COSTUMES DESIGN
In addition to Elena's career as a classic singer, she designs and creates costumes for opera and theatrical productions. Elena was engaged and is re-invited to assist with projects in Costume Departments of Vancouver Opera and UBC Opera. As a costume designer, Elena contributed to many Vancouver concerts and musical productions, such as thematical concerts "Silver Era", "Opera, Salut!", "Nostalgia" by the Vancouver-based event agency Ad Libitum Entertainment; "Cabaret Odessa" (musical). Elena's current focus from the costume design perspective is Dolce & Belcanto show, in partnership with Melanie Krueger.
Elena's formal training in Garment Design and Costume History comes as a great asset as she is advancing her skills as a costume designer while working at UBC Opera and Vancouver Opera Costume Depts.
Among Elena's recent significant work as a costume creator are the following productions:
"Le Nozze di Figaro", UBC Opera
"Mansfield Park", UBC Opera
"Eine Nacht in Venedig", UBC Opera
"Eugene Onegin", UBC Opera
"Midsummer Night's Dream", UBC Opera
"La Cenerentola", UBC Opera
(with costumes previously designed for "Eine Nacht in Venedig")
Assistance with costumes design and alteration:
"Dead Man Walking", Vancouver Opera
"Le Nozze di Figaro", Vancouver Opera
Contributed to:
"Cabaret Odessa" musical, Vancouver Odessa Club
"Silver Era", "Opera, Salut!", "Nostalgia" concerts, Ad Libitum Ent.
Elena’s new collection of opera gowns “FABric of OpERA” was recently showcased at Vancouver Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 2022), as a tribute to the beautiful world of Opera, with a touch of nostalgia to the fabulous era of extravagant costumes and glamourous evening gowns – a concept inextricably tied to this classical form of art. The gowns designed by Elena address not only the visual side of the character portrayal, but the “technical” specifics important to singers: ability of the costume to allow for a deep breathing and support – the core design principles of the garments. Each piece is a portrayal of the famous heroine from the world classics such as Dalila from “Samson et Dalila” by C. Saint-Saëns, Magic Bird (“Magic Flute”, W. Mozart), Cornelia (“Giulio Cesare”, F. Handel), Ninon (“Violet of Montmartre”, by E. Kalman), Mother Spring (“Snow Maiden”, N. Rimsky-Korsakov), Silva (“Silva”, by E. Kalman), Mary Crawford (“Mansfield Park” by J. Dove), Lakmé (“Lakmé” by L. Delibes).
The power of the right concert gown should not be underestimated: it is a great tool that helps an artist to immediately transform into a character and at the same time, submerge an audience into a certain opera scene in seconds. The collection “FABric of Opera” is where the Haute Couture of Fashion meets Haute Couture of Opera advocating for their timeless beauty!
ELENA'S CREATIONS
 Vogue |  Magic Bird ("Magic Flute", W. Mozart) Photo credit: Mike Fotowerks Fashion Scene in Vancouver |  Magic Bird ("Magic Flute", W. Mozart) Photo credit: Mike Fotowerks Fashion Scene in Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
 Magic Bird ("Magic Flute", W. Mozart) Photo credit: Mike Fotowerks Fashion Scene in Vancouver |  Lakme (Lakme, Delibes) Photo credit: Mike Fotowerks Fashion Scene in Vancouver |  Lakme (Lakme, Delibes) Photo credit: Mike Fotowerks Fashion Scene in Vancouver |
 Cornelia ("Giulio Cesare", F. Handel) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Cornelia ("Giulio Cesare", F. Handel) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Mother-Spring ("Snow-Maiden", N. Rimsky-Korsakov) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |
 Mother-Spring ("Snow-Maiden", N. Rimsky-Korsakov) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Ninon ("Violet of Montmartre", E. Kalman) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Ninon ("Violet of Montmartre", E. Kalman) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |
 Dalila ("Samson et Dalila", C. Saint-Saëns) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Dalila ("Samson et Dalila", C. Saint-Saëns) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Mary Crawford ("Mansfield Park", J. Dove) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |
 Silva ("Silva", E. Kalman) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  Silva ("Silva", E. Kalman) VFW 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection |  VFW 2022 Spring/Summer The Show |
 Vancouver Fashion Week 2022 Spring/Summer Fabric of Opera Collection Show |  VFW 2022 Spring/Summer With Friends! |  Heather Pawsey as Silva Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |
 Charlotte Beglinger as Lakme Mezzo soprano, UBC Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  Melanie Krueger as Goddess of Spring Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  Szu-Wen Wang as Cornelia Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |
 Eve-Lyn de la Haye as Ninon Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  Yenni Lee as Magic Bird Mezzo soprano, UBC Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  Heather Molloy as Dalila Mezzo soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |
 Project Team with Irena Glezer Ad Libitum Ent. |  Dolce & Belcanto Flower Duet |  Gowns "Eine Nacht in Venedig", UBC Opera |
 D&B Carmens and Toreador |  Peasant Girls in Sarafans "Eugene Onegin", UBC Opera |  Lead's Gown "Eine Nacht in Venedig" and "La Cenerentola", UBC Opera |
 Duke's Outfit "Eine Nacht in Venedig" |  Dolce & Belcanto at Vancouver Opera Festival With legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst |  UBC Opera |
 Reconstructed gown "Eine Nacht in Venedig" UBC Opera |  Capes "Eine Nacht in Venedig" and "La Cenerentola", UBC Opera |  Gown "Eine Nacht in Venedig", UBC Opera |
 Crowns "Midsummer Night's Dream" UBC Opera |  Various Costumes "Eugene Onegin" UBC Opera |  Peasant Girl in Sarafan "Eugene Onegin"UBC Opera |
 "Silva" Concert Gown |  Teaser hats "Mansfield Park" UBC Opera |  Teaser hats "Mansfield Park" UBC Opera |
 Mary Crawford Costume Detail "Mansfield Park" |