Check out the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Flash driven Boston Pops.TV mini-site.
Its thanks to almost ubiquitous broadband that content like this can be quickly uploaded by and streamed to the end user. The content is easily navigable simply by scanning your mouse around the page – menus seamlessly pop-up and disappear, dragging markers on timelines helps you find content directly. The sound and visual quality is good – not great like the HD content I mentioned yesterday – adequate for viewing on a normal sized computer screen with average speakers. BSO have made the decision to record and host online their more popular repertoire of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a good move for a first leap into the world of .tv. The interviews with the conductor and musicians are generally informative, and add to the already substantive content that the podcasts on the classical BSO repertoire provide.
The Philadelphia Orchestra are also maximizing the opportunities of broadband, but have gone one step further. They’re experimenting with Internet2: the currently-under-development enhancing of Internet 1 (the internet as we know it now, which currently runs applications like the world wide web). Their Global Concert Series – Live and Interactive is being focussed on Higher Education Institutions – allowing campuses to bring live Philadelphia Orchestra concerts to their classrooms and performance halls through Internet2. The programme has appeal for students, educators, administrators, and the community in local area, including:
- entertaining, informative introductions, performance close-ups through the use of seven robotic HD cameras, interviews with musicians and conductors, and interactive discussions
- interactive components at every concert and potential collaboration between remote sites and Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
- audience participation in live interviews with Orchestra musicians and guest artists during the multicast
- opportunities to connect with campuses around the world in “Continue the Discussion” forums with musicians, conductors, and/or guest artists online following the performance
So the added benefit here is the opportunity to be able to receive and interact back with the live performance via the internet.