C1 (sat) Interviewer: This is C, yes and I wanted to just ask you initially about your thoughts and feelings about the performance as a whole? Participant: So I really enjoyed it. I have not been to an opera before so I didn't have anything to base my expectations upon but I enjoyed it. I was intrigued by the whole app thing and the selfies and I was interested to see what that would come to and whether that might interfere with the whole thing but it didn't seem to do so so I found that side of things very interesting as well. Interviewer: So have you been to anything similar or would you say it was quite different to? Participant: Um, so I have been to lots of musical performances before and lots of singing performance so um so it was similar to those. I guess it was what I expected in some ways from an opera um but at the same time it had new things and so it was nice to have, to feel that I was involved, involved in it and also that I was seeing something that wasn't just another attempt to do another opera in the same form all other operas have been in. Interviewer: And were there any particular elements in the performance that stood out, either positively or negatively? Participant: So, I suppose I’m biased because my daughters in the choir, but I was intrigued by the, my wife said discordant harmonies. I, they sounded odd and yet at the same time really good and very different and so those stood out to me. Um, there were a few places where I expected the tempo to go up and it didn't at first, In the first part of it but later it did at the points where I was expecting so I enjoyed that. Interviewer: brilliant, and did you use the app at all during the show? Participant: During the interval yes but not during the actual performance. Interviewer: Okay, and what did you do during the interval with it? Participant: Just tried answering the questions and um seeing whether I could get more things right than the people who were with me. So it was being a little bit competitive about what we picked up from their, from the performance. Interviewer: Yeah and was It a deliberate choice not to use it in the show? Participant: Yes, yeah we were sort of focused on what was happening, we weren’t, it wasn't clear what the boundaries were with it and so I guess we just naturally avoided it actually during the show itself Interviewer: Where you aware of other people using it? Participant: Right at the end I noticed one person um but not, it didn't distract from the overall performance experience Interviewer: Lets see, so in the interval you did do some of the quizzes and things? Participant: Yep Interviewer: How did you feel about those? Participant: So it was interesting to see what wed picked up from the performance and what hadn’t and what we hadn’t understood. And, how surface our understanding of what had gone on had been. So that was interesting to understand. Interviewer: How did you feel when um the same kinds of quizzes came up during the performance? Participant: So, I think during the performance I was interested in the performance, it felt almost like it would have been distracting to me in terms of the performance to get it out so I, it didn't really strike me as necessary to do right at that point. Interviewer: Yep and did it feel like the same thing was going on or was it a different thing with the context it was in? Participant: It felt different because of the context definitely Interviewer: Okay and what did you make of the visual projections? Participant: I loved them, yeah I thought it was really good. Interviewer: Were there particular elements of it that you particularly appreciated or? Participant: So, I suppose I liked the way that they gave context to the stuff that was going on. So you had the bits of the films and the bits of the planning for those sceens and the interaction between those two, that was good. And then, the bit where the man pushed through the screen and became locked in it, that was quite a nice touch. I thought that was quite good. Interviewer: Did you do anything before the performance to kind of prepare for it? Participant: Yeah so we did download the app and do selfies and choose names and things like that so Interviewer: How did you feel about the selfies? Did you see yourself come up? Participant: Yes, yeah we were watching for ourselves, we saw ourselves among other people so yeah that was good, that was an interesting use of it. We were intrigued to see how it was used and it seemed, it was a nice interactive thing that didn't intrude so it broke the third wall almost, and that's the term isn’t it, it did that to some extent so it made us sort of feel part of it in some way. Interviewer: And is there anything that either you would choose to do or want to do after the performance to follow up on it? Participant: So I think that I might find myself just looking up about Farrar and finding out about her more. Just in an idle moment. I don't think I will go off and study her but it's the kind of thing that I might just oh I wonder and I might find her singing carmen and make that my daughters ring tone on my phone. Interviewer: Okay, right brilliant thank you very much. C2 (sat) Interviewer: Okay so first if you tell me a bit about what you thought of the performance as a whole, as a whole? Participant: I thought it was really engaging. Very professional. I thought it was quite slick as well, I liked how everything tied together. The