Bravissimo! Splendour of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma costumes
Next year, an opera full of emotion and drama will bask in the spotlight of the Museum Milavida from 25 April. Bravissimo! – Costumes from the Roman Opera tells the opera’s pompous history and presents the glorious costumes seen on the stages. The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma brings 38 costumes from over 100 years to Milavida.
The oldest costumes are from the 1920s and the newest from the very last few years. The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma opened its doors in 1880. It is where, for example, Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca premiered in 1900. The exhibition is curated by artist Hannu Palosuo and Italian opera director Italo Nunziata.
In Finland, opera has an elitist stigma, but in Italy, for example, it is traditionally an entertainment for all the people. Dazzling plots, turbulent music, heroic tenors and divas in fancy dress, exuberant acting, flamboyant staging have delighted audiences from royalty to commoners for centuries.
Italy, the birthplace of opera, has produced many famous opera composers and virtuoso singers. Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, La Traviata and Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville are among the most enduring public favourites. Spectacular costumes are a key part of the opera’s magic. The Bravissimo! exhibition gives you the chance to see the costumes worn by the likes of tenor Luciano Pavarotti and soprano Maria Callas. The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has featured artists from various disciplines. In 2018, Oscar winner Sofia Coppola directed La Traviata and Valentino designed the costumes. Japanese artist Ai Weiwei designed the costumes and set for Turandot in 2022.
Ballet is an important part of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s repertoires, so dance is not forgotten in Bravissimo! One of ballet’s brightest stars is Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993), whose costume will be on display. Finnish dance artist Jorma Uotinen has also conquered the stage of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and his costume will also be on show at Milavida.
