Scheherazade – Window 1

Production: Bianca Li - choreography, Thierry Leproust - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Jacques Chatelet – lighting. National Opera of Paris, Palais Garnier, 2001. Costumes made at Atelier du Palais Granier, directed by Yvette Grandfond, Phillippe Binot - production.

This production remains in the repertory of the Ballet of the National Opera of Paris.
Composed in 1888 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" is originally a symphonic suite inspired by the "Thousand and One Nights. In 1910, Serge Diaghilev, director of the “Russian Ballets”, extracts from the score of a ballet, choreographed by Michel Fokine, scenery and costumes by Léon Bakst, created for the Paris Opera in 1910.

Sultan surprises his wife in the arms of another and orders her execution. Disillusioned with love, every day he has new brides, who should be killed in the morning, to ensure fidelity. After some time, there is scarcely more damsels available. To end with executions, Scheherazade, daughter of the Vizier, is offered as a wife and, aware of her death in the morning after the marriage, she starts telling him stories. Not telling the end of story, she leaves the Sultan curious, with the promise to finish it in the following night.

Repertory – Paris National Opera Paris

Production: Vincent Boussard - direction, Vincent Lemaire - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Alain Poisson - lighting. Brussels, Theater de La Monnaie, 2006. Production of costumes by fashion studio of the La Monnaie Theater, under the direction of Régine Becker.

Opera buffa in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, created at the Vienna Burgtheater, in 1790.

Guglielmo and Ferrando bet with a cynical old philosopher, named Don Alfonso that their brides Fiordiligi and Dorabella will always be faithful. Don Alfonso conspires with the maid Despina, who presented new candidates for the ladies, so-called "Albanian", which were, actually, disguised Guglielmo and Ferrando.
Pretenses, false swearing, tears and regrets. The game is cruel, but it has a happy and convenient ending.

Collection Theater of La Monnaie, Brussels


IL RE PASTORE - THE SHEPHERD KING

Production: Vincent Boussard – direction, Vincent Lemaire - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Alain Poisson - lighting. Brussels, Theater of La Monnaie, 2003. Costumes production by fashion studio - Monnaie Theater, under the direction of Régine Becker.

Dramma per musica in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Pietro Metastasio. The opera was first performed in Salzburg in 1775 during the visit of Archduke Maximilian Francis, youngest son of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

Alexander the Great wants to return the throne of Sidon to the shepherd Aminta, rightful heir. Aminta prefers the love of his beautiful Elisa to take power next to another wife. Alexander will lean towards his determination, and the shepherd will get both.

Collection La Monnaie Theater, Brussels

Carmen

Production: Antoine Bourseiller - direction, Rico Saccani - musical direction, Christian Lacroix - scenery and costumes. Nîmes, Arenas, 1989. The production features 350 costumes produced in a fashion studio held in Nimes, with help from Jean Bousquet and under the direction of Anne Corbière.

Music by Georges Bizet, libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a story by Prosper Mérimée, created at the Opéra Comique in Paris, in 1875.

Opéra-comique in four acts, "Carmen" is one of the most popular operas and most represented in the world. The story takes place in Seville, Spain, in 1830. All the ingredients for success are present: melodies and rhythms, passionate love story, a free woman, the beautiful gypsy Carmen, a seductive bullfighter, Escamillo, the jealousy of a passionate man who was despised, the soldier Don José who left everything for this infidel, death ...

This production marks the first participation of Christian Lacroix in a lyrical work. Most of the costumes were made from fabrics and items of clothing purchased in bales and combined later.

Collection Vieux Nîmes Museum

Arsa y Toma

Choreographer: Cristina Hoyos, Paco Arriaga - music, Daniel Bianco - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Paco Doniz - lighting. Opera of Avignon and Pays du Vaucluse, 1996.

Flamenco ballet choreographed by one of the most famous actress, dancer and choreographer of flamenco in Spain, "Arsa y Toma" outlines the history of flamenco since its inception in the 1950s, when it was just entertainment for tourists, and its evolution to a complete art as we know it today. The show is divided into four parts, mixing traditional dances, classical Spanish dance and modern ballet. Through parody and caricature, Hoyos mocks the impure flamenco and shows the true flamenco in an attempt to recover the dignity and passion of this dance.

"At the request of Cristina Hoyos, I worked the first frame in a slightly caricatured way, as a postcard of the Franco era, adorned with tiny ruffles of fabric ..." Christian Lacroix

Collection Company Cristina Hoyos, Seville

Production: René Jacobs - musical direction, Vincent Boussard - direction, Vincent Lemaire - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Alain Poisson - lighting. Brussels, La Monnaie Theater, 2004. Production of costumes performed by the fashion studio of the La Monnaie Theater, under the direction of Régine Becker.