set, the costume, everything felt like it came together as a whole. I didn't know the story at all so I found that really really interesting and it definitely kind of kept pace and kept me engaged for the whole performance. Interviewer: Have you been to operas before? Participant: Nope, first time Interviewer: Yeah okay, as a whole, in general did you feel it was similar or different to things you have been to before? Participant: um definitely different, it wasn't what I expected I think I didn't expect to feel so connected to the story but it was really emotive and um so I kind of found myself really getting into it as I would with kind of any production that ive seen before. So I definitely think its um, id go and see an opera again. Interviewer: Okay, brilliant. Where there any particular elements in the performance that stood out for you, either positive or negative? Participant: Um I think, I mean for a specific, the lead actress I thought her voice was incredible, she was so engaging and empowering so that definitely stood out. I really liked the projections especially onto the fringe as well, I really liked how that was used, I thought it was really really effective. Interviewer: And did you use the app at all? Participant: Yes I did Interviewer: When did you use it, before, during, after? Participant: Um I used it before and then when I saw the scrolling comments I clicked like along with them and then I saw just as I was leaving the kind of bit about her putting sounds on and getting her to engage with that but err I liked the selfie part of it as well, that was fun to see people you know Interviewer: did you do a selfie? Participant: Yes Interviewer: When did you do it? Participant: Before Interviewer: before, in the theatre or before you came at all? Participant: no, before I came in, yeah because we had, we arrived a bit early so it was nice to kind of have something to do and then encourage all the other people around us to make sure they were doing it as well so Interviewer: right okay so how did you feel when your picture came up? Participant: Yeah it was good fun, it made it um kind of more like you felt part of it. um and just a bit exciting. I thought ooh its going to be used in some way so you've got the anticipation when is it going to be used? Whens it going to come up and I didn't expect it to be interactive with the characters as well. So it was kind of very effective to have that action going on behind all of our pictures too. Interviewer: and, you said you did likes, did you kind of do quzzes and stuff as well or not so much? Participant: I did, I was clicking on one quiz but the timings were quite short so I think by the time I had realised it was time to go back on then it said time’s up, you cant answer this so, the intention was there Interviewer: Did you notice them before the show or in the interval? Participant: erm there was one before the show that came up and it had a question I thought oh er I don't know the answer to this one yet because I haven’t seen anything and so at the interval I thought oh yeah no I need to be keeping my eye on it because I saw a couple of people had their phones there and I could see some things flashing and so that prompted me to turn on mine as well. Interviewer: Okay so in the interval were you following it a bit more? Participant: Yeah from the interval onwards I was definitely following it more than the first act. Because I guess theres a sort of etiquette, you think ooh should I really have it out or should I not. Am I distracting the people around me? Interviewer: Did you notice, so you noticed other people that was in the interval. In general did it sort of feel intrusive? Participant: No it didn't, I saw that some people sort of had it open the whole time but it didn't, I think because that was an element of it, tat you kind of wanted to embrace that it didn't feel too intrusive and I guess because the backlight was all quite dark so it wasn't like bright lights flashing in peoples faces and things so, yeah I didn't really notice it. Interviewer: Okay so you mentioned the visual projections already, what did you think were the positives and negatives of those? Participant: Positives, that they kept changing all the time and actually I hadn’t noticed that they were actually constantly changing. But it was nice to keep it going and keep something fresh on the screen. I thought they were professionally layed out, the images were really good. It was nice to connect it to the history of it all really urm and it helped to tell the story urm a little bit more as well to read the newspaper headlines and that kind of thing. Um I don't know if there were any negatives about it really, I guess depending on where your sat you cant quite see everything so there were a couple of points I was trying to see the writing across the different backdrops but i mean it wasn't really an issue Interviewer: Where about were you sitting? Participant: Erm kind of central but off to the right if you’re facing the stage Interviewer: Erm, did you do anything to prepare before you came? Participant: No, I mean I had just, I had seen the poster so that was about as much as I knew so I didn't know any of the other story or anything like that. Interviewer: And so is there anything youd do to follow up from it? Participant: Yeah I mean especially if I have watched something with real characters in, I will always go away and have