A groundbreaking event marks a turning point in music production: for the first time, a new opera has been rehearsed entirely remotely, with singers, conductor, and composers connected from Finland, Poland, and Italy.

This innovative experiment opens up new possibilities for international artistic collaboration. Yesterday saw the first musical rehearsals for the Butterfly project, conducted entirely remotely. The Teatro Comunale dell’Opera di Modena, Opera Bałtycka in Gdańsk, and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki are collaborating on the creation of three new operas.

The entire creative and production process relies on the use of the internet and LoLa (Low Latency) technology, an ultra-HD audio/video system with low latency, used globally for remote musical performances and developed by GARR and the Conservatorio Tartini in Trieste. All dress rehearsals are held online, minimising travel for artists and technicians, reducing the environmental impact.

Thanks to the collaboration between national research networks GARR (Italy), PSNC (Poland), Funet/Nordunet (Finland and Scandinavia), and the European network GÉANT, LoLa technology ensured a stable and synchronised connection, allowing the orchestra to perform as though in the same room. GARR, along with the Conservatorio Tartini and Lepida, supported the Teatro dell’Opera di Modena by providing network infrastructure, technical support, and consultancy. Fibre optics ensured perfect audio and video quality, recreating a live experience.

Rehearsals will continue throughout the week in preparation for the staging of the operas in the three cities between April and May. The goal? To demonstrate that an opera production can be sustainable, reducing travel without compromising artistic quality. A concrete step towards a greener future for music.

Photo credits: Krzysztof Mystkowski

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