NOVAT has updated the exhibition on the ground floor lobby consisting of costumes taken from the theatre’s productions of different ages.
You can mark the succession of theatre traditions through the example of costumes and perceive how the theatre designers of different times used to represent on stage classical masterpieces of the musical theatre.
Russian opera costumes are real gems of the theatre’s collection, they open the exhibition. The oldest costume is from 1948, it’s Boris Godunov’s coronation robe from Mussorgsky’s opera of the same name, it was used by the RSFSR National Artist Veniamin Arkanov. One cannot but admire the inventive power of theatre artists of those times: during the poor postwar times they used Boris Knoblok’s drafts to create a costume that looked rich and impressive on stage, it included pieces of cotton wrapped in satin, which imitated pearls.
Rimsky-Korsakov’s production “Tsar’s Bride” of 1975 is represented by Lyubasha’s dress, designed by Albina Morozova (chief designer of NGATOiB from 1965 to 1984, staged 49 performances in total). Work of the outstanding theatre designer is represented by another costume – the one of Count Almaviva from 1974 “The Barber of Seville”.
The line of opera costumes and historic performances continues with Tatiana’s dress from the third act of 1994 Tchaikovsky’s opera “Eugene Onegin”. Sets and costumes for this production were designed by Vyacheslav Okunyov.
Ballet costumes always intrigue the audience, especially platter tutu skirts, which became a symbol of classical Russian ballet. The platter skirt, as a foundation of a female ballet costume, was conceived in mid 30-s XIX century and has changed its appearance remarkably.
The renewed exhibition contains several examples of modern tutu skirts: the luxurious costumes from 2013 “Paquita” ballet production and a particular skirt from 2012 “Le Corsaire”, which is called “pendant” in lingo.
Refined costumes of Sun King and Waiting Lady, and Bluebeard’s costume - grotesque, vivid in an exotic way, the one from 1996 “Sleeping Beauty” ballet production. They were designed by an original theatre designer Igor Grinevich. Honored Artist of Russia, Laureate of the Russian Federation award, he dedicated huge part of his life to the Novosibirsk theatre and staged 20 opera and 16 ballet performances as a designer.
NOVAT Chief Stage Director Vyacheslav Starodubtsev noted the following: “We update our exhibition to make out theatre’s rich history look like a living, interesting narrative of high art, of people, who created it. Each costume of this exhibition represents a certain historic performance of the theatre and a talented creative team, who prepared it”.