Stage Management: How Opera Teams Coordinate Under Pressure - Tilla Foljanty

Full transcript and show notes: https://www.sharnafabiano.com/2026/07/29/stage-management-how-opera-teams-coordinate-under-pressure-tilla-foljanty/

Behind every successful opera performance is a complex network of people, information, and decisions that must come together in real time. Stage manager Tilla Foljanty explains how the backstage role requires both clear direction and deep receptivity—creating structure while staying ready to receive new information and adapt as the production unfolds.

Tilla Foljanty is a stage manager based in Bonn, Germany, working in the world of professional opera production. Through her experience coordinating artists, directors, and production teams, she has developed a nuanced understanding of how effective collaboration depends on knowing when to step forward, when to step back, and how to support others in doing their best work.

Whether you work in the arts, manage complex projects, or coordinate people behind the scenes, this conversation offers a unique look at the skills required to guide a process while remaining open to what emerges.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What stage managers teach us about coordinating complex creative projects.
• How backstage professionals balance authority, support, and flexibility.
• Why receiving information is an essential skill in high-pressure environments.
• How leaders create the conditions for others to contribute confidently.
• What opera production reveals about communication and teamwork.

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