One of Pauline's set designs Five Fans for Alma 2009

 

Opera Five fans for Alma

Pauline Bewick was intrigued with the strange love story of Oskar Kokoschka and Alma Mahler, inspiring her to create an idea and set designs for an opera.

The young painter Kokoschka fell madly in love with the widow of Gustav Mahler She was a renowned beauty and intellectual. During the ensuing affair (1912-1914) Kokoschka painted a series of swan skin fans representing the “Trajectory of their relationship in intricate detail”. Devasted when Alma withdrew from him, he asked the doll maker, Moos, to create an exact image of his lost love.

This work is currently in progress. For further information, please contact the producer, Ethna Tinney – ethna.tinney@rte.ie

Booklet available on request