Editor’s Notice: This text was photographed for Mosaic, an unbiased journalism coaching program for highschool college students who report and {photograph} tales beneath the steerage {of professional} journalists.
Earlier than the orchestra launches into Mozart’s overture, earlier than the curtain rises and the primary aria, the forged and employees of “The Magic Flute” rush round with last-minute preparation. All this flurry ensures that what viewers members at San Jose’s California Theater behold is a smooth-running manufacturing.
However extra goes on within the wings than even trustworthy opera lovers may assume. As a Mosaic photographer seemed on, from the stresses of stage managers to the packed schedule of make-up artists earlier than the exhibits, Opera San Jose’s efficiency this fall had all of it.
From costumes to staging to music, an opera manufacturing like “Flute” has a myriad of particulars to are likely to. Within the thick of rehearsals earlier than the present opened, the efficiency appeared like an not possible job to tug off. Forged members dashing out and in of scenes, detailed directions from manufacturing stage supervisor Jennifer Hsu — which included the whole lot from scene instructions to lighting instructions, to orchestra instructions — and the wings full of performers made backstage seem chaotic to the informal observer.
However when the curtain rose, the opera stars smiled, calm prevailed on stage and the manufacturing ran easily. The flute was not the one magic on this efficiency.
Michael Jesse Kuo waits within the make-up room to get his remaining make-up performed earlier than the Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Maria Brea, proper, the first girl within the present, will get her make-up performed within the make-up room earlier than the Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Brennah Kemmerly, a mezzo-sporano within the refrain, will get her wig performed earlier than the Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Nicolas Vasquez-Gerst, who performs “Monostatos” within the present, will get make-up performed earlier than the efficiency of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
“Tamino,” performed by WooYoung Yoon, applies the ending touches to his costume in his altering room earlier than Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Joseph Calzada, left, and Leonardo Capistrano share a second earlier than they take the stage at Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Michael Jesse Kuo, the 2nd priest and a member of the refrain, completes the ultimate steps of placing on his costume earlier than going out on stage of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Mariya Kaganskaya, applies lip make-up within the altering room earlier than her efficiency of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The male refrain members pose for a photograph in the course of the pre-performance rehearsals of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. From left to proper Joshua Porter, Joachim Luis, Michael S. Kim, Joseph Calzada, Leonardo Capistrano, Jeremy Harr, Nicholas Mollé and Eric Mellum. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Feminine members of the refrain group, from left to proper, Fallon Nunes, Brennah Kemmerly, Rachel Beninghof, Kyounghee Lee, Danielle Imai and Ru Huang, pose for a photograph in the course of the pre-performance rehearsals of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Your complete refrain takes a selfie collectively earlier than their penultimate efficiency of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The orchestra heat up their devices earlier than the beginning of the efficiency of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Members of the supers group, which included six elementary faculty performers exit the stage after a scene throughout Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
WooYoung Yoon, who performs “Tamino” within the present, lays on the ground throughout an act throughout Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The top director of the present sits at her desk giving orders throughout Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
“Tamino,” performed by WooYoung Yoon, stands behind stage ready to return on for a scene throughout Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Rachel Beninghof, a soprano within the refrain, embraces a fellow forged member after Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The entire forged and behind the scenes employees pose for a forged photograph, it was a number of performers final present, following Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute efficiency on the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
