Fashion meets Opera

On March 18, the state rooms of the Vienna State Opera will be transformed into a special kind of stage: at Fashion meets Opera, great opera meets young fashion visions. Up-and-coming designers from KunstModeDesign Herbststraße will present 144 new designs - inspired by the musically powerful and haunting opera Les pêcheurs de perles by Georges Bizet.

At the center of the evening is the opera Les pêcheurs de perles by Georges Bizet - a work about friendship, love, betrayal, inner conflict and forgiveness. The plot, musical dramaturgy and tonal diversity form the conceptual basis for the young designers' artistic exploration. Over the past few months, the students have explored the central themes and moods of the opera and translated them into a contemporary aesthetic. Emotional tensions are reflected in contrasts, lines and silhouettes. The connection between music and narrative is reflected in the choice of materials, tailoring and detailing and is interpreted independently and very differently in the designs.

With 144 different looks, the show presents an impressive range of young styles. Each collection tells its own interpretation of the opera - sometimes dramatic and opulent, sometimes reduced and modern. Some designs take up the inner development of the character Leila, others focus on the friendship between Nadir and Zurga and translate their emotional dynamics into asymmetrical cuts and draping.
It becomes clear that fashion can not only accompany music, but also take it further. The young designers show courage for emotion and narrative depth - and demonstrate how contemporary design can be inspired by classical art.

On March 18, models will present the designs on the Feststiege, in the Gustav Mahler Hall and in the Schwindfoyer. The interplay of music, fashion and light creates a link between the disciplines, while the architecture of the building provides a dignified setting for the designs. The stage orchestra of the Vienna State Opera accompanies the 40-minute show in changing small ensembles and provides a harmonious musical basis. At the same time, live electronics by Max Liebich translate classical sounds into a contemporary sound.

The evening continues after the show. The audience switches from fashion show to party mode: clubbing in the Schwindfoyer and the Gustav Mahler Hall, a secret bar with a jazz quartet and a joint celebration of creativity and artistic diversity round off the event.