Drama per musica in three acts, music by Francesco Cavalli, anonymous libretto completed by Aurelio Aureli. The opera was commissioned in 1667 by a Cardinal to celebrate the wedding of Louis XIV in Paris, and premiered during the Carnival season of 1668. However, it was closed after few presentations. It is believed that the story, or even music, were the reason for the cancellation of the performances. Aureli wrote a new text and hired another composer, and the opera was then resubmitted.

The booklet mentions the story of one of the most immoral Roman emperors, Elagabalus. Tyrant and corrupt, great lover of women, he uses of seduction and violence to conquer them. He appoints a senate of women who will make his harem. He ends up falling and being killed.

As this work had never been interpreted before, work on the costumes was very free, especially with regard to historical references of ancient Rome.

Collection of La Monnaie Theater, Brussels

Production: Anne Delbée - direction, Jean-Pierre Regnault - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes. Paris, Comédie-Française, 1995. Production of costumes by fashion studio of the Comédie-Française, under the direction of Renato Bianchi.

A five-act play written by Jean Racine in Alexandrine verses, created in 1677 at the Bourgogne Hotel, "Phaedra" is today a classic tragedy of excellence, inspired by Greek and Roman poets and ancient mythologies.

Phaedra, a descendant of the sun, was burning with a guilty love for her stepson, the young Hippolytus. When she knew about the death of her husband Theseus, Phaedra was taken by her passion, but the young Hippolytus, in love with Aricia, rejects Phadra with horror. Theseus reappears, the news of his death was false. Oenone, Phaedra's confidante, to save his lady, convinces the king that Hippolytus tried to seduce Phaedra. In his wrath, Theseus banishes his son and relies on the King Neptune to help him in his revenge. Hippolytus fight against a monster from the waves and is killed. Fedra, guilty and victim of his passion, consumes poison, and dying, confesses her crime to Theseus.

Christian Lacroix received his first Molière award for Phaedra’s costume

Collection Comédie-Française

Les Arts Florissants - window 6

Actaeon

Production: Vincent Boussard - direction, Christian Lacroix - costumes, William Christie - musical director. Paris, Champs Elysees Theater, 2001.

Pastoral music of Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Libretto anonymous according to "The Metamorphoses" by Ovid, Book III, a work created around 1680.

In a clearing, during a hunt, Actaeon accidentally discovers Diana, the goddess of hunting, and her nymphs bathing. He tries to hide himself, but he is discovered. He is then transformed into a stag by the angry goddess. The dogs of Actaeon, not recognizing him anymore, eat him.

Dido and Aeneas

Production: William Christie - musical director, Vincent Boussard - direction, Christian Lacroix - costumes. Paris, Champs Elysees Theater, 2001. Dresses made in Paris by Atelier Geneviève Carasco.

Opera in three acts by Henry Purcell, libretto by Nahum Tate according to book IV of "Aeneid" of Virgil. Created in 1689 and presented at the Boarding School for Girls in Chelsea.

The Queen of Carthage, Dido, and the Trojan hero Aeneas are in love for each other. The Furies destroy their romance - they invite Aeneas to fulfill his destiny. He leaves Carthage toward Rome. When the ship of Aeneas departs, desperate, Dido kills herself.

Collection Les Arts Florissants


Les Arts Florissants - The descent of Orpheus to hell

Production: Arts Florissants Orchestra, William Christie - music director and harpsichord, Vincent Boussard - direction, Christian Lacroix - costumes. Paris, City of Music, 2004. Costumes made in Paris by Atelier Geneviève Carasco.

Two chamber operas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, written for Mademoiselle de Guise in 1680, were presented at the three hundredth anniversary of Charpentier's death, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the company Les Arts Florissants.

In "Les Arts Florissants" (1685-1686), chamber opera in five acts, libretto by unknown French author, Charpentier celebrates the grandeur of Louis XIV. The story is about art, the interpretation of four allegorical characters: Music, Painting, Poetry and Architecture, which blossoms under the peaceful and beneficial reign of Louis XIV. The Art and a group of warriors are caught in the dispute between the central characters Peace and Discord. After a brief struggle, in which the Discord and its Furies gain control, Peace appeals to Jupiter to intervene on his behalf. Discord and his followers are repelled back to hell by a barrage of lightning, Peace prevails once again.
This short opera gave its name to the group created by William Christie.

In "The Descent of Orpheus to Hell" (1686-1687), chamber opera in two acts, Orpheus celebrates his wedding with Eurydice. Eurydice and her nymphs were picking up flowers, when she was bitten by a snake and dies. Orpheus mourns the death of his wife. To bring her back to the living, he goes down to hell. He sings, and his music makes the terrible Cerberus sleep. The king of the hell permits that he takes Eurydice back under one condition: that he did not look at it before they left the realm of the dead. Orpheus gives in to temptation, turns to look at it and loses Eurydice forever.

