Sandra Delpierre’s fingers stroke a long, blue and white fur coat and brush against a pair of angel wings. She walks past thousands of colorful costumes from opera performances. “There are some real treasures to be discovered,” the head of the costume workshops at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva told AFP.
At a time when “Bridgerton”-style costume parties are all the rage, the Swiss opera house plans to sell 15,000 stage costumes. This also includes accessories and shoes from major productions in recent years.
Delpierre marvels at the thousands of items of clothing. The selection ranges from vests and tunics to dresses and jerseys, which are on display in a large warehouse near Geneva.
It shows large animal heads, including a rat and a bull. She also presents an embroidered dress with a ruffled hem that was made for the production of Handel’s opera “Alcina.”
There is also a costume inspired by the crinoline. This stiff or structured underskirt is intended to stabilize a skirt or tutu. However, the costume has been imaginatively reinterpreted using neoprene.
The Grand Théâtre is a majestic building in the heart of Geneva, opened in 1879. It sells about half of its inventory. The theater calls it “a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes and take home a living detail of the show.”
“From servants to duchesses, from three-piece suits to the Roaring Twenties, there is something for every taste,” the house advertises on its website.
The pieces, some of which date from the 1980s, will be sold on February 14th and 15th. There is a time slot reserved for professionals.
Less than six euros
Prices range from five to 500 Swiss francs (around 5.48 to 548 euros). However, the highlight of the sale was set higher at 995 Swiss francs – around 1,090 euros.
That’s because Romanian costume designer Miruna Boruzescu’s work on the piece in question is “monumental.” This is what Marianne Perreau said, who is responsible for sorting, building and selling the huge inventory.
“It really embodies everything that makes a remarkable costume,” Perreau told AFP. She lifted the heavy, green piece, reminiscent of a luxurious plant creature. It is made entirely of overlapping green leaves, embroidered with gold thread and trimmed with peacock feathers.
The costume exists in several copies, but only one of them is for sale. It was worn by dancers in the opera “JJR (Citizens of Geneva)”. The opera by Canadian director Robert Carsen is dedicated to the life and work of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
“Each piece of fabric, each petal, is made from a different material. It has been stitched to create the illusion of veins,” she said.
The costume consists of a bodice over a stiffened skirt with a so-called woman’s fat. This is a type of padded roller that creates volume at the hips. It is part of the Notable section of the sale.
A little further, Perreau reveals a light green piece. It was designed by Italian costume designer Ezio Toffolutti for one of the fairies in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Several designs in yellow and gray are also available for children.
Imposing and extravagant birds in tailcoats can also be seen. They were designed by Greek costume designer Yannis Kokkos for a men’s choir. Each bird has a huge, round artificial body with real, pink-colored feathers attached.
“Difficult choice”
After months of sorting, each costume was labeled. This way you can identify the production, the role and the actors who wore it.
“A collection must rotate, renew and adapt to current tastes,” explained Delpierre. “That’s why we have to part with part of our heritage to make room for other productions.” Some rarely worn pieces are in excellent condition. Others are a little worn.
Delpierre regretted that limited storage space forced the Grand Théâtre to part with some outfits. “We are forced to make a difficult choice,” she said. But the sale is sure to delight potential buyers.
Delpierre said the opera house welcomes independent performing arts companies and institutions. Collectors and individuals who simply like to dress up are also expected. The sale is perfect for “people who dress more eccentrically and want to find a truly unusual piece for their wardrobe,” she said.
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