Tag Archives: Objects
What Is It? Objects That Help Make Opera Magic.

The Tales of Hoffmann (2002); Photo: Robert Millard
Have you ever wondered – “How’d they do that?” Opera brings stories to life, and the magic you see on stage is often the result of incredible ingenuity on the part of our behind-the-scenes artisans. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite objects used in productions—old and new, both onstage and off—to give you a glimpse at what’s involved in staging the operas you love.
Can you guess what these objects are for? (The answers are below, but no cheating!)
- The torches we use onstage have a name that references a crucial safety feature. What are these props called?
- Butane-Bufer
- Dead Man’s Torch
- Burnless Bunsen
- Touchable Torch