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Opera Costume

Opera Costume
1993 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume worn by Felicity Lott as Christine in Act 1, Scene 1 of Richard Strauss's opera Intermezzo at Glyndebourne Opera House, 1993. Designed by Martin Battersby (1914-1983).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleOpera Costume (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silk; crepe; velvet; metal
Brief description
Dark orange and brown dress worn by Felicity Lott as Christine in Act 1, Scene 1 of Richard Strauss's opera Intermezzo at Glyndebourne Opera House, 1993. Designed by Martin Battersby (1914-1983)
Physical description
Floor length, long sleeved dress with a dark orange crepe ground patterned with a dark brown raised leopard print motif in synthetic velvet devoré.

The dress follows the line of the body from the shoulder to the dropped waistline which sits at the upper thigh. The dress flares out into a full skirt from this point and there is a side vent at the proper left seam. Fullness has been added to this base section of the skirt, which is formed from two panels, the front part, overlapping the panel which runs across the rear.

The neckline is low and round. The rear of the neckline and the proper left and proper right side are edged with a thick plaited border of fabric in tones of dark orange, pale yellow and pale brown. This plaited border continues down from the neckline across the proper left and proper right sides of the bodice and ends at the upper thigh. At the proper left side it is gathered into in a thick loosely tied knot, with hanging fabric lengths extending from it. At the proper right-hand side, it runs in a loop around a dark brown rectangular plastic clasp.

The bodice and skirt are lined throughout with orange silk. The sleeves are lined with the same fabric and finish in a narrow cuff formed from three layered fills of silk crepe in tones of beige, orange and pale yellow. The cuffs also have a small vent at the wrist which is secured with a single metal press stud.

The dress fastens at the proper left side with a vertical zip (some 55cms in length). This fastening is masked by the plaited fabric band used to end the neckline and decorate the bodice front.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 1kg (approximate)
  • Front shoulder to front hem, maximum length: 133cm (approximate)
  • Shoulder to rear hem length: 128cm (approximate)
  • Across front waist width: 35cm (approximate)
Marks and inscriptions
SCOTTISH OPERA PRODUCTION – INTERMEZZO ACT: I SCENE: I Character: Christine (Production Label, centre back interior of neckline. Printed text in black ink with handwritten annotation.)
Credit line
Given by Glyndebourne Productions Ltd
Summary
Costume worn by Felicity Lott as Christine in Act 1, Scene 1 of Richard Strauss's opera Intermezzo at Glyndebourne Opera House, 1993. Designed by Martin Battersby (1914-1983).
Collection
Accession number
S.216-2018

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Record createdJanuary 2, 2019
Record URL
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