Puccini and Verdi’s women: the characters are revealed through costume, in two exhibitions at Villa Bertelli

From 27 June al 31 August two exhibitions are on show at Villa Bertelli: PrimeDonne – Le donne di Puccini e Le eroine di Verdi: amanti, vittime e traviate. (Prima Donnas – Puccini’s women and Verdi’s Heroines: lovers, victims and misguided.

The two exhibitions offer a detailed analysis of 19th/20th century theatre from an unusual perspective: costumes and sets. 

Both the exhibitions sono il frutto di progetti che, under the guidance of the costume designer Maria Chiara Donato, have involved students of different courses of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala: the tailors, scene photographers and set designers.

The Performance tailor students have been involved in an articulated work of historical restoration, starting with the original figurines of Adolf Hohenstein, Alfredo Edel, Giuseppe Palanti and Filippo Peroni, faithful to the style of the time when the operas were set.

Full freedom has been given to the set designers who each chose a Puccini heroine to work around.
It is also possible to see the entire creative process, appreciating what is normally out of sight, such as corsets, bodices and petticoats.