Tag Archives: Objects

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!)

1. The torches we use onstage have a name that references a crucial safety feature. What are these props called?
2. Butane-Bufer
3. Dead Man’s Torch
4. Burnless Bunsen
5. Touchable Torch

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