The Nine Lives of Zosimos
– a telematic opera across four countries

The libretto has nine scenes and a prologue, set in different locations in four countries: Norway, Sweden, Germany and Egypt. The methodological design builds on cyclical processes applied similarly on each location. 

In stage 1 each site will be explored through field recordings, documentary video and performances and interviews with local artists. All sites will be documented with spherical (360) camera and 3D sound. A spherical camera accommodates virtual presence in remote places, and spheres will be used as backdrop for media objects, and accommodate actors’ virtual presence across multiple locations.

Stage 2 involves a larger team of researchers, where instrument design will have both compositional and scenographic consequences. In stage 2 and 3, individual performers relevant to the scene, will also collaborate in the compositional process. A central compositional challenge is the weaving together of materials from different genres and historic periods.

In stage 3, the design of the dramaturgy for live, telematic performance will be woven together with 360-material, composition of music, choreography and scenography. To create an efficient workflow scenes will be created in a geographical order, starting in Bergen. These processes are documented on video and subject to analysis using stimulated recall. The analysis generates an intersubjective understanding of the artistic processes as it unfolds, and thereby contributes to the design of the next cycle of artistic experimentation.

A continuous process of interface design is distributed across the entire project. This entails creation of telematically distributed instruments, as well as design of interactive textiles and other tools. We explore interface design as an aspect of composition as well as of creating the scenography. This work is largely carried out in studios at HVL and UDK. Interface design is carried out in direct interaction with the three-folded process of staging each scene and embraces the artistic creation in the project: field recording, documentary filming, composing choreography and music; testing interfaces through telematic performance; devising the dramaturgy through the design of the live-video, all leading up to the premiere of Zosimos in the final telematic opera production.