COSTUME DESIGN
In addition to Elena's career as a classic singer, she designs and creates costumes for opera and theatre productions. Elena was engaged and is re-invited to assist with projects in Costume Departments of UBC Opera and Vancouver Opera. Elena's recent project includes work on a creative team as a Costume Designer for a Canadian premiere of G. Benjamin's "Into the Little Hill" chamber opera by Astrolabe Music Theatre, in collaboration with Vancouver Opera Orchestra (2023).
Elena is a graduate from the CUT Vancouver Fashion Academy and her additional training in Garment Design and Costume History comes as a great asset as she continues to advance her skills working in a theatre environment. As a designer, Elena contributed to many thematical concerts and musical productions, such as "Opera, Salut!", "Nostalgia", "Silver Era", "Cabaret Odessa" presented by the Vancouver classical events agency Ad Libitum Entertainment. Elena also designed costumes for the Dolce & Belcanto opera show, created in partnership with Vancouver Opera artist Melanie Krueger.
Some of Elena's work include:
UBC OPERA (Costume design and assistance)
"Le Nozze di Figaro", Mansfield Park", Eine Nacht in Venedig", Eugene Onegin", Midsummer Night's Dream",
"Ariadne auf Naxos","La Cenerentola" (with costumes previously designed for "Eine Nacht in Venedig")
VANCOUVER OPERA (Assistance with costumes design and alteration)
"Dead Man Walking", "Le Nozze di Figaro"
ASTROLABE MUSIC THEATRE (Costume Designer)
"Into the Little Hill"
In addition, Elena designs gowns for opera performers. Her line of opera gowns “FABric of OpERA” was 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. The gowns 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. Each piece presents a portrayal of the famous heroine from the world classics such as Dalila from “Samson et Dalila” by C. Saint-Saëns, Cornelia (“Giulio Cesare”, F. Handel), Ninon (“Violet of Montmartre”, E. Kalman), Mother Spring (“Snow Maiden”, N. Rimsky-Korsakov), and other.
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! |  DRESSING DIVAS: Heather Pawsey as Silva Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |
 DRESSING DIVAS: Charlotte Beglinger as Lakme Mezzo soprano, UBC Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  DRESSING DIVAS: Melanie Krueger as Goddess of Spring Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  DRESSING DIVAS: Szu-Wen Wang as Cornelia Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |
 DRESSING DIVAS: Eve-Lyn de la Haye as Ninon Soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  DRESSING DIVAS Yenni Lee as Magic Bird Mezzo soprano, UBC Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  DRESSING DIVAS Heather Molloy as Dalila Mezzo soprano, Vancouver Opera Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |
 DRESSING DIVAS with Irena Glezer Ad Libitum Entertainment Photo credit: Michelle Koebke |  Dolce & Belcanto Flower Duet |  With the dancers "The Crowd" costumes "Into the Little Hill" Astrolabe Music Theatre |
 "The Crowd" costumes for leads "Into the Little Hill" Astrolabe Music Theatre |  "The Crowd" costumes "Into the Little Hill" Astrolabe Music Theatre |  Period gowns "Eine Nacht in Venedig" UBC Opera |
 Crowns "Midsummer Night's Dream" UBC Opera |  Carmens and Toreador Dolce & Belcanto opera show |  Duke's Outfit "Eine Nacht in Venedig" |
 Duke's Costume Eine Nacht in Venedig UBC Opera |  Reconstructed gown "Eine Nacht in Venedig" UBC Opera |  Lead's Gown "Eine Nacht in Venedig" and "La Cenerentola" UBC Opera |
 Character gown "Eine Nacht in Venedig" UBC Opera |  Various Costumes "Eugene Onegin" UBC Opera |  Peasant costume "Eugene Onegin" UBC Opera |
 Peasant costumes "Eugene Onegin" UBC Opera |  Teaser hats "Mansfield Park" UBC Opera |