Bringing Opera Into the 21st Century With Alan E. Muraoka

Throughout opera’s history, composers, librettists, directors, and artists of all kinds have contributed to this ever-evolving art form. Despite the public perception of opera being a bit stodgy, today’s operatic artists are trying out new and inventive musical styles, developing new stagecraft techniques, and telling new kinds of stories to reflect our diverse and expanding world. Here at Opera Colorado, we want to celebrate the artists pushing the envelope and moving opera’s grand history forward.
For this installment of Opera Innovators, we are delighted to feature Alan E. Muraoka, Set Designer for our 2024 production of The Flying Dutchman. Alan has worked in the entertainment industry as a production designer and art director for film, television, theater, and opera. Alan is a member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
In February of this year, we presented a brand new production of The Flying Dutchman that brought the legendary tale into the twenty-first century. Learn how Alan worked with the rest of the creative team, especially Director Kathleen Smith Belcher, to translate the mythical story of the Dutchman into something akin to graphic novels, comic books, and superheroes, all while presenting a visual story reminiscent of a North American coastal town.