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“Il Teatro Alla Moda” Exhibit at the Annenberg Center
By Beverly Ejedawe

An evening at the opera is often a breathtaking experience. From the enthralling story themes, to the talented singers, an opera performance takes the audience on a uniquely entertaining journey. What makes the journey complete are the costumes worn during the performance. Some costumes are so intricate and bold, they can be considered works of art themselves. The Annenberg Center of the Performing Arts is celebrating the beauty of opera costuming with the opening of “Il Teatro Alla Moda” or “Theater in Fashion”. This new exhibit celebrates “Italy’s famous haute couture designers and their impact on the stages of opera, dance and theater.”

The collaboration between haute couture and the opera began during the late 19th century. “The great fashion designer, Charles Frederick Worth worked closely with preeminent artists such as Sarah Bernhardt, Lillie Langtry and Jenny Lind to design their costumes. In 1924, Sergei Pavlovich Diaghiev invited Coco Chanel to design the costumes for Le Train Bleu, a new ballet for the legendary Les Ballet Russes, based on a story by Jean Cocteau. The curtain was painted by Pablo Picasso and the set was an avantgarde Cubist beach designed by Henry Laurens. Chanel created bathing suits of jersey, until then, considered a working class fabric. The ballet was an immediate sensation, setting the stage for transformative collaborations between the opera and great European designers Elsa Schiaparelli, Jeanne Lavin, Pierre Balmain, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Thiery Mugler, Vivienne Westwood and Christian La Croix”. During the 20th century, Italian designers began to dominate costume design in opera by giving designs a bold twist of color and form.

Over 80 costumes, sketches and drawings from Giorgio Armani, Roberto Capucci, Enrico Coveri, Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Romeo Gigli, Antonio Marras, Missoni, Emanuel Ungaro, Valentino and Gianni Versace will be on displa in Beverly Hills. These costumes have never been on display in the United States. This exhibit is a great opportunity for art and fashion lovers to view the collection up close. “I had the opportunity to see this stunning exhibition in Italy and thought it would be wonderful to share these exquisite costumes with our future audiences”, says Annenberg Executive Director Lou Moore. “The designers’ passion for the arts resonated with me on a personal level. For many of them, the arts are their first love. It’s that passion for theater, dance and opera that we plan to bring to the Annenberg when we open.”

This exhibit has been previously curated by Massimiliano Capella of Musei Mazzucchelli in Brescia, Italy. “Il Teatro Alla Moda” has been previously exhibited in Rome (Museo del Corso November – December 2010), Brescia (Musei Mazzucchelli January – April, 2011) and Milan (Palazzo Morando, May - July 2011). It will be on display at the Villa Manin in the outskirts of Venice July 20-November 4,2012.

“The relationship between theater and fashion has allowed the designers to leave their own unique mark on theatrical events,” said Curator Capella. “These designers brought their signature styles and their love of the arts to the stage to capture the essence of the characters in the productions. The distinctive look of each house is apparent in these works for the stage.” The exhibition will have a limited 4-week run from October 14 – November 13, 2011. While the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is under construction, the exhibit will be on display at 253 North Beverly Drive on the ground floor of the new MGM Place, which will be converted into a temporary gallery. Hours are Wednesday-Friday noon- 7p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Tickets which can be purchased at the door will be $10 per person Thursday - Sunday; children under 12 and students with valid ID are free. Parking structures within the area provide free parking for the first two hours. The admission on Wednesdays is Free for everyone. The Annenberg Center will have its official grand opening during the fall of 2013. For additional information please visit the Annenberg Center’s website at: www.annenbergbh.com

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