Toasting the Royal Opera House’s Paul Smith-Designed Christmas Tree
Paul Smith and the Royal Opera House are decades-old neighbors, since the British designer opened his first London shop on Covent Garden’s Floral Street, mere steps from the storied London cultural institution, in 1979. Now in the first-of-its-kind style of partnership, Smith and the ROH have collaborated for the festive season, celebrating creativity and cultural heritage. Last night, they unveiled a dazzlingly detailed 18-foot Christmas tree in the light-drenched Paul Hamlyn Hall.
“The inspiration behind the design was to ‘peek behind the curtain,’” Smith shares with Vogue. “All we usually see is what’s onstage, but behind there’s an army of incredibly creative people working tirelessly to pull these wonderful projects together.” As Vogue can attest from a recent visit to the Royal Opera House’s delectable opening night of ballet season, backstage is a treasure trove.
The result is a joyful, detail-rich installation that captures that hidden world of the hallowed theater. Adorned with props sourced from and inspired by the Royal Opera House’s archive —flutes, candelabras, instruments— the tree is also festooned with Smith’s own whimsical touches: antique baubles and accessories in the brand’s signature stripes, green velvet ropes and tassels, and even miniature skiers perched on trumpets and skiers slaloming across the needles. Around its base, wooden crates and ladders in P.S. prints evoke a theatrical work-in-progress.
For Smith, who has now worked in Covent Garden for nearly 50 years, the collaboration was a natural fit. “We share many values,” he says. “It was important to celebrate the craftsmanship that goes into creating both fashion and performance.” That shared appreciation of artistry runs through the project. Smith recalls his own behind-the-scenes tour of the Opera House as “one of my most memorable moments,” likening it to his own “cabinet of curiosities” of an office. And while he’s reluctant to pick a favorite performance, there’s one classic, forthcoming production he’s excited to see: “If I had to choose,” he says, “it would be The Nutcracker.”
The season ahead is buzzy, with the opera offerings and Royal Ballet: it’s the Royal Opera’s first season with new Music Director Jakub Hrůša, featuring eight new opera productions, and Royal Ballet world premieres including productions by Wayne McGregor, Cathy Marston, and Akram Khan. A new production of Tosca is incoming, and a new festival, RBO/Shift, will explore the ever-growing intersection of opera and technology.
The evening at the ROH brought a community of artists, performers, creatives, and industry leading figures underneath the vibrant Christmas tree, with a special performance from the Jette Parker Artists who sang “Ave Maria” and “O Holy Night.” Sir Paul and Sophie Wybrew-Bond, the Royal Ballet and Opera’s Chief Commercial Officer, made a heart-filled toast. Guests included Vogue’s Sarah Mower, Severance actor Tramell Tillman, British ballet legend and Royal Ballet coach Edward Watson MBE, actors Dougray Scott and Nicholas Pinnock, former British number one tennis athlete Heather Watson, interior designer Kelly Hoppen, and musician Kojey Radical.
While a host of seasonal activities are planned for the Royal Opera House and the tree will stand proud until January 5, see the colorful, festive evening play out below.
Photo: Jason Lloyd Evans1/67
Photo: Jason Lloyd Evans2/67