a bit of a research just to find out a bit more to see what was fully based on truth, whats been embellished, what happens afterwards following everything so Im really intrigued to see that side of it Interviewer: Brilliant, any other comments? Participant: Erm I think to just reiterate again that everything just seems to tie in so well. I really liked the simplicity of the digital with the set with the kind of purity of the vocals. I just thought all the elements just seemed to work so well together, like seamlessly. Interviewer: Brilliant, thank you so much for your time G1 06.04.2019 Int: What did you feel about it? What are your thoughts and feelings about what you just saw there? Part1: I thought it was really good, really good. I really liked it. Very different. Hadn’t seen something like that before Part2: Yeah enjoyed it Int: What stood out in the performance? What did you like the most? Part1: I think the use of social media was quite good. That was different. Audience participation. It was good. Part2: The film was very good, I thought the use of film was very good. And bringing in the sort of, historical content, historical context back with the film was very good. Int: Anything else? Part2: The whole stage set up was good. Part1: Yeah very simple but brilliant. Part2: The performances were great. All of them. Part1: The musicians were amazing. Int: My next question is were there any particular elements which stood out? But I think you just answered that. Part1: I think the film actually, I liked the film Int: You liked the film? Yeah? What stood out about for you about the film? Was it the story? Part1: I think when you hear about how mesmerising someone is and you see pictures of them it only gives you a certain depth. But you could just see from the film her eyes, how she floated, she just came alive on the screen. Int: Exactly, and for you is there anything about the movie that stood out particularly? Part2: I liked the way that the movie, were, you know when they were shooting the scenes, I like the way that they intertwined the movie with the opera, with the acting, yeah I thought that was very clever. Int: Did you use the mobile app? Part2: I did Part1: Yeah Int: You did? Part2: Yeah Int: So can you describe when and how you used it? Part 2: I used it a little bit but I found it, I mean it was good, I pressed a few likes on there and then in the intermission I answered some of the questions, but I did find it a bit distracting at times. I used it but minimally. But having said that, I thought it was a good thing to have included. Int: My next question was in what was did it hinder the performance Part2: It could be a little bit of a distraction but on balance I think it helped because you felt a little bit more involved in it. And again I thought it brought the historical context into today. Int: Did you feel that if you had used the app the experience would have been better for you or were you happy? Part1: I did find when the likes were coming on screen, as [Part2] said, I think it would have been, I don't understand my phone enough to make it, it would have been distracting for me so Int: Did you need any support for the mobile app during the performance? Part2: Sorry? Int: Did you need any support in using the mobile app? Part2: Erm no I thought it was straight forward Int: You were alright? Part2: Yeah Int: That's perfect, did you interact with any of the social media? Part2: No Int: No Part2: Did I during the performance? No Int: No no no, yeah during the performance Part2: Yeah during the performance no Int: During the performance. Did you take a selfie? Part1: Yes Part2: I did Int: Did it come on screen? Part2: No because I didn't post it, I took the selfie outside of the app and I only took one and my wife wouldn't let me take a second. Int: Alright, next time maybe. Part2: Next time, yeah Int: What do you think of the projections? Part2: I thought it was really clever Part1: Yeah really good yeah Part2: I thought that the curtain was very clever and the way it was used for, whats the chaps name? When he got caught behind it, I thought that was very clever. Int: How did they contribute to the narrative? Part2: Very, I think they did, I think they helped bring it to life, because it, you know because part of the narrative was about film itself so I thought it brought it to life really well. Int: Did you do anything to prepare for the performance before you came here? Part2: No, just turned up Part1: I asked my daughter about it before we came in but Int: but that was it, yeah? Would you like to do anything to follow up the performance? Part2: Erm, I might do a bit of research into the characters Part1: I will probably go home and google them, that's what I normally do Int: Uh huh yeah what are you going to google? Part1: Geraldine Farrar, its what I normally do, when I see a historical person, I go home and read about them Int: Alright that's great. That's all my questions for today, thank you for sparing your precious time. G2 (06.04.2019) Int: What do you think about what you just saw there? Part 1: Absolutely amazing. I really really really enjoyed it. I thought it was so well executed and such an amazing experience to see a brand new opera and yeah really really enjoyed it. Int: Good, what about you? Part 2: I’m not a massive fan of operas in general but this I actually quite enjoyed. Int: You did? Alright that's perfect. What elements