Collection Les Arts Florissants

A woman without a shadow

Production: Kazushi Ono - musical direction, Matthew Jocelyn - direction, Alain Lagarde - scenery, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Robert Venturi - lighting. Brussels, Theater de la Monnaie, 2005.  Geneviève Carasco – costume assistent. Costumes made by Fashion Studio - Théâtre de La Monnaie, directed by Regina Becker.

Opera in three acts by Richard Strauss, libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, created for the Vienna State Opera in 1919.

The Empress was the daughter of fairies, but she loses her magical powers when married the Emperor. She also loses her shadow and can not have kids. The father of the Empress, King of the spiritual world, demands that she gets a shadow before the end of the twelfth moon, otherwise return to the spiritual world and the Emperor would be turned into a stone. Two worlds facing each other: one of humans, with the dyer Barak and his wife; and another of spirits, with the King and the Nanny. A journey of initiation full of evidences awaiting the players. Humanity and good triumph, accompanied by the voices of children to be born.

Collection - Théâtre de La Monnaie, Brussels

OTELO - window 7

Production: Anne Delbée - adaptation and direction, Jean-Pierre Regnault - scenary, Christian Lacroix - costumes. Paris, Theater 14 - Jean-Marie Serreau, 1995. Costumes made in Paris by a studio set up for this production, with the help of the Atelier de la Comédie-Française, directed by Renato Bianchi.

William Shakespeare's play was first presented at Whitehall Palace in London in 1604.

Othello, the Moorish general service of the Republic of Venice, married the beautiful Desdemona. Iago, one of his officers, watched with anger and envy the appointment of his rival Cassio as his lieutenant. To avenge his frustrated ambitions, he makes Othello believe that Cassio is Desdemona's lover. Mad with rage, Othello kills his innocent wife.

Most of the costumes were crafted from salvaged clothes, bought at flea markets in London or military surplus. The two female costumes were manufactured in a specialized workshop.

Collection Anne Delbée

A forest of dark hearts

A play by Jean-Frédéric Vernier. Nicolas Lormeau - direction, Pascal Monteil and Christian Lacroix - set design, Christian Lacroix - costumes, Pierre Peyronnet - lighting, Bertrand Maillot - music. Enghien-les-Bains, Center des Arts, 2003.

Private collection


The night porter

A Telefilm by Philippe de Broca, Christian Lacroix’s costumes for Sabine Azéma. The costumes in this movie were made in Paris by studio Caraco Farias, directed by Claudine Lachaud. Co-production: SFP. Production: Ellipse, France program 3, 1996.

The script of this film was adapted from a work of Sacha Guitry, telling the story of a woman supported by an older man and surrounded by admirers. A painter seduces her. They three are living well, but because of jealousy, the maid disturbs their happiness.

Private collection

THE WALTZ OF TUTUS

Les Anges ternis

Charlie Mingus - music, Karole Armitage - choreography, Christian Lacroix - costumes. Paris Opera - World Creation, Palais Garnier, 1987.
Costumes created by the fashion studio of Denise Fougerolle, Paris.

The ballet "Les Anges ternis" was commissioned by Rudolf Nureyev for the National Opera of Paris. Karole Armitage raises questions about the heritage of classical dance in this ballet. Situated on the border between academic ballet and contemporary dance, it is a combination of three points of view of research and freedom: choreographer, set designer and costume designer.

National Opera of Paris Collection


The Bonbons Waltz

Famous waltz by Johann Straus, it is the music of a ballet created for a television program in Austria. It was recorded in places of prestige, on the occasion of 1998 New Year.

Collection of Maison Lambert Hofer, Vienna


Cinderella

French adaptation of François Sauvageot, Richard Caceres - direction and choreography, Claude Maury set design. Presented at the Opéra-Comique, Paris, 1986.

Opera by Peter Maxwell Davies, music and libretto by Peter Maxwell Davis, "Cinderella" is for a young audience. Created in England in 1980, is a reinterpretation of the familiar fairy tale. Heroin is abused by a young mother of three brats (performed by boys). She is saved by the family cat, who takes her to the ball dance. The rest of the opera follows the classic story.

Collection of the National Costume Scene - National Opera of Paris

Zoopsie Comedi

Musical revue and choreography from the companies Lolita and Beau Geste, Thierry Azam, Karl Biscuit, Alain Michon, Melody Four - music, Arnaud Sauer - scenery, Christian Lacroix and Sylvie Skinazi - costumes. Bataclan, 1986. Costumes made by Michel Bazin.

