Pictures As Promised- Don Giovanni

A while ago I mentioned that my latest professional project involved some 18th century-inspired elements; namely corsets, panniers, and a headdress with a boat on it (a la belle poule). Below you can find some photos courtesy of our designer and singers.

This is from the party scene at the end of Act 1, you can just see one of the panniers in the left of the photo and of course the hat with the ship on it on the lady in the Redingote.

We had panniers in every shade of the rainbow, and corsets to match.

Don Giovanni and Leporello, his servant.

The orange pannier in progress.

Set in the modern era, but with an 18th century theme to the pivotal party, this gave us an opportunity to work on elements, such as panniers, that we all too seldom get to do. Happily our next opera is The Rake's Progress, which is based on the Hogarth paintings of the same name and have a similar flavor. We've been making modified sacque-backed gowns for weeks.

I love my job.

The 18th Century Pitches a Hit

The Onion, that most deliciously facetious of satirical publications, has posted an open letter to HBO from none other than The Eighteenth Century. I've long agreed with everything it says, I can only hope HBO takes note.

More here.

July 2nd, 1782

I have invited the Marquis de Menars to visit us at Portaberaud for a few weeks this summer, a thing most unthinkable last year. I have not told Clementine of the invitation as she will be greatly disappointed if he declines to come. Perhaps if Mme de Rodez sees the ease and happiness of his manner with her daughter then she will consent to a match before we even return to Paris.

I broached the subject of R's death with Mme, but she only told me that it was smallpox as she had said to Clementine, and did not know what business F- had to claim otherwise. Now I am very confused as to which story is true, for the truth of it will make all the difference in my understanding of the characters of many people. There is one more witness to whom I may put my questions, but I am not even certain of the name of the doctor who was in attendance on that fatal day.

The sale of Lespinasse is complete, and when my estate agent arrives with the funds I will divide it with Andre, who is still living with Maman here in Riom, as I said that I would.

Olympe, Comtesse