Virtual Reality meets opera at new pop-up experience on the Albert Dock

Now let’s be honest opera might not be everybody’s cup of tea but there is a new experience in town that might just change your mind. We went to check it out yesterday and it has certainly changed ours.

Welsh National Opera is currently taking to the stage at our Liverpool Empire until Saturday night and to celebrate have launched a new virtual reality (VR) experience set to captivate audiences young and old. Magic Butterfly invites visitors to step inside the world of two classic operas with re-imagined scenes from The Magic Flute and Madam Butterfly. This free experience is visiting Liverpool this week!

Our Jay having a go

Magic Butterfly is presented inside a shipping container and allows visitors to use Google Daydream technology – a mobile VR platform – to engage with the re-imagined world around them.  It is the first time that an opera company has used VR in this way to re-imagine operatic scenes and create an immersive experience using responsive animation and sound.

Magic Butterfly will be positioned close to Tate Liverpool at Hartley Quay, Albert Dock. Opening daily from 10am – 12.30pm and 2.30pm – 5pm. It’s free to attend and no booking or appointment is necessary, just drop by!

Combining motion capture, animation, music and technology, Magic Butterfly is a new artistic commission that will be intriguing for those familiar with opera and also provide the perfect introduction to those new to opera.  WNO has commissioned REWIND, an award-winning VR/AR content production agency which has delivered VR environments for Bjork, BBC and Red Bull, to develop the experience.

Magic Butterfly features an original WNO recording of Un bel di (One Fine Day) with soprano Karah Son who recently sang the role of Cio Cio San in WNO’s production of Madam Butterfly. Audiences will also be able to experience lion taming to a recording of ‘How soft, how strong your magic sound’ from The Magic Flute.

Welsh National Opera is at the Liverpool Empire 9^th – 11^th November. Book your tickets here.

Thu 9^th – 7pm – Eugene Onegin

Fri 10^th – 7.15pm – Die Fledermaus

Sat 11^th – 4pm – Die Fledermaus

Tickets available for all shows, you can book yours here.