stood out for you? Part 2: Just that it was a bit more modernised and it didn't feel like I was watching a really old story. It was like a new sort of story. Int: Alright what made it feel modern to you? Part2: It was just a modern storyline I think Int: And what stood out? Part 1: What stood out as modern? I think it was erm the whole combination of the app and erm the visuals going alongside the performance as well. I think this year, I guess knowing that it was a brand new opera as well I suppose already had that contemporary feel to it so I think that really helped. Int: Is there anything else that stood out in the entire performance which stood out particularly? Part1: Erm well I think probably the music actually of all things, I still really enjoyed the music I think as well as, as good as it was, there were so many other elements, I think the music was so well composed and performed by the singers and by the instrumentalists as well. Int: Did you use the app at all? Part1: Yes Int: Was it easy to use? (Inaudible) Part1: It was fairly straight forward from the sheets as well. Part2: Yeah that was really helpful Int: That was really helpful alright. Did you join in the social media that was happening at the end there? Part1: Actually I didn't try that during the performance. Er it was probably just more that, it was probably a combination of just being so amazed by the performance and also it, there was an element feeling so unusual holding a phone out during a performance. I think Part2: I felt that I didn't want to because in any other performance I wouldn't. It just felt a bit weird. Part1: Sure, yeah I think if there was some kind of cue that said take your phones out now or something like that, that might have felt, I would have been a bit more open to that I think. That might have been a bit, I might have been a bit more open to that I think but it was still such a (inaudible) try the app itself, it was just that it was maybe the nature of have it in the performance (inaudible) Part2: because you don't normally do it. Part1: Yeah Part2: So we’re used to switching our phones off Int: During the performance? Yeah? Did you do a selfie? Part1: Yes yes Int: Did it come up on the thing? Part1: It did yeah! Int: It did? How did you feel about it? Part1: It was, yeah, it was fine, it was interesting seeing so many faces and I tried not to let it distract me too much from the, like, the music again the performance was still so good while it was going on but it was so easy to be like oh look but not in a bad way at all Int: What about you? Part2: I didn't do one, I didn't want my face to be up in front of everyone Int: Okay, what did you think of the projections on the stage? Part2: I like those Int: Did you like it? Part2: Yes Int: What about you? Part1: Yeah it was good, I think from where we were sat, I think one of the screens was slightly blocking our view Part2: Yeah Part1: of something intense but I think that was more sort of a positioning sort of thing. In terms of the screens themselves, like right from the word go at the very start it was like wow you know it was like really gripping Int: Do you think it added to the narrative? Part1: Yeah I think so, it was nice to sort of have that variety in the opera and rather than it being a consistent singing thing it was something different. Part2: I thought that the one that wasn't a screen, the curtain thing, I thought that was really really clever because that wasn't just a screen it was sort of used for lots of different other things as well and I thought that worked really well. Int: Did you prepare for this performance before coming here? Part1: did we prepare for the performance? Erm no not really. (inauble) Int: Would you like to do anything to follow after the performance? Part1: Er how so? Int: Er maybe googling about something, maybe getting a souvenir or listen to a recording of her? Part1: Oh yeah yeah absolutely, I think yeah some sort of momento from this performance, I think id be up for that Int: Or some other lady said she would want to learn more about Geraldine (inaudible) Part2: Id do that Int: You think youd do that? Part1: yeah Int: Perfect, that's all of my questions, thank you very much for your precious time A1 (sat) Int: So just general thoughts? What were your thoughts and feelings about the performance that you've just seen? Part1: I thought it was really good, very professional Part2: yeah really enjoyed it Int: What do you think made it good? What were your, what made it professional, what made it good, any other details? Part1: I thought the, I can’t think, the stage the setting and everything Part2: the graphics and all that Part1: I thought that was part of it, all that yeah Int: And is that typical or different to other performances that you've seen? Part1: oh well we’ve never been to an opera before, first one I’ve been to Int: Okay so first opera, what about other theatre style functions Part2: For what it was about its on par with the other sort of stuff we’ve seen isn’t it? Part1: I don't know what you mean Part2: The first thing is it was professional Part1: yeah I thought it was very professional so on par with things we’ve seen in big theatres Part2: yeah Int: erm, and were there any particular elements of the performance that stood out to you? Part1: I quite liked, I mean this is only really a minor bit really but you know the bit where he is knocked out, I thought that