sconce
 
This is one of the Art Deco style sconces in the grand foyer of Lyric Opera.
lamp
 

 

 

 


Faculty & Staff
> Music > Opera

The Lyric Opera Backstage Tour

Outside the building

the Class of 2010
will take the Backstage Tour at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Enjoy these pictures from last year.

Lyric Opera Seating Chart

Lobby Stairs in grand lobby

The inside of the building is decorated in Art Deco style.

Our groups visited almost every part of Lyric Opera.

Orchestra pit

Looking into the pit

We looked into the Orchestra Pit, and found out that the conductor is always on camera. The picture is broadcast to monitors (see below) so that the performers can always see the beat.

Monitor

The monitor shows the girls looking into the orchestra pit, as the camera is always on the conductor.

Then it was time for a walk down
"Peacock Alley."


Peacock Alley


We could look onto the stage, but no one can go onto the set. We could see the stage manager's station and other equipment.

Catwalk Opera Tour
This is the infamous catwalk, which turned out to be very safe, even though it is 6 stories above the stage. The ropes on the left control the flies: backdrops and other scenery. The fly space is 12 stories tall altogether.

This is a look at the fly space where backdrops hang out of sight. Far below is the stage floor!

view of balconies walls of theater

The interior of the theater is lavishly decorated in gold.

art deco trumpets

props

This jeweled chalice was made of foil and plastic gems.

props
The prop area was amazing! Everything looks very real from far away, but is really made of inexpensive everyday items. The rock is made of foam! Some props are oversized, like paper money.

 

 

Paper money

This is the older of two 'wind machines' that make the sounds of storms when needed in an opera.

Opera Tour

 

 

 

docent with guns

The weapons room holds guns, knives and pikes for operas of any era. Every weapon must be authentic to the time period.

weapons
small arms knives
Queen of the Night Crown Helmet
suit of armor

pikes

A suit of armor, helmets and crowns were displayed in a dressing room.

wigs

Every wig is hand made, taking over 40 hours to complete. Once the hairs are tied to the netting, the hair is styled to suit the opera. These are sideburns for men, made of Yak hair.

Sideburns

costumes

wardrobe

Some dresses in the costume area, and in the wardrobe closet.

costumes costume
We visited two costume areas. One was an enormous closet, with dozens of costumes hung from floor to ceiling. The other room held costumes that were currently in use.
This dress was from Mozart's The Magic Flute
.

dressing room

This is a private dressing room for one of the stars of the opera. There is a private bathroom, huge closets for the elaborate costumes, a piano, the make-up area and a cozy chair. Outside there is a lounge for the "dressers," who assist with getting into the costumes.

Opera Tour Lounge
Below the stage is the lounge
for orchestra members.
costumes costumes
costumes
costumes

We also tried on costumes and weapons-- as you can see, it is the favorite part of the Tour (even some chaperones 'dressed up.') Each item had actually been used in an opera.

Students, please send in pictures!

We thank the tour docents for providing this opportunity to experience the backstage world of the Lyric. It takes many technicians, stagehands and other skilled craftsmen and women to bring an opera to life.

Want to see more costumes and sets for The Barber of Seville? Look at this page at Lyric Opera's site.

Lyric Opera Main Page

 

In preparation, classes worked with a graphic organizer-- over 70 cards with names of characters and descriptions.

   
   

 

Props and Set Designs

Our final assignment was to make a set design, construct a set or construct a prop. Some of our props would rival those at Lyric Opera! This inkwell and plumed quill were entirely made from household items.
Read project descriptions by the students:

Inkwell & Quill #1 (PDF)

 

 

Projects
Projects
Projects

 

Projects

Above, a 3-dimentional re-creation of Figaro's barber shop.(PDF)

At left, a 2-dimentional set design (PDF)
for the salon at Doctor Bartolo's home.

Compare to the actual sets at Lyric Opera!

Projects

Projects

The Giant Comb (above, PDF)

Projects

Inkwell & Quill #2 (above)

Projects

Projects

A lantern, suitable for use in the Act I serenade of Rosina.

Projects

A homemade drawstring bag and gold coins (PDF) for Count Almaviva.

Projects
Projects
Projects

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