Minecraft Opera Gets Debut Tonight at Virginia Tech; Show Will Stream Live Online

Minecraft will get musical this week, when 30 students at Virginia Tech perform an opera based on the classic video game. The project will debut at the Center of the Arts' Cube space tonight, December 4, and will be streamed live online. To tune in, visit: https://new.livestream.com/operacraft

OPERAcraft's goal is to provide an opportunity for high school students to create and perform a fully produced virtual opera. Starting with music borrowed from Mozart operas and a specific number of characters, the project inspires high school students to create a story and then the libretto; create the virtual set through a custom version of ubiquitous Minecraft video game/sandbox; create avatars for each character; and control said avatars within the confines of the virtual world, including body gestures, lip-syncing with real singing soloists, as well as multiple real-time camera feeds akin to that of a live video production.

The interactive set is projected on a scrim while Virginia Tech music majors sing the finalized score and the high school students control the character avatars. This project is generously funded by the Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology and supported through the institute's IMPACT Studio.

For tickets, visit: https://www.artscenter.vt.edu