worked really well Part2: yeah when he went through the curtain yeah Part1: yeah and then he was trying to get back in Part2: he was trying to get back I thought that was very effective Part1: and I thought it worked really well Int: and had you seen anything like that in a performance before? Part1: no, not like that no no, I also liked that when you’re listening to singers you don't always take the words in so I liked the fact that the text was above so you just looked and it helped me to follow it more even though they were speaking in English yeah (inaudible) often when they’re singing you don't catch every word, well I don't always catch every word Part2: and when they’re speaking in German or French you catch nothing Int: Just out of interest, was it um, we were quite concerned about the height of that, keeping it out the way but not so much so that your Part1: well it depends on where your sat Part2: it depends on the situation of the theatre and where your sat Part1: I expect that if your sat on the front row you’d be looking, we were okay weren’t we Part2: it was right in front of me, so it was alright there Part1: yeah Int: for you it became part of the rest of the performance materials as such the rest of the stage Part1: yeah well I don't think it was, it definitely wasn't a hindrance so I found it quite good yeah Int: Did you use the mobile app? Part1: no and I’ll tell you why, you know you go to the theatre and what is the procedure, no mobiles, they'll come on, no mobiles, no photography you know I mean we went to the theatre think it was last week, somebody was taking photographs, other people pointed at them so you tend to think no because it’s too light I didn't look at it once and I had lost the app (inaudible) Part2: It surprising that people are still doing that because (inaudible) copyrights the law isn’t it Part1: yeah but [part2] this was meant to be part of it, this was Part2: yeah this was a different sort of Part1: when it came to answering the questions, when you could see what you were doing but id lost app then, I don't know where it had gone Int: So you had connected to it before the performance? Part1: that was probably my fault, yeah I had got it there yeah, Int: okay Part1: I took a photograph and sent it Int: Right okay yeah yeah, which we used? Part1: but I don't know where its gone now, itll be on here somewhere I suppose Int: At what point did you use the app, was that during the performance or before? Part1: before, ooh its back, ah no its photographing the table, I don't know where it is anyway Int: okay and did you use any of the, did you look through any of the materials before the performance started Part1: Ive got to be honest as soon as I got the programme, I looked at the programme, I don't like reading things on, if I can read things on paper Id rather read them than on a screen, and so I thought the programme was excellent but that's only my opinion, because your more savvy with things like that than we are, we don't, its not that we don't Int: I think the programmes lovely (inaudible) Part3: we did Part1: its not that we don't (inaudible) but if ive got a paper there and a screen there, I will read the paper and youre the same aren’t you Int: So it sounded like, from what you said at the start that it felt, it didn't feel right to have the phone in your hand and then used in the performance Part1: no because every time we go to a theatre, you know, its there that people say to you please turn off your mobile phone and you get used to that and now im more comfortable with my phone turned off and put in my bag. Youre the same aren’t you, can you talk? Part2: I didn't think of picking my phone up Part1: no Part2: (inauble) Part1: but that might be age Part2: it probably is Part1: yeah younger people Int: so even in a sense it was, you know, it wasn't necessary to use it it was an optional thing to use but did you, it felt uncomfortable to you? Part1: well it felt uncomfortable to us, now younger people probably thought ooh good I can use my phone and I can follow it along like that, I think it's a age thing Int: So you donated a selfie, so you know even though there is a disagreement in whether It appeared up there, you donated one. Was that because Part1: I thought that was good fun and I looked forward to seeing it at the end, it was probably In the bit at the beginning Int: Well I do, I have a moderation screen so they all appear so we can, just in case someone sends one through that's you know, inappropriate, we can reject it Part1: reject the inappropriate ones, maybe you rejected it and then you know (inaudible) when your like ooh look there’s [part], there’s [part], they’re not even here Part3: its working, its working keep going Int: So you quite liked the idea of that but im assuming you, had I not been here and doing this, would you have donated a selfie or would you have thought er no Part1: Because somebody like [part] was there it was sort of like fun (inaudible) Int: Did he come and help you? Part1: yeah he very kindly helped me, didn't we, so when we got in that was a bit of fun you know, perhaps I would have done that but after that I put my phone away, well it was, yeah but as I say I think that's an age thing Part2: It is, yeah Int: So what process, or purpose rather, did the selfies play in the opera itself? Part1: well that was a bit of fun at the end I think, I think it was just a bit of fun appropriate