Person 181: Experience opera inspired by Siegfried Sassoon's war poems in 360 degrees

You are Person 181... it is opening night at Garsington Opera and you are about to go on stage with 180 performers in the brand new production of Silver Birch: A People’s Opera. Venture behind the scenes, into dressing rooms and warm-ups, and onto the opera stage itself in 360 video utilizing ambisonic sound technology - putting you in the centre of the action.

Image: John Snelling

Silver Birch is an exciting new commission from leading UK composer Roxanna Panufnik, with a libretto by writer Jessica Duchen. The piece was inspired by Siegfried Sassoon’s war poems and the story of veteran Jay Wheeler, who served in the Iraq War alongside his brother. The opera chorus includes first-time singers from various community groups, including veterans and their families.

Discover more about the Silver Birch production in the series of films below: we meet Jay Wheeler, whose stories of participation in the Iraq conflict in 2003 inspired the production's development, as he sees the opera for the first time and shares his experiences with the cast; follow four military veterans as they take on performing in an opera for the first time; and accompany Garsington Opera's creative team as they engage with 180 people from the local community participating alongside opera professionals.