Une Éducation Manquée

I designed and supervised the execution of the costumes for Une Éducation Manquée, a one-act operetta by Emmanuel Chabrier written in 1879. The opera was produced by Opera Lafayette. Ryan Brown, Artistic Director. It was performed during the 2017 season at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and French Institute - Alliance Française, New York City. This project was great fun; my first with Opera Lafayette! I had met Ryan Brown in Versailles where I attended Opera Lafayette’s performance of Cosi fan tutte from the French libretto, presented together with Philador’s Les Femmes Vengées. It was inspiring to see an American take on the French 18th c. repertoire of opera-comique with the added pleasure of Mozart in French! I was thrilled when Ryan asked me to do the costumes. The libretto is pure aristocratic French of the 18th c. highlighting its strict social codes. I chose a non-period interpretation with hints of the 18th c. such as the wedding dress in a color rather than white and the elaborate costume of La Tante. The accomplished cast with the addition of children, all very professional, made for a great success. Bernard Deletré was artistic director and Jeffrey Watson performed at the piano. Ryan is hoping to do a double bill of this short opera with the one act Bonsoir Voisin for the Fall season, 2020. Although, I am now dedicated to my painting, I’m sure I shall be involved again should this program take place.