In this musical of the 1980s, a crazy magician who is looking for the ideal love, creates in his lab a world of illusion that gradually takes over him. A series of tables only governed by the rhythm, entertainment and images. New York, Paris, Tokyo, El Salvador, the grand staircase, pyramids, an enormous Josephine Baker with feathers and rhinestones. In "Zoopsie Comedi" nothing is missing.


Collection Company Beau Geste


Have you seen her?

Music by Jean-Michel Damase, Patrice Thomere - text, Oliver Holt - musical director, Olivier Depierre - direction, Alain Lagarde - set design, Pierre Georges Lambert - choreography. Presented at the Theater of the Opera-Comique, Paris, 1991.
Costumes made by fashion studio Caraco Farias, under the direction of Claudine Lachaud.

In a theater, at the end of World War I, the director of an old-fashioned entertainment magazine, reports that all the songs in the latest fashions are finding a place in this theater – jazz and charleston, blues and foxtrot. In the end, all the company embraces new styles and fraternizes in the grand staircase.

Collection of the National Costume Scene Center – National Opera of Paris and Christian Lacroix.


C'est la vie

Revue directed by Alfredo Arias, choreography by Molly Molloy and with costumes by Christian Lacroix.

Organized for the presentation event for the perfume "C'est la vie" by Christian Lacroix, at the Opéra-Comique, Paris, 1990.

"A mix of fantasy and joy, transitional and traditional, humor and heroism that evokes the red and gold magic of the show. "C'est la vie" is a perfume and a state of mind. But tonight is also an exceptional magazine. A spectacular show inspired by the love for life. For a single performance, he joined the most diverse talents. From a star of the dance to an unknown mime, from street music to waltzes of Vienna and Berlin cabarets, as well as the immortal tango. Poses, crazy talent, comedy, virtuosity, absurdity, mystery ... they comprise the salt of life. Perfume of Life! "Christian Lacroix”


Chanticleer

A play by Edmond Rostand, adapted and directed by Jean-Luc Tardieu, Jean-Denis Malcles - scenery, Christian Lacroix and Sylvie Skinazi costumes. Maison de la Culture de Loire-Atlantique, Nantes, 1986.

Edmond Rostand, playwright and poet, created this piece in four acts after the huge success of "Cyrano de Bergerac.”Chanticleer”, the rooster of the henhouse, is convinced that is his singing that makes the sun rise. Unrequited love and other misfortunes bring him back to reality. In this allegorical work, no human appears on the scene, only animals.

This was the first order of costumes made for Christian Lacroix.

Collection Maison de la Culture de Loire-Atlantique


Romeo and Juliet

Pascal Dusapin’s opera, libretto by Olivier Cadiot, directed by Ludovic Lagarde. Opéra-Comique, Paris, 2008.

Created in 1989 for the Montpellier Festival, in celebration of the bicentennial of the French Revolution, the opera was far from the famous original love story, focusing on the relationship of the main characters and the weight of their social conditions. On an early morning, Juliet wakes up Romeo, who sleeps under a tree, and tells him it's time to start a revolution. They quarrel and fight, demanding for their rights, freedom of talking, thinking and loving, angry with life. Pascal Dusapin, the composer, has revolutionized the opera and created drama, not between the characters, but between text and music.

Collection Opéra-Comique


The vagaries of Mariana

Production: Lambert Wilson - direction, Jean-Vincent Puzos - scenario, Christian Lacroix - costumes, François Austerlitz - lighting. 22 costumes made at the Atelier du Costume (ADC), in Paris, directed by Danièle Boutard. Paris, Theater Bouffes du Nord, 1994.

A play by Alfred de Musset, launched in "La Revue des Deux Mondes" in 1833. It was written in the Romantic era by an author of twenty-two years, the text was adapted for the stage, which was prohibited by censorship. It was first produced at the Comédie-Française, in 1851.

The story is set in Naples: Celio is a young man, desperately trying to win Mariana, a married woman and faithful to her husband, Claudius. Celio calls his friend Octavius, a libertine, Claudius’ cousin. Gradually, while refusing the love of Celio, Mariana gets close to Otaviius. She makes a date with him and announces her decision of having a lover, and indirectly confesses her love. Claudius, suspicious and jealous, hires swordsmen to kill her lover. Otávio does not appear, Celio dies in his place. Desperate, Otávio leaves Mariana heartbroken.

In this production, Lambert Wilson placed the action in Naples, in the years 1950-60, at the time of "La Dolce Vita".

Collection of the National Costumes of the Scene - NAC and Christian Lacroix


Second Skin

Choreography by Michael O'Rourke, Christian Lacroix costumes. Theater 14, Paris, 1988.

Pas de deux created for the First Dancers of the Paris Opera, Wilfrid Piollet and Jean Guizerix.

Collection Wilfrid Piollet