A Secretive Symphony: Behind the Scenes at Rehearsals for the Olympic Opening Ceremony
As the curtains draw open on the 2026 Winter Olympics, a sea of faces will be revealed that aren't Mariah Carey's or Andrea Bocelli's. The real stars of the show are over 1,200 volunteers, comprising students from Italy's prestigious La Scala opera academy, who will take center stage to kick off the Games.
Rehearsals took place on Wednesday at a heated white tent near San Siro Stadium in Milan, with NBC News being kept at arm's length. "We want it to be a secret until the show," said Federica Moscheni, communication manager at Balich Wonder Studio, behind the record 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. The performers are a mix of professionals and amateurs, all eager to showcase their talents on the world stage.
Among them is Ariel Fuchs, a 25-year-old software engineer from California who was persuaded to audition by friends while working in Milan for over a year. "San Siro is such an incredible stadium," she exclaimed, her nerves evident but excitement taking over. "To actually be on the field is a crazy feeling." With their hard work paying off, Fuchs and her fellow volunteers are primed for the spotlight.
Behind the scenes, tailors toiled tirelessly to craft 1,400 costumes, 1,500 pairs of shoes, and 70 hair stylists worked alongside 110 makeup artists. The production numbers were staggering: 500 musicians composed original soundtracks for the event. "It's the biggest show on earth," declared Lulu Helbeck, one of the creative directors. "It'll be seen in Africa, America, Europe – all generations, from the little boy in Taipei to the old lady in Ohio."
As the opening ceremony draws near, these unsung heroes are poised to shine, their momentous performance set to captivate a global audience.
As the curtains draw open on the 2026 Winter Olympics, a sea of faces will be revealed that aren't Mariah Carey's or Andrea Bocelli's. The real stars of the show are over 1,200 volunteers, comprising students from Italy's prestigious La Scala opera academy, who will take center stage to kick off the Games.
Rehearsals took place on Wednesday at a heated white tent near San Siro Stadium in Milan, with NBC News being kept at arm's length. "We want it to be a secret until the show," said Federica Moscheni, communication manager at Balich Wonder Studio, behind the record 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. The performers are a mix of professionals and amateurs, all eager to showcase their talents on the world stage.
Among them is Ariel Fuchs, a 25-year-old software engineer from California who was persuaded to audition by friends while working in Milan for over a year. "San Siro is such an incredible stadium," she exclaimed, her nerves evident but excitement taking over. "To actually be on the field is a crazy feeling." With their hard work paying off, Fuchs and her fellow volunteers are primed for the spotlight.
Behind the scenes, tailors toiled tirelessly to craft 1,400 costumes, 1,500 pairs of shoes, and 70 hair stylists worked alongside 110 makeup artists. The production numbers were staggering: 500 musicians composed original soundtracks for the event. "It's the biggest show on earth," declared Lulu Helbeck, one of the creative directors. "It'll be seen in Africa, America, Europe – all generations, from the little boy in Taipei to the old lady in Ohio."
As the opening ceremony draws near, these unsung heroes are poised to shine, their momentous performance set to captivate a global audience.
I'm loving the attention to detail on this one! The fact that they're having 70 hair stylists and 110 makeup artists is just mind-blowing - it's like a mini production in itself 
And can you even imagine how much planning goes into coordinating 1,400 costumes and 1,500 pairs of shoes? It's crazy to think about all the rehearsals that must have gone into getting everything just right 
I also love that they're not just relying on famous performers for this ceremony - it's amazing that ordinary people are being given a chance to shine in such an incredible setting 
but omg have you seen the complexity of this opening ceremony setup?! 1,400 costumes and 500 musicians?! It's mental 
with tailors working tirelessly to get everything just right 
And can we talk about the volunteers? 1,200 students from La Scala opera academy?! That's dedication 
they r actually kinda cool! 1,200 volunteers make it a super collaborative effort, like a big ol' family 
federica moscheni seems legit, didnt expect her 2 say "we want it 2 be secret till the show" lol 
what's not 2 love about that?
it's going to be AMAZING with all those talented volunteers from the La Scala opera academy and musicians working together! can you even imagine seeing 1,400 costumes and 500 original soundtracks?! AND the fact that people like Ariel are being a part of it is just AWESOME! she's a software engineer who got to audition by her friends while they were in Milan for work?! that's so cool! i hope everyone gets to enjoy it and it's truly an unforgettable experience 
it's crazy how much prep goes into making those olympic ceremonies so epic 
I dont get why they need so many costumes & shoes lol its like they're planning some kinda masquerade ball or something but at least its not just one person performing like Mariah Carey 
. The attention to detail is truly staggering.
. The fact that 500 musicians composed original soundtracks for the event only adds to the excitement - it's clear that this is going to be a truly unforgettable experience for all who attend 
.
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). It's about the collective effort of hundreds of talented individuals who want to make a difference 
But at the same time, it's so cool that people from all over are coming together to make something amazing. We should totally give a shoutout to all these unsung heroes 
It's like, we get it, the performers want to be surprised and all that, but come on! The world is literally buzzing with excitement for this ceremony and these 1200+ volunteers are just chillin' in the background, creating MAGIC. 
I'm sure Ariel Fuchs is feeling like she's on top of the world right now 
. Anyway, it's gonna be amazing to see these volunteers shine under the spotlight - they deserve it! 
And don't even get me started on the costume department, 1,400 costumes?! I'm no fashion expert, but that seems like a lot to manage. Like, what if something goes wrong with the outfits during the ceremony? Wouldn't they have some backup plans in place? I guess that's what makes them so professional and all that. 
It's like, okay girl, you're gonna be on TV now, try not to mess up too much. But seriously, it's cool that they're involving amateurs in the performance. Maybe we'll see some surprises from the volunteers.
Ariel Fuchs as a software engineer turned singer? Yaaas, girl, you do YOU