DESIGNER FROCKS ROCK
Edit: Monday 28th March
For more information on this production and the live broadcast from last night head over to Anik’s and Thadieu’s …… beautiful music and images.
photocredit: Bayerische Staatsoper/Wilfred Hosl
Yes, it’s going to be the White Shirt Event of the year. So far. Bellini’s opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi is about to thrill us all at the Bayerische Staatoper with the Première on 27 March. Of course when I say all, some will have a more fulfilling experience than others! Some lucky ladies [ and gentlemen - must be inclusive] will be at the actual performances soaking in the atmosphere, being totally emotionally engaged and entranced whilst some of us will be back home wondering. So we will be depending on reports, reviews, impressions, gossip and photographs from the Fortunate Few.
This Bellini opera is not one I know well so I have been doing my homework. There is a complete video version on Youtube from Liege 2009 and a wonderful complete opera from Dresden 1998 [ playlist ] and Paris 1996 from dear Smorgy, to whom be eternal thanks for helping Kasarova fans, particularly those who came late to the party, to discover and appreciate great recordings of great music sung by the best!
Cast
Conductor – Yves Abel
Production – Vincent Boussard
Set – Vincent Lemaire
Costumes- Christian Lacroix
Lighting – Guido Levi
Chorus – Sören Eckhoff
Romeo – Vesselina Kasarova/Tara Erraught
Giulietta – Eri Nakamura
Tebaldo – Dimitri Pittas
Capellio – Stephen Humes
Lorenzo – Carlo Cigni
The Bavarian State Orchestra
The Chorus of the Bavarian State Opera
Poster motif I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Courtesy Galerie Berlin Art Projects,
Copyright Meike Zopf.
As one of the unfortunates not able to be in Munich there is nothing really I can offer towards the ICEIM celebrations except the following images - some costume sketches by Christian Lacroix. I’m not particularly a frock admirer myself – I guess it depends who is wearing it ! – and I shall depend on the Lucky Few to report back who was wearing what and how near the sketches the real thing came.
Lacroix’s celebrated couture house went into voluntary receivership two years ago, twenty two years after it’s foundation. However the Lacroix house has diversified, without his technical involvement, into menswear, accessories, eyewear, stationery and fragrance whilst the man himself designs for the theatre and collaborates on books. Apparently he became a household name in the UK because of a running joke in the comedy series “Absolutely Fabulous” !
Commentary on Lacroix designs from Intermezzo can be found here.
[ excellent photos of Renee Fleming in extraordinary creations !]
Of course not being a frock person does not preclude one from admiring some designs. Here is his design for Romeo and before you comment on the odd introduction of the Kasarova head …. it wasn’t me! If I had been responsible I would at least have got the head the right way round ( if I’m not mistaken it appears here in mirror image. Correct me if I’m wrong.) It will be interesting to see how much tailoring needs to be done to make this outfit fit two mezzos of differing proportions or will they make a duplicate? First impressions ….. wardrobe master bring out the binding, one of the Romeos may need it! Anyway, enjoy this costume offering and make a comparison if you like with the Romeo costume from the production in Chicago 2001…..
a beautifully poignant image.
image courtesy of postcardsfrompetra.com
image courtesy of Arishi
For those who wish to listen in there will be a live transmission from Munich’s Nationaltheater on BR-Klassik on Sunday 27th March starting at 7pm local time.
A glimpse of Kasaova’s co-star Eri Nakamura can be found here at Thadieu’s place. Or read The Independent observations.
Eri Nakamura as Giulietta in action with the gentlemen of the chorus
photo credit:BayerischeStaatsoper
Whilst preparing this post the alarming news came through that Frau Kasarova was seriously ill and will not be available for most of the production. Rehearsals have taken place using a cover and things don’t look good for Frau Kasarova’s health. We need to keep all White Shirt fingers and toes crossed that her situation improves so that her singing career will continue to flourish after this set back and that our favourite mezzo could make at least some performances [ preferably those which some folk are travelling halfway round the globe to attend!]
Reshuffle “I Capuleti ei Montecchi”
Because of pneumonia the mezzo-soprano Vesselina Kasarova is not available to perform in the performances on 27 (Premiere) and 30 March and on 3 and 6 April 2011 of the new production of I Capuleti ei Montecchi. The role of Romeo instead will be taken by our company member Tara Erraught . She was last seen in the National Theater in the title role in L’Enfant et les sortilèges .
To learn more about this young mezzo who has just been handed the opportunity of a lifetime head over to Anik’s Place
Tara Erraught as Das Kind in L’enfant et les Sortilèges photo credit:BayerischeStaatsoper
costume not by Lacroix!
FROCKS OR NOT….
HAVE A WONDERFUL WHITE SHIRT WEEKEND !
