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Once BLO selects an opera for its upcoming season, groups of artists begin the process of transforming the words and music of the operatic score into a visual and aural spectacle. These are the members of the Creative Team and the Production Crew.
The Creative Team
Directors and designers interpret the intentions of the composer and librettist. First they identify key themes – such as living happily despite incredible poverty in La bohème – that help them design and develop an opera’s visual concept. Then they engage in extensive research on the historical context for the work, including the clothing and the social conventions of the period. Sometimes directors and designers choose to stay true to the history and setting of the work. Other times they elect to change the location or historical period of an opera, such as in BLO’s recent productions of L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), re-imaged in the American Midwest in the early 1900’s instead of a 19th century Italian village, and The Abduction from the Seraglio, set on the Orient Express in the 1920s versus the original Turkish harem. Countless decisions – from costumes to sets to onstage action – rest on their shoulders.
The Stage Director is responsible for the action on the stage. This is accomplished by working with the singers for weeks before the performances, directing their movements and developing their individual characters.
The Music Director, also known as the Conductor, interprets the music of the opera and rehearses it with the singers and the orchestra. During rehearsal, the conductor shapes the music to express the different moods or emotions present in the opera. For example, the conductor decides how fast or slow (tempo) and how loudly and softly (dynamics) the music is played. Since the orchestra and the singers cannot see each other, conductors are charged with directing and unifying all the musicians.
The Rehearsal Pianist accompanies the artists as they rehearse the opera. This job also entails serving as a coach, assisting the artists with language and musical preparation.
The Set Designer designs the scenery for the opera.
The Lighting Designer manipulates the lights to create effects which help set the mood and complement the onstage action.
The Costume Designer creates the clothes that the singers will wear onstage. Costumes are sturdily made so as to withstand numerous performances. Different opera companies often choose to rent each other’s costumes as well.
The Choreographer is responsible for creating and directing any dancing that takes place in the opera.
Production Crew
The Production Crew is responsible for orchestrating everything from set changes to singer entrances. Their goal is to remain unseen and unnoticed by the audience; the better the production crew, the more seamless the performance.
The Stage Manager leads the crew and directs all the action that happens backstage. Stage Managers direct scene changes, artists’ entrances and exits, sound/light changes, curtain movement, and all other activities that make the opera run smoothly. Their job requires great leadership and quick decision-making.
A crew of Stage Hands works in synchrony with the Stage Manager. They move scenery and set props (short for “properties”), which are objects used in the scene.
The Props Supervisor makes sure that all props are placed appropriately and are available when the singers need them.
The Wardrobe Supervisor oversees the costumes and attends to last minute fittings and repairs. The Wardrobe Supervisor may be assisted by Dressers, who help with fast costume changes. Some costume changes are so quick that they happen just barely offstage!
The Makeup Artist assists singers with dramatic stage makeup. To ensure that the singers’ features are visible to the entire audience, makeup must be applied more thickly to be seen on the brightly-illuminated stage than it would be for everyday use.
Not all crew members work backstage. The Sound Engineer, working from a table in the rear of the theatre, operates the microphones and adjusts the sound. The Master Electrician, also working in a booth in the rear of the theatre, directs the positioning of the lights and operates these lights during a show. Both need to be in the audience to hear and see what is happening onstage.
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See how BLO got a train inside the Shubert for its 2008 The Abduction from the Seraglio
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Continue Reading...
An extremely brief history of opera
Writing an opera: From story to score
Behind the scenes
On the stage…and below it
Your opera experience
Source material
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