for that bit of the, at any time, it was the chap, it was the same screen weren’t it where he was trying to get back in and he was snipping at them wasn't he, I thought that was good Int: Did it fit into the narrative or did it, was it just great fun and a bit of fun? Part1: It probably did but in a light hearted way I think but I don't think it distracted anybody or anything did it, I think it was okay yeah Int: Okay and you mentioned briefly about projections, what were your thoughts about all the visual projections as a whole, did they, were they effective, did they get in the way of the action, following the performance or Part1: I thought they were very effective Part2: I was surprised to see (inaudible) Part1: but we like that sort of think don't we, I like it, it sort of brings it more to you if you like Part3: you feel more part of it don't you Part1: and I think that the film was excellent Int: And its hilarious isn’t it Part1: yes Int: It really is terrible in a brilliant way you know Part1: what makes me smile you know is that now there would be a full on snog but they didn't though, they’d get to nearly lips to lips but that was sort of Part3: but he had his hand on her chest, I though ooh Part2: a bit much Part1: I didn't notice that but yeah Part2: so no Int: a couple of other quick ones, did you prepare in any way for this performance? Did you go onto the website, have a look at it, did you seek out any information? Part1: I did last night, she sent me a text message saying but only really found out where it is, but I did know that it was, or perhaps you told me last week about her losing her voice and what have you, I suppose we tend not to whenever we go to the theatre don't we? Part2: yeah you do really because you don't want to know too much about it before we get there do you? Part1: No Part2: it's the same when you see a film, you’re not sort of like, if they haven’t seen it you don't tell them too much, or I wouldn't anyway Part1: and I found it quite informing anyway, you still sit and it held you all the time so erm we don't always read up on things before we go, I mean perhaps you see a bit in the paper and you think oh that's alright but Part2: I read a lot of film reviews, don't we? You know the film reviews when they give them like 2 out of 5 (inaudible) Part1: we really enjoyed it so no we don't always Part2: one persons opinion is different (inaudible) Int: final question, do you, so I suppose this is two part one, would you follow up on seeing a performance like this? Would you want to seek out a recording of it? or watch a, you know, a video of it? or some other information? Would you take the programme away and look at it later on? Part2: oh yes Part1: yeah we’ve got the programme, oh sorry Int: it’s just do these things have a lifespan beyond the end of a performance for you or is it that's done, I wouldn't really go and engage with it again or seeking out other information about it Part1: I would go and see it again or whatever you say because there are always things that you miss and I (inaudible) there is always something that you've missed. Always, you think oh there so yeah. Programmes, we will read it when we get home and it will go away with everything else and then its put away with everything else and probably wont come out again, we will read it but then its put away Part2: yeah, fair enough, if we see someone acting and think wow that's great we will often go on the internet and find out all the facts about him Part1: yes yes Int: had either of you heard of Geraldine Farrar then? Part2: I seemed to recollect the name from somewhere Part1: yeah see your better at that than I am Int: so would you, I mean you know, were not (inaudible) but would you go away and think oh actually I would like to find out a bit more about her Part1: well possibly, [part2] probably will tonight, he’ll look and say oh look at all the years and yeah Int: do you? Part2: when I see someone that's different, like the fella Tom Hanks, did you see the film about the fella that (inaudible) I went and immediately read the book. Probably yeah I will look at Geraldine I cant remember her last name now but yeah. And I found that interesting and I found their life stories interesting, reading what happened to her and what age she was when she died and things like that just to, you know. Yeah. Int: So would you be interested in, and its not going to happen so don't worry, so say for example you did use the app in the performance and there is all this information on it, if this information was updated over the following weeks and months, would you go back to look at it to find out information? Part1: yes we would but when you put up the thing you put up, I don't think we would be savvy enough to, I didn't even realise until I think it was the second time it came up what was happening and I thought ooh its from this end and by the time I had looked over across the app but again, this is a younger persons thing I think so I don't think that's anything to do with the corners of the technology or anything, its just you know, we’re not used to that interaction if you like, we’re a pain a suppose aren’t we Int: okay P2 (Sat) Part: I’m a lover of gramophones, steam trains and so on. I haven’t a computer, my wife does that I have nothing to do with it Int: So you knew of her before you came along today Part: Yes, Yes – I’m wondering of what use I can be to you in