Ilga's Knitting World

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Armida Inspiration

This week-end I had the great pleasure of seeing--and hearing--the wonderful Renee Fleming perform in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Rossini's Armida. I am lucky enough to live in a city where we can view the Met's productions live in HD, in our local cinema.

Armida is the story of a sorceress who captivates and seduces a Crusader soldier, bringing him to her enchanted palace. In the end, though, he chooses honour and duty and returns to his army. She is devastated and faces the tormented choice: love or revenge.

Not only was Armida an incredible virtuosic musical experience. It was a total sensual one as well, full of colour and movement and dance. A source of inspiration galore!

For me, it was also research. Research for my next Opera Season Collection. I had so much fun designing the first Opera Season Collection, integrating my love of music into my knitting, that I have decided to work on another one. And as if music weren't enough, opera offers so much more: drama, story, artistic sets. It is easy to be drawn into the full spectacle of it.

And Armida was no disappointment. So much to inspire creativity. I found myself scribbling in my sketchbook during intermissions and ended up with no fewer than five design ideas. Now I'll have to decide on which one I'll choose first.

I already have the yarn in mind: Miss Babs Yowza. It'll be perfect for what I have in mind.

I have already worked with this lovely light worsted-weight wool yarn in a commissioned design called "Empress".

So now it's back to the drawing board...