Upload (opera)
| Upload | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Michel van der Aa | |
| Librettist | Michel van der Aa |
| Language | English |
| Premiere | 29 July 2021 |
Upload is an opera in nine scenes with music and text by Michel van der Aa. The 2021 productions were conducted by Otto Tausk and directed by Michel van der Aa. The opera was commissioned by Dutch National Opera, Cologne Opera, Bregenzer Festspiele, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Park Avenue Armory, and doubleA Foundation.[1] In October 2021 it was the New York Times critic's pick,[2] and in November 2022 won "Best Digital Opera" at the International Opera Awards ceremony in Madrid.[3]
Plot
Upload tells the story of a daughter and her father who, when confronted by his inevitable death, has his thoughts and memories "uploaded" to achieve an eternal digital consciousness. It poses age-old philosophical questions—about fate, identity, the cost of immortality, and the ethics of technological advancement—that take on new significance against a backdrop of present-day and near-future technologies.
Upload is set across two timelines: in flashbacks, a film projected onstage documents the origins and practicalities of the "uploading" procedure. In the present day, live motion-captured projections represent the father's digital avatar, which interacts with the daughter in real-time as she copes with her loss and is forced to make difficult decisions about her father's future existence.[4]
Roles
Live cast (singing roles)[4]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast |
|---|---|---|
| Father | baritone | Roderick Williams |
| Daughter | soprano | Julia Bullock |
Film cast (acting roles)[4]
| Role | Premiere cast |
|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | Katja Herbers |
| CEO | Ashley Zukerman |
| Scientist | Esther Mugambi |
| Brother-in-law | Samuel West |
| Childhood friend | Claron McFadden |
| Friend 1 | David Eeles |
| Friend 2 | Tessa Stephenson |
Orchestration
The orchestral score of the opera includes the following instruments:
- 1 flute
- 1 clarinet in B-flat
- 1 trumpet in C
- 1 French horn in F
- 1 keyboard player (Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3)<efn|1=Can be high-quality sampled instruments, like Spectrasonics Keyscape and IK Multimedia Hammond B-3X.[5]
- 1 percussion player
- 2 violins
- 1 viola
- 1 cello
- 1 double bass (low C string)
- Soundtrack (surround, laptop, 1 player)
Recording
A specially produced film version of the opera was made available on Medici.tv from July 16, 2021.[6] This was followed by the Dutch premiere on October 1, 2021, at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam. In March 2022 there were performances at the Park Avenue Armory New York and in April 2022 at the Cologne Opera.[4]
References
- ^ "Upload – production details". Dutch National Opera. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Joshua Barone (October 3, 2021). "Review: In Upload, Do Blockchains Dream of Electric Lizards?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ^ "Upload named Best Digital Opera". Dutch National Opera. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Upload". vanderaa.net. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Upload". Boosey & Hawkes. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Upload". Medici.tv. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
