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Augmented reality transforms Wagner's 'Parsifal' at Bayreuth Festival

This image released by the Bayreuth Festival shows Klingsor's Flower Maiders during a dress rehearsal of Jay Scheib's production of Wagner's "Parsifal" at the Bayreuth Festival 2023 in Bayreuth, Germany. (Enrico Nawrath/Bayreuth Festival via AP)

Overview

  • Director Jay Scheib used augmented reality goggles to create fantastical visual effects in a post-apocalyptic production.
  • The AR brought images like a moon, cloud-filled sky, and arrows shot at the audience.
  • The production paid homage to past minimalist sets while utilizing new AR technology.
  • Reviews noted the visuals were sometimes busy but often impactful.
  • The augmented reality opened new possibilities for myth and magic in the classic opera.