I've seen two operas. They were both in German, contemporary, minimalist and involved men sleeping with/killing their mothers and/or someone's ghost haunting and ultimately sending someone mad. Given I'm all about costumes and hold an unfair prejudice against Germans (horrible German exflatmate), this isn't my idea of a fun night out. Turned me off opera to be honest.
I would, however, have make an exception for the English National Opera's recent production of Aida. That's because Zhandra Rhodes, high priestess of pink hair designed the costumes and set, using her own Egyptian collection as inspiration. Sounds like the Abyssinian's loincloth to me!
Design sketches
I presume these are sketches by Zandra Rhodes... quite interesting to see the illustration style, n'est pas?
On stage
More turquoise than you can shake a Navajo neckpiece at...
Not impressed? Think you could have done a better job than that crazy lady with the pink hair? Click here and design your own Aida costume.
More information
Zandra Rhodes website
English National Opera
This Is London interview with Zandra
Hilary Alexander on Aida + Zandra
One of Zandra Rhodes' other creative productions, the Fashion and Textile Museum
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