So, one costume I am working toward is Olympia, from the Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach.  Olympia is a mechanical doll created by the scientist Spalanzani.  She sings a very famous aria - performed here by Natalie Dessay - where she gets "stuck" in the music and the mad scientist has to adjust her.

Now, I have wanted to steampunk out this aria for a ( Read more... )