Shine have reported on China's first sci-fi Opera titled AI's Variation which premiered a few weeks ago.

The plot is suitably operatic but also futuristic.

"AI's Variation" describes a dying artist, both physically and creatively. His secret admirer, a scientist, "saves" him by turning him into AI. His first love rushes to meet him. The three characters recount the same meeting from their own perspectives on days two, four and six, while day one, three and five consist of pure melody; no lyrics.

Fascinating.

So what and when was the world's first sci-fi opera?

We couldn't find any opera specifically claiming that honour but back in 1959 there was one called Aniara set aboard a spaceship of that name and with a computer as a main character.

[ Main Image: AI's Variations rehearsal. Credit: Shanghai Symphony Orchesta via Twitter. ]

References

Monji, Yao (November 19, 2021). China's first sci-fi opera explores threat of AI. Shine.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra [@ShanghaiSO] (November 4, 2021). The stage is set! Twitter.

Wikipedia. Aniara (opera). (viewed) November 20, 2021)