Status: completed
Not only time, but distance also turns out to be relative. The diva of this VR experience is the towering opera star Astoria, who sings especially for you about your crazy love for her. That’s space opera for you! ‘Fernweh’ means the longing for far-off places; maker Daniël Ernst gives this term a quite unique, virtual translation.
His VR project Die Fernweh Oper focuses on distance; distance between memories of the past and the present, and between a star and a human. But especially between the visitors and the virtual world, with an opera singer towering fifteen metres above you and sweeping you along on an endless opera journey.
In the first phase of the project, K.O. Productions produced the premiere at Cinekid in 2016, which later traveled to the Frankfurter Buchmesse, allowing audiences to encounter this unique blend of storytelling, music, and immersive virtual space. In the final phase, K.O. Productions produced the world premiere at SXSW Festival in 2019, followed by a showcase at Cannes in the same month. The project went on to receive the Golden Calf for Best Interactive in 2019, cementing its place as a milestone in VR storytelling and interactive literature.
Credits:
Artist: Daniel Ernst
Script: Maud Vanhauwaert & Daniel Ernst
Sound Design: Armeno Alberts
Sound Editing: Max Sombroek
Music: Misha Velthuis & Naren Chandavarkar
Animation: Daniel Ernst & Nicholas Pittom
Exhibited at:
– Cinekid Festival (2016)
– Frankfurter Buchmesse (2016)
– SXSW Festival (2019) (world premiere)
– Cannes Film Festival (2019)
– Netherlands Film Festival (2019)
Awards
– Golden Calf for Best Interactive, the Netherlands Film Festival (2019)
