Ceci Dadisman is director of communications for Palm Beach Opera, a 2013 winner of Knight Arts Challenge South Florida.

Opera @ The Waterfront is a unique concert in Palm Beach County. It is the largest outdoor classical music event in the area with more than 100 musicians on stage, including internationally known opera singers as well as Palm Beach Opera’s critically acclaimed orchestra and chorus.

The 90-minute performance is held at the Meyer Amphitheatre on the Intracoastal Waterway in downtown West Palm Beach and features opera’s most popular arias and ensembles as well as Broadway hits. Our audience had more than 2,500 people during our inaugural production last year. 

With last year’s success, we are excited to make it even better this year.  One of the most important additions we are including this year is an online live stream of the event.  We have hired American Media Professionals, which will have professional camera operators at the performance; their live video and audio will be accessible by those who are not at the concert.  We will have a three-camera setup with two cameras at the front to capture close-ups and one farther back to get full stage shots.  The feed will be mixed on the spot to provide various views of what is happening on stage.  We have done our own live streaming before at our past One Opera in One Hour performances (a free series of bite-size opera experiences), but this will be our first time having a professional live stream with multiple cameras.

By live-streaming Opera @ The Waterfront, we will reach a new audience as well as increase access to local live opera and the arts. Ideally the live stream will aid in breaking down barriers to opera and allow those who are curious about opera to experience it live in the comfort of their own homes. Live-stream viewers will be encouraged to communicate with other concertgoers and Opera staff using social media. They will also have the opportunity to live chat with Opera staff members during the concert, which we anticipate will be very popular.  We’ll be able to answer questions and provide additional information in response to what people are saying in the chat.  Any questions or comments can also be posted using the hashtag “#pbowaterfront” on Facebook or Twitter and tagging @PalmBeachOpera. 

Opera @ The Waterfront is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Meyer Amphitheatre, 104 Datura St., West Palm Beach. Visit the Palm Beach Opera website for more information.