Carmen
Costume Design
1903 (designed)
1903 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume design by Attilio Comelli for a Spanish Dancer in Scene 3, The inn of Lillas Pastias, of the ballet Carmen at the Alhambra London, 1903. This was the second of three balletic productions of Carmen created for the Alhambra. The ballet was adapted from the story by Prosper Merimee and produced by Charles Wilson with music drawn from Bizet's operatic score arranged by George Byng. The dances were arranged by Madame Cormani and the costumes made by Alias from designs by Comelli. The Era noted 9 May 1903 p.20 that 'the costumes, by Alias from Comelli's designs are simply epatants. Some of the colour harmonies and contrasts are as successful as they are daring, and the wealth of beauty at times is really rapture-creating'. The Illustrated London News 1 May 1903 praised the 'series of scenes which admirably suggest the warm atmosphere of Spain, a wealth of costmes which blend in audacious by perfect harmony, and the full corps of the theatre to recommend a production which is far superior to the average ballet.' The production ran for 47 weeks.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Carmen (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | painted |
| Brief description | Costume design by Attilio Comelli for a Spanish Dancer for the ballet Carmen at the Alhambra, London 1903 |
| Physical description | The image shows a female dancer in an elaborate costume, in tones of deep orange, pale green and dark purple, reminiscent of the dress associated with Spanish Flamenco dancers. The bodice of the dress is deep orange and tightly fitted at the waist and over the hips. The pleated skirt flares out from the dancer's hips in to a wide swirling hem, banded in green and decorated with white and gold flowers. In her right hand the dancer carries a pale yellow fan and she has a thin purple shawl cast over her right shoulder. Her left arm is encased in a tight dark green sleeve painted with floral motifs which reaches to a point just above her elbow. Her hair is very elaborately dressed with a large group of scarlet flowers above her right ear and a high delicate comb at the back from which a purple mantilla, painted with swirling gold motifs is suspended. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Design |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'SC III, Manola 5' (Pencil annotations at the base of the print. A reference to scene 3 in which this costume was worn and 'Manola 5' references fifth variation of costume worn by the fefale Spanish dancers) |
| Summary | Costume design by Attilio Comelli for a Spanish Dancer in Scene 3, The inn of Lillas Pastias, of the ballet Carmen at the Alhambra London, 1903. This was the second of three balletic productions of Carmen created for the Alhambra. The ballet was adapted from the story by Prosper Merimee and produced by Charles Wilson with music drawn from Bizet's operatic score arranged by George Byng. The dances were arranged by Madame Cormani and the costumes made by Alias from designs by Comelli. The Era noted 9 May 1903 p.20 that 'the costumes, by Alias from Comelli's designs are simply epatants. Some of the colour harmonies and contrasts are as successful as they are daring, and the wealth of beauty at times is really rapture-creating'. The Illustrated London News 1 May 1903 praised the 'series of scenes which admirably suggest the warm atmosphere of Spain, a wealth of costmes which blend in audacious by perfect harmony, and the full corps of the theatre to recommend a production which is far superior to the average ballet.' The production ran for 47 weeks. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1083-1997 |
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| Record created | February 4, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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