Sofia Coppola presents her opera directorial debut, ‘La Traviata,’ in Rome

(20 May 2016) SOFIA COPPOLA PRESENTS HER OPERA DIRECTORIAL DEBUT IN ROME Film director Sofia Coppola presented her opera directorial debut in Rome Friday (20 MAY 2016). "La Traviata" premieres on May 24 with costumes designed by Valentino. The American director worked side by side with Italy's fashion giant Valentino Garavani, who created the outfits for the new production of Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece, designing the four costumes worn by Violetta Valery, the courtesan protagonist who has a troubled love story with Alfredo. "I didn't really know what to expect and I never would have the courage to direct an opera but when Valentino and Mr Giammetti asked me I thought what an incredible experience to be able to work in the Rome Opera House with the beautiful costumes and the team there so it really motivated me to take a chance and do something that was scary for me and very unfamiliar," Coppola said. The creative directors of the Maison Valentino, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, designed the costumes for Flora and the Chorus. Valentino has been always fascinated by opera. He designed the costumes for an opera inspired by Rudolph Valentino and staged at the Kennedy Center in Washington in 1994, as well as the clothes for the "Valentino" gala at the New York City Ballet and for the Vienna New Year's Concert. "La Traviata has bewitched me since I was a boy for its music, the story, Verdi's score and the positioning of the actors on the stage," said Valentino explaining that he retired in his studio and created the costumes in just an hour and a half. He worked with his business partner Giancarlo Giametti on what is Rome's most glamorous and hotly-anticipated show of the year, "much more important than rock concerts," he said. This new Traviata was inspired by the world of film, with the scenes designed by Nathan Crowley, the Hollywood production designer whose previous works include Christopher Nolan's Batman saga and the movie "Interstellar." The Opera di Roma said it had spent over one million euros on the production but it had made a record profit with the Valentino-Coppola partnership in a much-needed boost for the theatre following years of financial troubles. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...