facebook pixel

Red Carpet-Worthy Looks from 10 San Francisco Opera Productions

by San Francisco Opera Staff

The Golden Globes, Screen Actor's Guild and of course the Grammy Awards are all behind us, and yet we've still got the Oscars to look forward to this winter! And let's be honest, isn't the red carpet the reason we all watch? It's awards season and we've got gorgeous gowns on the mind! Where better to draw inspiration than from some of the most stunning dresses to grace the stage of the War Memorial Opera House?  Join us as we look back at gowns from 10 San Francisco Opera productions that our favorite celebrities would kill to wear as they walk the red carpet this season. 

LULU 1998
Costumes designed by Bob Mackie
 
Lulu’s bringing sexy back! Bob Mackie is known for his jaw dropping gowns and exquisite beading… sultry singers would slay on the red carpet in this dress.
Celebrities who would die to wear it:
Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Britney Spears
Eilana Lappalainen as Lulu
Eilana Lappalainen as Lulu
Mackie's design
Mackie's design

LUCREZIA BORGIA 2011
Costumes designed by John Pascoe 
With yards and yards and yards of chiffon, this gown created for the incomparable Renée Fleming is the perfect picture of love, power and despair. Multi-layered and complex—like the original femme fatale herself—this is a showstopper both with and without the simple little evening coat.
Celebrities who would swish by you in it:
Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep
Renee Fleming as Lucrezia Borgia
Renee Fleming as Lucrezia Borgia
Pascoe's design
Pascoe's design
 
CAPRICCIO, 1990
Costumes designed by Gianni Versace 
The late Gianni Versace was an artistic genius, a fashion whiz and a pop culture icon.  His designs for San Francisco Opera were done at the height of the Versace vogue. His bold unmistakable stylings can still be seen on the Versace runways today.
Celebrities who would brag about “Vintage Versace” while wearing it:
Lady GaGa, Cher, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Hanna Schwartz as Clarion
Hanna Schwartz as Clarion
Versace's design
Versace's design
Kiri Te Kanawa as The Countess; Versace's design
Kiri Te Kanawa as The Countess; Versace's design

I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI 2012
Costumes designed by Christian Lacroix 
Lacroix! Sweetie! With the bubble skirt, Christian Lacroix defined a decade and became a fashion superstar. Revisiting the iconic look was a natural for Giulietta as it mimicked a budding flower.
Celebrities who would rock it:
Paris Hilton, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Lana del Rey
Nicole Cabell as Giulietta
Nicole Cabell as Giulietta
Lacroix's design
Lacroix's design
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG 2011
Costumes designed by Catherine Zuber 
Tony Award-winning designer Catherine Zuber used a fantastic orange to illustrate Texan wealth and arrogance. Cinching the waist and emphasizing the bust certainly helped to define Gutrune’s shallow lustful look.
Celebrities who would fill it out:
Christina Hendricks, Sofia Vergara, the late Anna Nicole Smith
Melissa Citro as Gutrune
Melissa Citro as Gutrune
Zuber's design
Zuber's design
THE MAKROPULOS CASE 2010
Costumes designed by Frank Philipp Schlössmann 
Where would a 350 year-old opera star shop in the 1950s? Dior, of course. 
Designer Frank Philipp Schlössman opted for opulence when choosing a historic couture evening gown to recreate for the chic Emilia Marty.
Celebrities who would adore Dior it:
Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, Gwyneth Paltrow
Karita Mattila as Emilia Marty
Karita Mattila as Emilia Marty
Schlössmann's design
Schlössmann's design
RODELINDA 2005
Costumes designed by Buki Shiff
Designer Buki Schiff transported us to the glory days of film noir with this exquisite beaded gown.  Paired (of course) with a white fox fur and opera length gloves, this beauty heralds the golden age of Hollywood glamour.
Celebrities who would stare you down in it:
Joan Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Divine
Phyllis Pancella as Eduige
Phyllis Pancella as Eduige
Shiff's design
Shiff's design

SALOME 2009
Costumes designed by Bruno Schwengl 
With a modern feminine reinterpretation of a biblical gown, Salome gives us an ample preview of what’s to come in the dance of the seven veils. 
Celebrities who would make the Best Dressed list in it:
Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett
Nadja Michael as Salome
Nadja Michael as Salome
Schwengl's design
Schwengl's design
 
L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA 1998
Costumes designed by Robert Perdziola 
This sumptuous red gown by Robert Perdziola is fit for a queen. Antique gold lace, opera length gloves and a sweeping train will command attention upon any entrance. The fact that Ruxandra Donose is literally, “dripping with jewels” doesn’t hurt.
Queens who would grace you with their presence in it:
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Sofia of Spain, RuPaul
Ruxandra Donose as Poppea
Ruxandra Donose as Poppea
Perdziola's design
Perdziola's design

MACBETH 2007
Costumes designed by Marie-Jeanne Lecca 
Sometimes a simple black dress can be anything but…  Lady Macbeth shows us why her husband can’t refuse her most insane demands.
Celebrities who would need double stick tape for it:
Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Donatella Versace
Giorgina Lukacs as Lady Macbeth
Giorgina Lukacs as Lady Macbeth
Photos by Marty Sohl (Lulu, L'Incoronazione di Poppea); Cory Weaver (Lucrezia Borgia, I Capuleti e i Montechi, Gotterdammerung, The Makropulous Case, Salome); Larry Merkle (Capriccio); Terrence McCarthy (Rodelinda, Macbeth).