Turandot
Costume Design
1963 (made)
1963 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume design by Cecil Beaton for the Court Ladies in Act II of Turandot, Royal Opera House, London, 1963.
Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) was best known as a photographer. Beaton also worked as an illustrator, a diarist, and designer for stage and film. He won three Oscars for costume and art direction for the film version of My Fair Lady (1965) and for Gigi (1958).
Turandot is an opera in three acts and five scenes with music by Giacomo Puccini and is written for a cast and orchestra of over 160. It was Puccini’s final opera that was completed by Franco Alfano and received its premiere on 25 April 1926 at Teatro alla Scalla in Milan. Turandot was originally designed by Cecil Beaton for the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 1961 and was reproduced for the Royal Opera House with some modifications on 28 February 1963. The producer for the Royal Opera House was Sandro Sequi and conductor Edward Downes. Cecil Beaton’s designs were lit by William Bundy. The costumes were made by Bonn & Mackenzie Ltd., Alec Shanks, Vidrobes Willis and Covent Garden Production Department. Shoes by Anello & Davide and Miss Shuard’s headdress was made by Hugh Skillen. Cecil Beaton’s designs were praised by the critics for being full of colour and elaborate. Philip Hope-Wallace of the Guardian said “Cecil Beaton has designed superb costumes, of original fantasy and high skill”.
Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) was best known as a photographer. Beaton also worked as an illustrator, a diarist, and designer for stage and film. He won three Oscars for costume and art direction for the film version of My Fair Lady (1965) and for Gigi (1958).
Turandot is an opera in three acts and five scenes with music by Giacomo Puccini and is written for a cast and orchestra of over 160. It was Puccini’s final opera that was completed by Franco Alfano and received its premiere on 25 April 1926 at Teatro alla Scalla in Milan. Turandot was originally designed by Cecil Beaton for the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 1961 and was reproduced for the Royal Opera House with some modifications on 28 February 1963. The producer for the Royal Opera House was Sandro Sequi and conductor Edward Downes. Cecil Beaton’s designs were lit by William Bundy. The costumes were made by Bonn & Mackenzie Ltd., Alec Shanks, Vidrobes Willis and Covent Garden Production Department. Shoes by Anello & Davide and Miss Shuard’s headdress was made by Hugh Skillen. Cecil Beaton’s designs were praised by the critics for being full of colour and elaborate. Philip Hope-Wallace of the Guardian said “Cecil Beaton has designed superb costumes, of original fantasy and high skill”.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Turandot (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Black ink and watercolour drawing on paper |
| Brief description | Costume design by Cecil Beaton for the Court Ladies in Act II of Turandot, Royal Opera House, London, 1963 |
| Physical description | Black ink and watercolour costume designs for two court ladies for the 1963 production of Turandot at the Royal Opera House. The design consists of tunics and skirts. Signed by Cecil Beaton. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Court Lady
#27 2 costumes Heyes Chazin
Add
Jewelled Belt
Act II
Panel at back in pairs
Arcadian Pleated Belt (Handwritten on reverse of design) |
| Credit line | Given by the executors of Eileen Hose |
| Summary | Costume design by Cecil Beaton for the Court Ladies in Act II of Turandot, Royal Opera House, London, 1963. Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) was best known as a photographer. Beaton also worked as an illustrator, a diarist, and designer for stage and film. He won three Oscars for costume and art direction for the film version of My Fair Lady (1965) and for Gigi (1958). Turandot is an opera in three acts and five scenes with music by Giacomo Puccini and is written for a cast and orchestra of over 160. It was Puccini’s final opera that was completed by Franco Alfano and received its premiere on 25 April 1926 at Teatro alla Scalla in Milan. Turandot was originally designed by Cecil Beaton for the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 1961 and was reproduced for the Royal Opera House with some modifications on 28 February 1963. The producer for the Royal Opera House was Sandro Sequi and conductor Edward Downes. Cecil Beaton’s designs were lit by William Bundy. The costumes were made by Bonn & Mackenzie Ltd., Alec Shanks, Vidrobes Willis and Covent Garden Production Department. Shoes by Anello & Davide and Miss Shuard’s headdress was made by Hugh Skillen. Cecil Beaton’s designs were praised by the critics for being full of colour and elaborate. Philip Hope-Wallace of the Guardian said “Cecil Beaton has designed superb costumes, of original fantasy and high skill”. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.971-2014 |
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| Record created | July 16, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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