filling this out Int: oh well I’m not sure until you do Part: I haven’t an app, that's the thing Int: Quite a few people didn't want to use the app who I spoke to earlier because they maybe felt it disrupted their enjoyment – Yeah so it’s interesting to ask which people do and which people don't Part: I think it’s also a generation thing Int: Do you ever use any apps? Part: No, I don't Int: Do you have a mobile phone? Part: I do have a mobile phone but it’s very simple and I haven’t got it with me Int: Oh, Okay, because it’s quite unusual in some ways for it to be encouraged to have people use phones in your performance Part: Certainly, in a performance, oh no. Int: So, are you a regular goer to opera? Part: Yes, I go to the transmissions of the Metropolitan Opera which are shown at Broadway, We go to most of those. Int: Is that a regular, they do that regularly do they? Part: Yes, usually at least one a month – between September and April Int: (Consent Forms) – So what were your thoughts about the performance as a whole? Part: I was surprised by its level, I thought it would be the students participating purely on a marginal level and we would be listening for the majority of time to Farrar’s own recordings – which only happened at the end. So I was a little (inaudible) but a little disappointed. Int: “Disappointed” you say. So you were expecting more of Farrar’s actual media? Part: Yes, a few years ago I went to the museum of the moving image on the south bank. And they did have such a thing with Farrar’s recordings of Carmen, complete, with the screened film background so that was sort of what I was expecting to see. Int: So was the performance, the singing, the actual on stage singing, was that not quite up to what you were hoping for? Part: I didn't know it was going to exist. I can’t say that, but I can say that it was higher than I expected. I thought it would be something of a kind, I thought it would be students and amateur based which it was not. It was a very high standard. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it more than opera north I may say! Int: I don't know much about Opera so I couldn't tell quite if it was good or bad. So, were there any particular elements of the performance that stood out, either good or bad for instance? Part: I thought the interactions between Lilli Lehmann and Geraldine Farrar were very well done. I thought the emotions came across. And I also thought, as I said, I enjoyed the high standard of their voices. Int: How about the onstage things like the screens or the film that was shown? Part: I thought it was ve...I thought it was ingeniously done. But I found myself turning my head from side to side to look at the side projections which personally I felt I could have done without. Int: How about the subtitles, did you watch those? Part: I watched the, I didn't realise there were overhead subtitles until towards the end. But for the rest of it, yes I did watch them but most of it, I reckon I understood what they said. Personally I felt you didn't need them. Int: Okay, that's interesting. So obviously you didn't use the mobile app, or the social media but is there anything else about the new technology in there that you felt worked, or didn't work? Or was surprisingly good or bad? Part: I thought...I talked just now about the side pieces, parts of it, I thought were ingenious where particularly the Farrar character appeared, and we actually saw her movements and emotions getting larger. I thought that was good providing it did not impede on the action, which for most of the time, it did not. Int: Well that's good, nicely not too distracting. Well I will leave you too it. J2 (sun) Int: So I am here with this lovely gentleman whose name is Participant 93 and this lovely lady who is participant 94. And so, my question to you first, and I will ask you both – what were your thoughts and feelings about the performance? Part94: It was a new experience for me because I have never been to the opera before. So erm, I did enjoy it, I was quite surprised although I didn't understand a lot of it but Int: What is it that you didn't understand? Part94: Erm I suppose it’s just because I haven’t been to an opera before so its interpreting it Int: Yeah Part93: I found it difficult to follow Int: In what way? Par93: Erm, my mind always races around, I sort of find it difficult to follow a lot of things so in a way, its not just the opera, it's many things in life. But I really did enjoy what I picked up. And I found it, yeah, very enjoyable Int: Okay, did you find lots of things going on made it harder to concentrate and follow what was going on or easier? Part93: Yeah I was tracking around on my own comfort uh to the subtitles and then to the faces of the actors and just tracking around where it was most comfortable and found that to be the most comfortable way that I could follow. I didn't follow it as much as id have liked to because it was a great performance and I would have liked to have been able to take more of that on. Int: Erm, have you been to the opera before? Part93: No Int: Oh okay Part93: Ive seen some on television but a short amount, never a full performance Int: Okay cool wow, so what brought you here tonight then? Part94: We just happened to be here in the café and I think we asked somebody what time it was or oh no, we were in the café and she was saying there was a show on here tonight so you [part93] went to enquire