Editor’s Note: This article was photographed for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
Before the orchestra launches into Mozart’s overture, before the curtain rises and the first aria, the cast and staff of “The Magic Flute” rush around with last-minute preparation. All this flurry ensures that what audience members at San Jose’s California Theater behold is a smooth-running production.
But more goes on in the wings than even faithful opera lovers might think. As a Mosaic photographer looked on, from the stresses of stage managers to the packed schedule of make-up artists before the shows, Opera San Jose’s performance this fall had it all.
From costumes to staging to music, an opera production like “Flute” has a myriad of details to tend to. In the thick of rehearsals before the show opened, the performance seemed like an impossible job to pull off. Cast members rushing in and out of scenes, detailed instructions from production stage manager Jennifer Hsu — which included everything from scene directions to lighting directions, to orchestra directions — and the wings packed with performers made backstage appear chaotic to the casual observer.
But when the curtain rose, the opera stars smiled, calm prevailed on stage and the production ran smoothly. The flute was not the only magic in this performance.
Michael Jesse Kuo waits in the makeup room to get his final makeup done before the Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Maria Brea, right, the 1st lady in the show, gets her makeup done in the makeup room before the Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Brennah Kemmerly, a mezzo-sporano in the chorus, gets her wig done before the Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Nicolas Vasquez-Gerst, who plays “Monostatos” in the show, gets makeup done before the performance of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
“Tamino,” played by WooYoung Yoon, applies the finishing touches to his costume in his changing room before Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Joseph Calzada, left, and Leonardo Capistrano share a moment before they take the stage at Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at 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 chorus, completes the final steps of putting on his costume before going out on stage of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Mariya Kaganskaya, applies lip makeup in the changing room before her performance of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The male chorus members pose for a photo during the pre-performance rehearsals of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. From left to right Joshua Porter, Joachim Luis, Michael S. Kim, Joseph Calzada, Leonardo Capistrano, Jeremy Harr, Nicholas Mollé and Eric Mellum. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Female members of the chorus group, from left to right, Fallon Nunes, Brennah Kemmerly, Rachel Beninghof, Kyounghee Lee, Danielle Imai and Ru Huang, pose for a photo during the pre-performance rehearsals of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The entire chorus takes a selfie together before their penultimate performance of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The orchestra warm up their instruments before the start of the performance of Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at 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 school performers exit the stage after a scene during Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
WooYoung Yoon, who plays “Tamino” in the show, lays on the floor during an act during Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The head director of the show sits at her desk giving orders during Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
“Tamino,” played by WooYoung Yoon, stands behind stage waiting to come on for a scene during Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
Rachel Beninghof, a soprano in the chorus, embraces a fellow cast member after Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)
The whole cast and behind the scenes workers pose for a cast photo, it was several performers last show, following Opera San Jose’s Magic Flute performance at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Maxwell Alexander/Mosaic)