chasing waterfalls | AI Opera Introduction

Symbiosis of humans and machines in an AI opera

You never step into the same river twice: it’s the same with the digital landscape, which changes in the blink of an eye.

The AI opera chasing waterfalls, depicting the human pursuit of the intangible digital self, receives its world premiere at Dresden’s Semperoper this September. Co-commissioned by the New Vision Arts Festival, this opera – developed and co-presented by the German multimedia artist collective “phase7 performing.arts” – makes its Asian premiere in Hong Kong. Local rising musical star Angus Lee co-composes the music and also assumes the role of conductor, while Berlin's Studio for Sonic Experiences “kling klang klong” contributes the electro-acoustic composition alongside the innovative AI voice which was specially created together with T Systems MMS – following the algorithms of the music, AI therefore engages in deep learning and gradually becomes sentient…

We are somewhere between Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. AI learns to simulate pixels and the singing voice, even challenging real-life opera singers. “Ego” (I) and “Ego fluens” (the fluid I) chase each other to the point where it becomes hard to differentiate between real and fake. In the end, even the audience becomes a part of the digital waterfall.

As boundaries gradually dissolve, can “I” insist on my veracity and ability to think as “human”?

Show Details

• chasing waterfalls | AI Opera
• Date & Time: 5 Nov 2022, 20:00 | 6 Nov 2022, 15:00
• Venue: Kwai Tsing Theatre
• Address: Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre, 12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong

Ticket Details

• Tickets are available at URBTIX from 9 Sep onwards
• Price: HKD 580 / 480 / 380 / 280

Remark

Approx 1 hr 15 mins with no interval

Please arrive on time. Latecomers will only be admitted at a suitable break

Performed in English and German with Chinese and English surtitles

Meet-the-artist sessions after 5 Nov performance

Credits

Conductor: Angus Lee

Concept: Sven Sören Beyer, Johann Casimir Eule, Christiane Neudecker

Staging: Sven Sören Beyer

Set Design: Sven Sören Beyer, Pedro Richter

Costume Design: Pedro Richter

Lighting Design: Henning Schletter

Visuals: Studio Eigengrau, Frieder Weiss

Composition: Angus Lee, kling klang klong

AI Creation: kling klang klong, T Systems MMS (Technical Support)

Audio Supervision: Das DUR / Christian Steinhäuser, Max Trieder

Dramaturgy: Johann Casimir Eule

Real Me/Virtual Me: Eir Inderhaug

Live Music: Hong Kong New Music Ensemble

Information Source: New Vision Arts Festival's official website