As the ear cannot locate the particular sound on camera, there is no confusion. HMS Pinafore by the State Opera had the right ingredients for our simulcast, a landmark in Australian broadcasting and the forerunner of further such combined telecasts-broadcasts. Adelaide's Festival Theatre has good facilities for lighting and camera placement, and a large orchestra pit which by most opera house standards produces a good sound. Gilbert and Sullivan has a large following, confirmed by a survey commissioned by the Australia Council last year. The simulcast really comes into its own with opera.
Opera is glorious in stereo and makes good colour television.
The presentation of opera on television with stereophonic sound ensures that the widest possible audience can enjoy the experience. Any project of such magnitude is bound to have setbacks, challenges to be overcome. But this particular production was almost scuttled before production began. After all the high flying of planning, gloom descended with a mighty thump when the delivery date of the special stereo sound video recorders essential for the production was delayed until after the Pinafore season. Nor could replacement equipment arrive in time.