Accessible opera : overcoming linguistic and sensorial barriers

The desire to make media available for all has been rapidly accepted and implemented by most European countries. Opera, as one of the many audiovisual representations, also falls under the category of production which needs to be made accessible and this article aims to analyse how opera has gone through a complete transformation to become a cultural event for all, overcoming not only linguistic but also sensorial barriers. The first part of the article analyses the various forms of translation associated with opera and the main challenges they entail. The second presents different systems used to make opera accessible to the sensorially challenged, highlighting their main difficulties. Examples from research carried out at the Barcelona's Liceu opera house are presented to illustrate various modalities, especially audio description. All in all, it is our aim to show how translated-related processes have made it possible to open opera to a wider audience despite some initial reluctance

Translating Music: towards a social, cultural, and linguistic accessibility of musical texts in the 21st century

The primary goal of this Research Innovation project is to contribute to new developments in the interlingual and intralingual translation of texts comprising musical elements. The core research questions of this project are the following: (1) First, the project aims to investigate how music can be made available across sensory barriers, in which cases it should be mediated and what routines could be heralded as best translation practice in these instances. This project aims to find out the type of translation provision that will work in musical contexts and hopes to build upon the little research that already exists on the translation of music, both for sighted and hearing audiences, as well as for visually and hearing-impaired. (2) The second research question explores the relationship of musical texts and new technologies, considering how the latter are crucial for enhancing the mediation of musical texts and inspiring new ways of translating music. he third overarching research question of this project seeks the improvement of knowledge and techniques of how vocal music is best translated. What are the trends in the translation of musical texts? How can the training of translators with limited expertise in music be enhanced? In what circumstances should musical input be transferred or left out? What are the reasons for the current inconsistency of translation provision in texts involving music? In what circumstances and to what degree might it be appropriate to suggest the impact that music has on a text? How much do new trends in copyright legislation affect the provision of the translation of songs? These are some of the questions that researchers aim to find answers for

Intercultural theatrical encounter and the dramaturgy of surtitles

Theatre surtitles have tended to be seen as a necessary inconvenience. However, recent technological developments have streamlined the provision of translated captions and these advances are influencing awareness of and attitudes to the use of surtitles in theatre spaces. Taking the ITA’s Roman Tragedies as an illustration, this article examines the application of surtitling technology in theatre translation. The intermedial performance of surtitles positions surtitles within new media dramaturgy, creating a form of interlinear translation. The dramaturgical effect of the integration of surtitles into production demonstrates how technological intervention can operate to co-produce the humanity of intercultural theatrical encounter. / Les surtitres de théâtre ont eu tendance à être considéré inconvénients nécessaires. Cependant, les développements technologiques récents ont simplifié la fourniture de sous-titres traduits et ces progrès influent l'utilisation des surtitres dans les espaces de théâtre. En étude de cas, cet article prend l'œuvre d'Ivo van Hove, Tragédies romaines [tragedie romaine in italics, please], pour examiner l'application de la technologie surtitrage en traduction théâtrale. La performance intermédiale des surtitres résonne avec la nouvelle dramaturgie médiatique, ce qui crée une forme de traduction interlinéaire. L'effet dramaturgique de l'intégration des surtitres dans la production affiche l'interaction de l'intervention technologique avec l'humanité de la rencontre théâtrale interculturelle