I was first introduced to Puccini’s operetta, La Rondine, as part of the Met’s free nightly streams during Covid. The stars were Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna. Notoriously, the performance marked one of their last engagements before their infamous divorce proceedings in 2009. Remembering how captivated I was by the glittering sets, jaw-dropping costumes, and the soapy heartache I endured as the final scene played out made my most recent trip to the theater a much anticipated one.

A due share of my attraction to La Rondine is the theme of true love over riches and fame. As a courtesan, the disguised Magda cannot forgive herself when Ruggero wishes to marry her at the end of the opera. She has deceived him about her identity and virtue and cannot continue her lie into marriage and motherhood. In the 2009 performance, the breakup ripped my heart out. But due to a lack of chemistry between the two leads in the 2024 revival, I missed out on the emotional catharsis I was so eagerly expecting. For an operetta whose entire success depends on the strength of chemistry between the leading lovers, I was left unmoved and unsatisfied.

Rondine represented an opportunity for me to sew an artsy dress from the 1920’s, which stoked my creativity like an open flame. Looking through different designs of patterns with geometric influences, I aimed to have something similar in my dress that would be appropriate for the Art Deco era. A vintage construct from Lekala fit the bill.

What made this pattern one of interest were the simple, yet striking, details. Having previously struggled with bias cuts of fabric and worse, sewing blocks together at inverted angles, I was a bit intimidated to tackle another slippery nightmare. The sparse instructions didn’t help. However, I was wholly surprised to find that the pattern came together so quickly and so easily.

The pictures don’t do this fabric justice ! I used a rayon/nylon shimmer satin from designer Maggy London in a dusty grape/mauve color. As with most of my fabric purchases, I bought this beauty from Fabric Mart Fabrics.

Confession: I don’t always accurately estimate the amount of fabric I need for each project. Such was the case with this dress. Therefore, I had to piece the lower back portions together and finished the new back seam (and side seams) with French seams. Piecing is period correct, correct ?

My mother was proud of her hairstyle for this one and I loved it. So elegant !

In order to make my flapper headband, I went to Joann Fabrics and found some odds and ends that seemed suitable: black sequin elastic on clearance, a brooch for $3.50, and plumage in the floral section. Shockingly, the headband only took me 10 minutes to fashion and that includes warming up the hot glue gun.

What’s a lady of the house to do without her strings of pearls ?! Accessorizing with lustrous orbs can never be out of vogue.

It truly is a pity that the operetta seen in theaters was without its springing passion. While many denounce La Rondine as being far from Puccini’s best work, it is filled with splendid music that aches for the true, soul love wealth cannot bring.

Toi, Toi, Toi,

Mary Martha

Casts and Credits

La Rondine ─ Giacomo Puccini (1917)
Live in HD air date: April 20, 2024

Cast:
Magda ─ Angel Blue
Ruggero ─ Jonathan Tetelman
Lisette ─ Emily Pogorelc
Prunier ─ Bekhzod Davronov
Rambaldo ─ Alfred Walker

Credits:
Conductor ─ Speranza Scappucci
Production ─ Nicolas Joël
Set Designer ─ Ezio Frigerio
Costume Designer ─ Franca Squarciapino
Lighting Designer ─ Duane Schuler
Live in HD Director ─ Gary Halvorson
Host ─ Julia Bullock