'Largest Princess Diana auction' opens in Ireland
NEWBRIDGE, Ireland (Reuters) -- From colorful frocks and hats to handbags and shoes, items belonging to the late Princess Diana go under the hammer this month in what Julien's Auctions says is the largest collection of her fashion to go to auction.
The live and online "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection" sale will take place on June 26 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, offering an array of fashion items Diana wore.
"This is the largest Princess Diana auction because we have over 100 items from her amazing life and career ... keeping in mind Diana herself ... sold over 70 of her dresses ... back in 1997 to raise money for her charity," Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien's Auctions, told Reuters on Monday. He was speaking at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge in Ireland during a pre-sale exhibition.
Among the highlights is a 1988 silk floral dress by Bellville Sassoon, dubbed the "caring dress" because Diana wore it several times on hospital visits, with a price estimate of $200,000-$300,000.
A cream silk embroidered evening gown Catherine Walker designed for Diana's 1986 Gulf tour has a similar price tag, while a Bruce Oldfield two-piece yellow floral ensemble she wore for Royal Ascot in 1987 is estimated at $100,000-$200,000.
Other sale items include a Dior handbag gifted to her by former French first lady Bernadette Chirac in 1995, a sketch of Diana's 1981 wedding dress with tulle fabric cut-offs from when she married then Prince Charles in 1981 and a peach hat she wore for her honeymoon send-off.
The auction also includes pieces belonging to other British royals including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the queen mother.
Nolan said Julien's Auctions had previously sold a dress belonging to Diana for $1.14 million.
"People do consider these items as an asset class now, because if people own these items today, chances are in years to come they will sell them for more than what they pay for (at) auction," he said.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of Diana's items will go to charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The pre-sale exhibition in Newbridge will run until June 17.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
'Largest Princess Diana auction' opens in Ireland
NEWBRIDGE, Ireland (Reuters) -- From colorful frocks and hats to handbags and shoes, items belonging to the late Princess Diana go under the hammer this month in what Julien's Auctions says is the largest collection of her fashion to go to auction. The live and online "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection" sale will take place on June 26 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, offering an array of fashion items Diana wore. "This is the largest Princess Diana auction because we have over 100 items from her amazing life and career ... keeping in mind Diana herself ... sold over 70 of her dresses ... back in 1997 to raise money for her charity," Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien's Auctions, told Reuters on Monday. He was speaking at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge in Ireland during a pre-sale exhibition. Among the highlights is a 1988 silk floral dress by Bellville Sassoon, dubbed the "caring dress" because Diana wore it several times on hospital visits, with a price estimate of $200,000-$300,000. A cream silk embroidered evening gown Catherine Walker designed for Diana's 1986 Gulf tour has a similar price tag, while a Bruce Oldfield two-piece yellow floral ensemble she wore for Royal Ascot in 1987 is estimated at $100,000-$200,000. Other sale items include a Dior handbag gifted to her by former French first lady Bernadette Chirac in 1995, a sketch of Diana's 1981 wedding dress with tulle fabric cut-offs from when she married then Prince Charles in 1981 and a peach hat she wore for her honeymoon send-off. The auction also includes pieces belonging to other British royals including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the queen mother. Nolan said Julien's Auctions had previously sold a dress belonging to Diana for $1.14 million. "People do consider these items as an asset class now, because if people own these items today, chances are in years to come they will sell them for more than what they pay for (at) auction," he said. Part of the proceeds from the sale of Diana's items will go to charity Muscular Dystrophy UK. The pre-sale exhibition in Newbridge will run until June 17.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
Prokofiev's satirical opera 'The Love for Three Oranges' to make full-production Korean premiere
Korea National Opera, dedicated to introduce 21st-century works, promises vibrant fusion of global, local talent 'L'Amour Des Trois Oranges,' or 'The Love for Three Oranges,' a satirical opera by Ukrainian-born composer Sergei Prokofiev, will get its first full-scale production in Korea more than a century after its 1921 premiere in Chicago. Adapted from an 18th-century play by Carlo Gozzi, the opera blends absurdist comedy, fairy-tale fantasy and biting political satire. A melancholic prince, cursed by the witch Fata Morgana to fall in love with three oranges, embarks on a surreal quest to find these magical fruits. When he opens them, each orange reveals a princess. Two die of thirst; the third, Princess Ninette, survives. After magical and political mishaps — including a case of mistaken identity and a kidnapping — Ninette and the prince are finally reunited. 'We chose this piece to bring joy to opera lovers, rather than presenting something overly serious or weighty. At the same time, we are committed to introducing 21st-century operas to broaden the repertoire,' said Choi Sang-ho, artistic and general director of the Korea National Opera, at a press conference Monday at the Seoul Arts Center. 