases are presented with image examples that highlight the progression of the design and creation of the opera. Both the planning and preparation and practical studio action phases posed many challenges requiring unique and creative interventions. Also included is a discussion of the different freeware and shareware applications that were utilised in the creation of the audio and visual elements, as well as in the final compilation of the production. The digital component of the production is contextualised as an integral part of the creative expression and not simply as a means to present the performance to an audience. Footage of the participants, with background removed, was layered onto digital scenic elements, creating the illusion of a performance on a virtual stage. All recordings were made on the participants’ own devices, in their own homes. Therefore, the results of the research presented in this study indicate that there are several sustainable solutions for the design and development of a digital opera performance, even under severely constrained conditions.