A new innovation model derived from classical music and a novel opera arena

Today, many talk about innovations. But what does innovation really mean and how can we distinguish innovations from non-innovations?

In the research project, it was found that the word innovation has its roots in Aristophanes’ comedy ca. 422 B.C. Per Frankelius, PhD at Linköping University, comments:

– The idea of innovation appeared in a time of great progress in Greece, and in this context, it was easy to make fun of those who proposed or made new things in different areas. Therefore, it is not surprising that the word appeared in a comedy.

So, innovation was invented in performing art 422 B.C. It was decided to analyze a case of “performing art innovation” in modern times and the choice became the strange project Dalhalla in Sweden.

– Margareta Dellefors, at the age of 65, in co-operation with the world-famous soprano Birgit Nilsson, transformed a limestone quarry into a very different kind of opera scene, says Per Frankelius.

After setting up the Wagner opera “Ring of the Nibelungs” in the limestone quarry in 1996 the Viennese opera magazine, Der Neue Merker, named Dalhalla the most powerful opera arena in Europe. Brian Kellow, the chief editor of the opera magazine Opera News in New York wrote that it was amazing that one could perform opera entirely acoustic in such a big arena.

The etymological study in combination with the Dalhalla case study ended up in a new definition of innovation. Per Frankelius comments:

– We concluded that innovation is something, in whatever area of society, that at the same time is 1) new in the sense it has high degree of originality, 2) also obtains a foothold in the community often via a market, 3) is perceived as revolutionary in the eyes of many people, and 4) appears at a specific point of time.

By the model that could be derived out of the study one can position different phenomena in society by means of the three dimensions of originality, impact (foothold degree) and time. If, according to the model, both originality and impact is high a phenomenon is a true innovation – but only at a specific point of time. See attached model and more in the article. 

ARTICLE INFO:

”Innovation in the arts – lessons from the creation of Dalhalla” by Per Frankelius in International Journal of Music Business Research, vol. 6, no. 2, 2017, pp. 6–40.

For more information contact:

Per Frankelius

Mail. per.frankelius@liu.se

Phone: +46(0)708-21 29 49

Link to the research article:

https://musicbusinessresearch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/volume-6-no-2-october-2017-frankelius.pdf

Illustrations

Illustration: Innovation_model_Press_English.jpg

Caption: According to this model, different social phenomena are divided into four categories in terms of originality and impact. In order for the phenomenon of innovation to become reality, it is not enough with an innovative idea (B in the model). The idea must also gain a foothold, or impact, in society (D in the model). In addition, all innovations must be related to a certain time. Source: Derived from ”Innovation in the arts – lessons from the creation of Dalhalla” by Per Frankelius in International Journal of Music Business Research, vol. 6, no. 2, 2017, pp. 6–40. The photo in the ball: Leif Forslund.

Illustration: Amfiteater_Grekland_Foto-pxhere.jpg

Caption: The concept of innovation is derived from Aristotelian comedies in Greece about 400 BC. Photo: Pxhere.

Illustration: Dalhalla_Foto-Per_Frankelius.jpg

Caption: Dalhalla was different and gained attention throughout the world. Photo: Per Frankelius.

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Caption: Margareta Dellefors realized the vision of Dalhalla. The picture from Dellefors 90th anniversary celebrated at the Royal Musical Academy March 20, 2016. Photo: Per Frankelius.

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Caption:Per Frankelius.