Martin Pakledinaz

Marty Pakledinaz passed away on Sunday morning. His costumes have graced Seattle Opera since his debut in Orpheus and Eurydice in 1988. He invariably found a special look that showed off the best attributes of every singer. Not just singers. Before we opened the first Rheingold in 2000, he was unhappy because my shoes lacked polish. He shined them himself. That was Marty.

He had many triumphs at Seattle Opera from Handel’s Xerxes and Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride to Barber’s Vanessa, with his most lasting and acclaimed success the Ring costumes created in 2000 and 2001 for our present cycle. His design always suited the dramatic needs not just of the piece but of the intent of the director.

Personally he was a close friend to all of us at Seattle Opera. We share the grief of his family.

-- General Director Speight Jenkins

 

Designs by Martin Pakledinaz at Seattle Opera

Orpheus and Eurydice, 1988.
Photo by Ron Scherl

Werther, 1997.
Photo by Gary Smith

Vanessa, 1999.
Photo by Gary Smith

Lohengrin, 2004.
Photo by Chris Bennion

Die Walküre, 2005.
Photo by Chris Bennion

La bohème, 2007.
Photo by Rozarii Lynch

La bohème, 2007.
Photo by Rozarii Lynch

Iphigénie en Tauride, 2007.
Photo by Bill Mohn

Das Rheingold, 2009.
Photo by Rozarii Lynch

Götterdämmerung, 2009.
Photo by Rozarii Lynch