Video Artists International

Background
Video Artists International (VAI), is an independent American DVD-label specializing in classical music performances founded in 1983, and based in Pleasantville, NY. The company started as one of the first labels to release complete operas and ballets on home video, originally in VHS videocassette format. In the early 1990s, the label added historical CDs to its video catalogue. VAI's video catalog includes an extensive series of performances from The Bell Telephone Hour. Among the first CDs were performances of arias by Phyllis Curtin, and the 1962 recording of the New Orleans Opera's production of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah (with Curtin and Norman Treigle).

(1983-2000's?)


Visuals: On a black background, a turquoise "V" flies in at rapid speed from the top of the screen, traveling in a wide arc while leaving a white trail of itself as well as small particles. When it stops at the left of the screen, it flashes white. The same thing happens with part of a "A", and a "i" in the same style and color, forming "VAi". When they're finished, a turquoise bar grows out of the side of the "i" and "VIDEO" in a turquoise Arial font, rises up from it, flashing white as it stops. The same thing happens with "ARTISTS" and "INTERNATIONAL". After several seconds, the screen flashes turquoise and fades out.

Variants:
 * Later tapes just have the logo fade out.
 * On DVDs, the logo was recreated with modern computer graphics. The entire thing is now in teal, the "VAI" letters don't flash and have a less extreme arc when they swoop, the "VIDEO ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL" text is closer to the logo, and the animation overall more in sync with the music. The screen also doesn't flash.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: A twinkling noise plays throughout, as 3 synth drones play when the letters of "VAI" swoop in. A 4-note synth piano tune plays when the line draws in, and 3 higher-pitched synth notes play when the words rise up. The last one leads to a ascending synth note that ends when the logo flashes.

Availability: Can be seen on several opera and ballet VHS tapes released by them, possibly on DVD, like Eleanor Staber in Opera.