NHK captures two major 8K productions
May 12, 2020
By Chris Forrester
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK has just wrapped two major 8K productions.
Both productions were captured ahead of the near-global closedown of theatrical productions. The film crew captured a 106-minute performance of the ballet Giselle at the Opéra National de Paris in an 8K co-production between NHK and the Paris Opera.
The NHK crew used six 8K cameras and the recording was made in 22.2 multi-channel audio. The star cast features Dorothée Gilbert as Giselle, Mathieu Ganio as Albrecht, Valentine Colasante as Myrtha, and Audric Bezard as Hilarion. The conductor is Koen Kessels.
Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, a state of emergency has been in place in Japan since April 7th. For Giselle, NHK devised an 8K HDR, 22.2 channel post-production workflow that involved the smallest possible number of staff members for the sake of safety. Channel controller Ochiai Jun said: “People can’t directly experience the performing arts right now, so I’m delighted that we can use television to bring viewers into one of the world’s finest centres of artistic excellence.”
The second major production was carried out in London at the Covent Garden Opera House and featuring the Royal Opera Ballet’s Swan Lake, and filmed in March just days before the lockdown. Currently in post-production it will be broadcast later this month.