This performance is the result of two University of Kent students collaborating together, Philippa Hardiman and I.
Philippa is an Operatic Singer, we collaborated in this idea to change the classical vision of the Opera.
The song is a French opera song, “Les Filles de Cadix”(The Girls from Cadiz) by Leo Delibes.
BALLADE CHAMPETRE
This performance is the result of two University of Kent students collaborating together, Philippa Hardiman and I.
Philippa is a great Operatic singer, she took part of the music arrangements of the performance. I did the set and the costume design.
The song is a French opera song, “Les Filles de Cadix” (The Girls from Cadiz) by Leo Delibes.
Philippa had come up with the idea of creating an instillation where she could perform as three versions of herself through two pre-recorded projections. Philippa would be singing live, she would interact with the projections as if they were communicating with one another. These three versions of her represent the three girls in the song.
The Girls of Cadiz enjoy attention; they like to dance, and play a game of seduction with the people around them.
This “attitude” inspired me to link this essence to the idea of creating a huge music box where a doll would turn around and talk to the projections.
I was highly influenced by the traditional flamenco costumefor the dress design.
I, then added three huge puppets referencing the three boys being sang to, continuing the idea of toys and games that you can find in a child’s room.
I over scaled the puppets to make them more intense. I put nature in the décor to echo the song. When I was designing this set, and the costume.
I was thinking it as a drawing, in black and white.
This performance was an actual event and I was in charge of all the oganisation of it; visual communication, advertising, reception of the guests, timetable, leaflets...
Therefor, I decided to do this performance twice in an hour and the guest could enjoy an little exhibition about the performance background and it's meaning.