modular, reconfigurable opera set

A small, regional company, Opera in the Heights has been showcasing emerging artists to the greater Houston area for over two decades. Their mission to provide affordable, high-quality performances aligned totally with Shepherd School of Music professors Anthony Brandt and Karim Al-Zand. The duo proposed a daring double bill which might be brought to life under the typical constraints of a single opera. Looking no further than Rice School of Architecture’s professor Jesús Vassallo, the resulting team set out to design and manufacture a modular, reconfigurable opera set which might never leave the stage. The double-sided timber construction is comprised of six vertical assemblies, offering backdrop on one side and unique seating on the other, as well as a small stage. Each component is placed on caster wheels, allowing the entire set to be rearranged from scene to scene, as well as performance to performance. In practice, the set performed both exceptionally and unexpectedly, spawning new and instantaneous events throughout its lifecycle.

1703 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008