Britten meets computer games technology
(September 2003)
A ground-breaking new educational CD-ROM explores Britten's Peter Grimes using the latest computer games technology
Developed by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in association with software designers Immersive Education, In2Arts(Opera) is an interactive teaching package which is being sent free to all 4700 state secondary schools in England, thanks to financial support from the Department for Education and Skills.
The CD-ROM provides a games-based introduction to opera, allowing children to manipulate and position characters within the set to become instant directors of the action, while cross-curricular teaching resources embrace Music, English, Art, Drama, Geography and History. The project links into Covent Garden’s production of Peter Grimes in July 2004, staged by Willy Decker, including a planned schools matinee performance.
Michael Spencer, the Royal Opera House's Head of Adult and Community Learning said: "There were a number of considerations that led us to choose Peter Grimes. Whilst undoubtedly being a pillar of the 20th century operatic repertoire it embraces many of the common operatic conventions (aria, recitative, ensemble etc) and offers many different avenues for musical exploration. There is a strong and clear narrative with a complex and interesting use of the characters and their interaction, and the libretto is in English (with links back to English literature via George Crabbe's The Borough). The challenging subject matter is engaging and the setting provides rich possibilities for extension into other areas of the curriculum."
> Further information on Work: Peter Grimes
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