'Though its fairy-tale structure and satirical humor may initially feel unfamiliar, audiences will quickly be drawn in by its unique charm,' he added. The upcoming Korea National Opera production promises a vibrant fusion of global and local talent, featuring an international creative team, rising Korean vocalists on the international stage and the national opera company's own soloists, as well as American mezzo-soprano Karis Tucker in the role of Princess Clarice. Originally written in French, the opera has previously been performed in Russian, German and English. However, the Korean production will remain in French, partly to accommodate the cast's familiarity with the language. Returning to the podium is Felix Krieger, who led the opera company's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' last year. He will conduct the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. 'In Prokofiev's imaginative world, the music draws from many different musical languages,' said Krieger. 'It weaves together elements of traditional classical music, modernist experimentation and both poetic and grotesque qualities.' Stage director Lorenzo Fioroni, known for productions at the Nationaltheater Mannheim, Staatsoper Berlin and Luzerner Theater, brings his imaginative vision to this surreal opera under the theme of "a theatrical machine that tells fairy tales for adults" in tandem with set designer Paul Zoller and costume designer Katharina Gault. Fioroni reimagines the prince's quest for three magical oranges as a fantastical road trip, incorporating video footage shot on location on Korean urban streets. 'Korean streets have a surreal, fairy-tale quality that perfectly suits the opera's world,' Fioroni said, adding that he and Zoller have created a highly visual production that integrates fantasy elements with complex technical effects. The cast features two alternating ensembles. On June 26 and 28, bass Choi Woong-jo will perform as Le Roi de Trefles, with tenor Kim Young-woo as the prince. On June 27 and 29, the roles will be performed by bass Kim Il-hoon and tenor Shin Hyun-sik, respectively. 'L'Amour Des Trois Oranges' will be staged June 26 to 29 at the Opera Theatre of the Seoul Arts Center. The performance on June 28 will be livestreamed via Naver TV. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won to 150,000 won.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
French Baroque arias take center stage at Hanwha Classic
Coloratura soprano Patricia Petibon, Ensemble Amarillis present woven tale of fiery sorceresses For this year's Hanwha Classic, French Baroque takes center stage in a one-woman opera performed by renowned French soprano Patricia Petibon and Ensemble Amarillis, performing in Korea for the first time. Titled 'Flammes de Magiciennes' — or 'Flames of Sorceresses' — the performance weaves together arias from French Baroque operas to create a five-act narrative centered on Medea, a mythological figure who enacts a brutal revenge driven by love, passion and betrayal, and Circe, a powerful sorceress from Greek mythology. 'It focuses on the figures of the sorceress in Baroque opera, which began in early 17th-century Italy and gained importance later in Paris and Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV,' Heloise Gaillard, artistic director of the French ensemble, told reporters during a press conference Wednesday at The Plaza in central Seoul. She added that the opera was inspired by Petibon. 'Patricia moves effortlessly from comedy to tragedy, which perfectly suits the Baroque aesthetic — a music of contrasts. In Baroque opera, we shift quickly from the tragic to the comic, and even within tragedies, comic characters are ever-present,' Gaillard said. Petibon, a versatile soprano with a repertoire spanning from French Baroque to contemporary music, said Baroque music offered the ideal foundation for her vocal development. "I felt Baroque music was a good way to care for my voice instead of jumping too quickly into heavier, more complex roles. The voice is like a plant — you have to water it every morning. The body must be respected, cared for every day of your life. That's something that has always stayed with me," Petibon said. 'I'm a bit voracious — I don't like staying in the same musical world. I believe voice grows through exploration: exploring the body, exploring new repertoires,' she said. 'Flammes de Magiciennes" also offers audiences a chance to explore Baroque instrumental works and dances. Gaillard, a recorder player and oboist, said, 'I paired these themes with instrumental works that enhance the drama in the text. For instance, the first piece in the program is 'Le Chaos' by Jean-Fery Rebel, from 'Les Elemens.' It depicts primordial chaos — when the elements had not yet come together in harmony. The music is truly revolutionary for its time, with extremely dissonant, chaotic harmonies." 'There are also dances in the program, highlighting the essential role of rhythm in Baroque music. Louis XIV was a great dancer, and dance permeated the court's life and music,' she explained. Hanwha Classic, a cultural initiative of South Korean conglomerate Hanwha, was launched in 2013 to support "early" music — classical music composed in the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods — and has introduced internationally renowned early music artists to South Korea. 'Flammes de Magiciennes" will be staged Friday and Sunday at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. All tickets are priced at 50,000 won. To commemorate Memorial Day on Friday, Hanwha will invite 200 individuals who have been recognized for distinguished service to the nation.
