Opera Philadelphia

Renew your Academy Series package for the 2024-2025 Season Current subscribers, click "more" to renew your Academy Series Package.
More

Posted28 Apr 2023

Photo Diary: La bohème

By Benjamin Taylor

Benjamin Taylor makes his Opera Philadelphia debut as Schaunard in Puccini’s La bohème. When he is not performing, Ben is an avid photographer who loves documenting behind-the-scenes photos, landscape, and portraits. His infatuation with photography took hold in 2018 when he was an apprentice at Santa Fe Opera and has taken off ever since. As a relatively new resident of Philadelphia, he’s been enjoying learning about the city and getting to know the photography and music scenes.

“I got into photography for a multitude of reasons that seemed to converge in Santa Fe. I really wanted to expand my creative outlets, see the world differently, and capture wonderful moments and people during my travels," he said. "I’m naturally a shy person, so getting into portraiture was intense and terrifying at first, as one must understand the subject and capture the essence in a photo. I love accessories to hobbies, and photography has an endless supply of gear that I nerd out on! It also keeps me on my toes and helps inform what I do on stage in regard to the artform’s mechanics and honing in on a production’s aesthetic.” 

Ben’s interest in backstage candid photography came from getting back to singing during the pandemic. It helped him put into perspective how much he enjoys singing, enabling him to look back and remember the wonderful times he had during a show.

“Typically in our business, we are surrounded by so much beauty that I can be desensitized to it, so capturing those moments of beauty is a lot of fun and meaningful to me.”

Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Troy Cook in rehearsals for La bohème. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Kara Goodrich as Mimì in La bohème rehearsals. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Joshua Blue as Rodolfo in rehearsals for La bohème. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Troy Cook and Joshua Blue Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Kara Goodrich and Joshua Blue with director Yuval Sharon Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Adam Lau (Colline) and Joshua Blue Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Melissa Joseph (Musetta) and Troy Cook Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Troy Cook and Kara Goodrich Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Associate Director James Blasko in rehearsal. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Load in at the Academy of Music. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Rehearsals move to stage. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Maestro Corrado Rovaris and Head of Music Staff Grant Loehnig. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Joshua Blue and Kara Goodrich Credit: Benjamin Taylor
The view from stage. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Melissa Joseph Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Frank Mitchell (Alcindoro) Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Corrado Rovaris in the monitor. Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Joshua Blue and Kara Goodrich Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Supernumerary Robert Hawkey Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Melissa Joseph Credit: Benjamin Taylor
Chat with Guest Services