TheLos Angeles Philharmonichas a thing for star architects. As part of a trilogy of Mozart operas directed by Gustavo Dudamel (himself a global celebrity), in 2012 Frank Gehrydesigned the set forDon Giovanni, in 2013 Jean Nouveldesigned oneforThe Marriage of Figaro, and this month Zaha Hadid Architects hasdesigned the backdropforCosì fan tutee, the trilogy’s finale.
Performers navigate the challenging set. (Mathew Imaging)
The firm’s curving white design, evocative of askateboarding bowl(or aCoriansink?), is meant to represent a large sand dune on the Italian coast. It was called “shape-shifting”by the《洛杉矶时报》. Its steep inclines have presented challenges to performers, but they seem to be adapting in rehearsals.
Shows begin on Friday. Costumes were created by British designer Hussein Chalayan, who, like Hadid, is known for edgy, tech-heavy designs. And the director, Christopher Alden, is also known for taking risks. It seems like a combination that should stir things up, and perhaps produce a template for still-rare collaborations across disciplines.
