Constanza Meza-Lopehandia
When were you first enchanted by (musical) theater in your life? And how?
I was 9 years old and I had the opportunity to watch a rehearsal of the Philarmonic Orchestra of Santiago. I have such a vivid memory of the moment when I realized, in very simple terms, that the beautiful music I was hearing, came from the addition of instruments playing together, I was absolutely taken away by this. I also remember the first time I experienced a theater performance: I could appreciate that the people on stage were pretending to be someone else, a different human being altogether (!!!) and that they were wearing what I thought was very special clothing (a costume!!!). Since then it's all I wanted to do in life, tell stories through the power of costume design.
Why do people sing and why don't they speak?
I believe music has the ability to touch your sensorial experience as an audience member in a distinct and deeper way than just the spoken word has. I think there is so much expression and emotion when a performer is singing their sorrows, happiness or any other emotion on stage. I think it touches a deeper fiber of ourselves and it takes us into a profound and heartfelt ride. I feel very lucky that I get to design costumes for the journey we are inviting the audience to take.
What role can/should (musical) theater play in today's society?
A big one! Any artistic experience is interaction and communication among humans. The world needs that, it always has and it always will.
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Born in
Santiago de Chile
Education
Theatre Design (Universidad de Chile)
Master’s degree in Costume Design (Tisch School for Arts in New York University)
5-10 important engagements
- Jenufa, Hänsel und Gretel, Rusalka (Theater Freiburg)
- Luisa Miller (Luzerner Theater)
- Rigoletto (Aalto Theater Essen)
- Die Ameise (Theater Bonn)
- Rigoletto (Teatro Municipal de Santiago)
- Turandot (Staatstheater Nürnberg)
- Persinette (Wiener Staatsoper)
- Macbeth (Opera Graz)
Formative collaboration with these artists
Kateryna Sokolova, Nikolaus Webern, Susan Hilferty, Kat Rohrer, Christina Hucke, Rebekka Dornhege, Cristobal Valderrama, among other inspiring artists.
Debut and important works at Volksoper Wien
Costume Design Spring Awakening
Significant prizes & honors
Recipient: New York University Tisch Graduate Fellowship, United States.
Recipient: Full Scholarship Beca Chile/Conicyt, Chile.
Recipient: Best Costume Design for Film, Pedro Sienna Award for the film Kiltro,, Chile.
Website
Instagram: @constanzadesigns
* Use of the photograph solely for the purpose of current reporting on the Vienna Volksoper.
