Thousands of costumes from Geneva’s Grand Theatre opera home to go on sale | EUROtoday

Sandra Delpierre’s fingers linger on a protracted blue and white fur coat and graze a pair of angel wings as she winds previous 1000’s of vibrant costumes utilized in opera performances.

“There are some real treasures to be found,” the top of costume workshops at Geneva’s Grand Theatre informed AFP.

At a time when Bridgerton-style costume events are all the fad, the Swiss opera home is planning to unload 15,000 stage costumes, equipment and sneakers from main productions via the years.

Delpierre marvels on the 1000’s of clothes, starting from vests and tunics to clothes and leotards displayed in a big warehouse close to Geneva.

She exhibits off massive animal heads, together with a rat and a bull, and an embroidered costume with a ruffled hem made for the manufacturing of the Handel opera “Alcina”.

There can also be a fancy dress impressed by crinoline, the stiff or structured petticoat designed to carry out a skirt or tutu, however whimsically reimagined utilizing neoprene.

The Grand Theatre, an impressive constructing within the coronary heart of Geneva which opened in 1879, is promoting round half of its inventory, calling it “a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and take home a living fragment of the show”.

“From valets to duchesses, from three-piece suits to the Roaring Twenties, there is something for every taste,” it boasts on its web site.

The items, some courting again to the Eighties, will go on sale on February 14 and 15, with a time slot reserved for professionals.

Less than $10

Prices vary from 5 to 500 Swiss francs ($6.50-$650), though the star of the sale has been priced greater, at 995 Swiss francs.

That is as a result of the work of Romanian costume designer Miruna Boruzescu for the piece in query is “monumental”, mentioned Marianne Perreau, in command of sorting via, organising and promoting off the huge stash.

“It truly embodies everything that makes a remarkable costume,” Perreau informed AFP, lifting the heavy, inexperienced piece that evokes an expensive plant creature, totally composed of overlapping inexperienced leaves, embroidered with gold-coloured thread and dotted with peacock feathers.

The costume, which exists in a number of exemplars however solely one among which is up on the market, was worn by dancers within the opera “JJR (Citizen of Geneva)”, devoted to the life and work of thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau, by Canadian director Robert Carsen.

“Each piece of fabric, each petal, is made from different material. It was top-stitched to give the impression of veining,” she mentioned.

Read extraTiny Bermudan snail ‘again from the brink’ of extinction, UK zoo says

The costume, which consists of a bodice positioned over a boned skirt fitted with a farthingale – a sort of padded roll that gives quantity on the hips – is a part of the sale’s “Remarkable” part.

A bit additional alongside, Perreau unveils a lightweight inexperienced piece, created by Italian costume designer Ezio Toffolutti for one of many fairies in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

Several designs are additionally out there for kids, in yellow and gray.

Also on show are imposing and lavish birds in tailcoats, created by Greek costume designer Yannis Kokkos for a male choir, every with huge, rounded synthetic our bodies affixed with actual feathers which were dyed pink.

‘Difficult alternative’

After months of sorting, each costume has been labelled to establish the manufacturing it was a part of, the position it was used for and the performer who wore it.

“A collection needs to be rotated, renewed and updated to fit current tastes,” Delpierre defined.

“So we have to part with some of our heritage to make room for other productions.”

Some little-worn items are in glorious situation. Others are a bit tattered.

Delpierre voiced remorse that restricted space for storing is pushing the Grand Theatre to half with some outfits.

“We’re forced to make a difficult choice,” she mentioned.

But the sale is bound to thrill potential consumers.

Read extraMobile pool brings swim classes to French youngsters in rural areas

Delpierre mentioned the opera home anticipated to see impartial corporations and performing arts establishments, in addition to collectors, and people simply keen to decorate up.

The sale will probably be excellent, she mentioned, for “people who dress more eccentrically and want to find a truly exceptional piece for their wardrobe”.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)