about it and got some tickets. Int: Wow, okay, that's even better! Because, you know, for events like this, for research, its often friends or researchers or (inaudible), so you guys are like genuine, off the street, just curious people, that's amazing! So were there any particular elements of the performance that stood out for you? Either good or bad? Part93: I really like the facebook feed, I thought that was completely different, I had never seen anything like that before in my life. To put a facebook feed with classical opera, I thought that was very very different. I cant explain, I just found it very patchwork, yeah. Int: Okay, how about you? Part94: I like um the singing and the subtitles so it was easier to understand because otherwise we might not know what all the words were Int: yeah some English is very difficult (inaudible). So neither of you used the mobile app? Part 94: No Part93: No, I got it half loaded and then I gave up, I just went in because the bell rang. Int: Yeah you had genuine technical issues. Did you try to use the app? Part94: No Int: Was there a particular reason you decided not to? Part94: Urm, Im not very good with technology Int: Urm, that's no problem, a lot of people didn't use it. I apparently have problems with paper Prt93: I think you are good with technology Int: Do you? Part93: Yeah Part94: I know the basics Int: but you thought the way it was integrated on stage in the second act was really important for you? Yeah? Part93: Yeah Int: What about you? What did you think of that section? Part94: Sorry what was the question Int: In the second half of the opera, when they had the social media sort of things, on the screens and behind, did that work for you? Part94: Yeah I found it interesting even though I didn't really engage with it Int: okay, yeah, so you liked seeing it? Part94: Yeah Int: okay and so neither of you contributed one of the selfie photographs Part 94: did you? Part93: no, I couldn't (inaudible) Int: So nobody grabbed you and made you take a selfie? Part94: No Int: what did you think in particular about the visual projections? And whether or not they contributed to the narrative Part94: um, I thought they were very good cos I like that sort of thing anyway, yeah the black and white old films so yeah Int: So you thought it went along with it Part94: yes it did Int: Okay, and you? Part93: Yeah I saw one of the comments and it was about the main character, I forget her name now but I think it was, ur sorry. I cant think of the word for it. Int: Okay, urm so you did not do anything to prepare for the performance? Part93: No Int: Did you read the programme before it started or anything? Part94: I just read the write up of it, you know the storyline, you know to know what was going on. Int: Yeah okay, and how about you? Part94: I struggled with, well I was half trying to download the app and was trying to get help with that and half trying to concentrate on that. And erm when I tried to read, especially in pressurised situations I find it very difficult to picture what’s on the paper and what on (inaudible). I tried my best. Int: Oh that's fine, so you really were going in almost completely fresh? Part93: Yeah Int: And then, this isn’t like your supposed to yes, we are just curious, would you like to do anything or do you wish there was anything you could do to follow up the performance like if there was a recording of a souvenir? Or a way to connect with the app? Par93: Yeah, I would Int: Anything in particular? Part93: Nah, I just would like to follow it on and to put more energy into it, it would be great. Like I say, I feel like ive missed parts so Id like to come back and give it another whirl because if there is one thing in my life that I do regret, its not putting my all into things. And when im given a signal or a direction, and im not following that direction, I always feel good afterwards. I do, yeah I do (inaudible) Int: okay, and how about you? Part94: yeah I didn't, this is going to show my ignorance of opera but I mean of history, but I didn't even realise it was a true story Int: I wouldn't have, I didn't know Prt94: no, that makes me feel better Int: No and no one would. I was actually a trained singer and I had never heard of this. Yeah I know caruso, and I know all the others they were referring to but I would have never (inaudible) myself. So yeah, don't feel bad Part93: whos caruso? Int: Urm a famous opera singer from that time Part93: and the time was? Int: In the early 20th century Part93: so early 20th? Int: yeah late 18th and early 19th yeah Part93: oh so late 18th and early 19th Int: No, late 19th and early 20th, was what I meant to say so late 1800s, early 1900s. yeah im sorry im misspeaking Part93: yeah so early 1900s is 20th Int: Yeah that's what I meant, its late what can I say. Erm so okay you were saying if you were interested in following this up in some kind of way or not? Part94: Id like to read about the story of it, it sort of intrigued me Int: okay Part94: yeah Int: Is there anything else youd like to say? Part93: I think I did say it but I would like to fill in the gaps so I could actually recite the story and know more about it. I cant kick myself for not being able to know it Int: no, of course not Part93: although I do a little bit but I would like to fill it up because it is a bit patchy Int: okay, anything else? Part94: It was just totally unexpected for me so Int: Okay great!