Valerie Baber Designs

The Madama Butterfly Opera with the Edmonton Opera is about to begin on Saturday April 5th. Once again I have been involved in designing a few pieces for the Opera Art Project with the Edmonton Opera http://www.edmontonopera.com and the Alberta Craft Council http://www.albertacraft.ab.ca along with other amazing Artists. This is the 50th Anniversary for the Edmonton Opera and they are celebrating with the return of the Madama Butterfly Opera which happened to be the first opera that was performed 50 years ago. I had the pleasure of attending the dress rehearsal yesterday and have to say it is going to be a superb opera to see. I would put it on your must do list as it begins on Saturday April 5th, with other performances on Tuesday April 8th and Thursday April 10th.

For the previous opera’s this season I designed a set of 50th Anniversary themed pieces that included various embellishments from each of the opera’s this season. You can view them earlier on in my blog. The Madama Butterfly Opera inspired me to focus on the Shoji Screens that are a prominent feature in the homes of that era and the stage decoration. To top off the screens I placed cherry blossoms in red that are seen in this amazing opera. A touch of gold for the 50th Anniversary either in gold trim or beads is added to each piece. Below are the designs and a write up on what they symbolize.

Shoji Cherry Blossom Bolero: Designed with a Shoji screen on the base of the bolero and adorned with cherry blossoms on each arm. The gold beads on the cherry blossoms and the gold silk yarn and beads on the sleeves reflects the Edmonton Opera’s 50th Anniversary. Each arm represents one of the other two Opera for this season. One side has a soft lace edge for the “dance of the seven veils” in Salome and the other side has a lace edge with points as in a bats wing for Die Fledermaus play bill.

Shoji Cherry Blossom Hand Warmers: Designed with a Shoji screen on the base of the hand warmer and embellished with a cherry blossom to finish off the design in character of the Madama Butterfly Opera.

Cherry Blossom Hand Warmers: Inspired by the Madama Butterfly opera with the colours and red cherry blossoms prominent in the Opera. The cherry blossoms are made of silk reminiscent of one of the exquisite fibres used in Japan. Edmonton Opera’s 50th Anniversary is shown with the gold beads on the cherry blossoms.

This is going to be a fantastic Opera and one not to miss. Have an inspired day and try something new today. Enjoy.