iTunes U gives a new stage to the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House is the first performing arts organisation in Europe (and only the third in the world), to launch its own iTunes U materials which currently includes over 300 items of multi-media content available for free download.

iTunes U is a unique and specialised area of the iTunes store which was initially designed to allow Higher Education institutions to make audio and visual content available to students for download and subscription. Today, there is a myriad of information available from a range of educational and cultural organisations which allows individuals to access exciting content, much of which was previously unreleased or unavailable. It is anticipated that The Royal Opera House will increase their own materials to feature some 1,000 items over the course of 2010. But what is the content and who is it for?

Behind the scenes
For many, a trip behind the scenes of an opera or ballet performance at The Royal Opera House remains an unfulfilled fantasy, yet The Royal Opera House on iTunes U can now offer exactly that. Whether you have a love affair with the performing arts, are studying, training or working within this cultural sector, or even just want to find out what opera and ballet can offer, there is so much to choose from. There are downloads in a range of formats including: ‘Swan Lake’, ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Giselle’ in rehearsal, conversations with performing arts pioneers and performers such as Mara Galeazzi, Principal of La Scala and Tenor Rolando Villazon and resources and tools such as: ‘Opera Behind the Scenes’ and ‘Ballet Teaching Resources’. Here you will also find audio tracks and visual trailers that take you into the heart of the performances and give a real insight into the power and majesty of productions that respect historical evolvement and context, as well as convey contemporary interpretations. This is performance art for the 21st century.

Performing Arts for all
The true beauty of this multi-media digital platform is the accessibility it provides in a range of formats. The Insights selection of downloads, which were taken from a range of successful events, includes highly informative and captivating discussions that provide a unique opportunity to find out more about the Royal Opera House productions. These include interviews with choreographers, directors and cast, as well as the background to the music featured and other more practical information sessions. Because of the way the materials have been created, it’s a great opportunity to experience what feels like a personalised journey of discovery around the characters and stories, which helps to explain some of the more complex scenes and drama. Watching a young performer take on intricate scenes guided by the Director of the Royal Ballet, for example, is inspiring and enchanting, and reveals a more vulnerable side to the polished perfection audiences are used to seeing on stage.

If you thought you had to be a ballet or opera aficionado to understand or appreciate any of these materials, then think again. This platform uncovers new insights into the global institution that is the Royal Opera House and with that comes the power to engage truly diverse audiences. It brings performance art to life and makes it real for audiences across the world to enjoy. Best of all, it’s entirely free!