FROM THE PRODUCERS
  
  Welcome to tonight’s presentation of Turandot.

We are proud to present this fantastic production of Turandot from the Puccini Foundation in Torre del Lago, Italy. This signifies the beginning of what will be a long cultural relationship between the state of Victoria and the Puccini Foundation through the Puccini Festival Australia.

This project is a continuation of the commitment to forge international ties thus creating opportunity for Australian artists both at home and abroad.

The presentation of this opera involves vast resources and we thank all those involved – singers, dancers, children, actors, craftspeople, technicians, musicians and administrators who have all contributed so much to ensure a truly memorable performance of this operatic masterpiece.


Manuel Jimenez-Navarro

 
  We would also like to acknowledge Carolyn Harper for giving us the opportunity to bring opera back to the Palais Theatre after 20 years.

Logistically this operation would have been impossible without the collaboration of Mr Franco Moretti, Managing Director of the Puccini Foundation. We thank his staff for their on-going assistance and support.

This evening, opera lovers both old and new, will see this popular opera in a completely new light. The creative imagination of Pietro Cascella and Daniele De Plano, combined with the superb costume design by Cordelia Von Den Steinen, and lighting designer ……have made it possible to present an opera with the breadth of cinematography vision.

Every aspect of this opera has been faithfully reproduced.

We hope you have a wonderful night.

Elias Juanas

Manuel Jimenez-Navarro                                                                                                                          

                                                                           Elias Juanas

 

                                                                                                                          

    Franco Moretti

     When, for the first time we thought about promoting the birth of an event       dedicated to Puccini in Austraia, we imagined fancied it could be actualized through many year's work. We didnt know shortly afterwards we would meet, Mr. Manuel Jimenez-Navarro, fond of opera and keen on Puccini, who would make it possible to realize this undertaking in only one year's time.

We Strongly believe that the birth of Puccini Festival in Australia will make us achieve several important targets ina short time. The possibility of giving birth to a wide tour touching all Australian states is certainly the most ambitious one.

Futhermore, the Festival will contribute to spread Torre del Lago Puccini and Tuscany's Puccinian places through the Australian audience, and we will be pushed to get to know Torre del Lago personally and enjoy the atmosphere and magic of the placeswhere every summer a great Festival seating people from all over the world takes place.

Lastly, the Puccini Festival in Australia will substantially contribute to train better many young Australian singers and choristers in the Puccini repertoire, thanks also to a Specialization Academy which is being established.

In Australia the love for opera is great, so that we feel encouraged to bring high quality productions and great performances paying homage to this great country.

 

Franco Moretti - General Manager Puccini Festival Foundation                

 

Since 1930, the Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago has been perpetuating the opera tradition of one of the greatest musicians right in the place where Maestro Puccini lived for over 30 years.

The beauty of this land and its evocative atmosphere, and Tuscany's great art cities nearby make us repeat a great successful event year: for some years also world-wide spectators have been appraising it, thanks to many tours and co-operations with many theatres. Here in Melbourne we are opening a new path, a great challenge that, through the birth of a Puccini Festival in Australia, I am sure will bring us to strengthen the friendly relationships between us and this great country, future-oriented but also linked to the tradition of music.

 "Turandot", designed by Pietro Cascella, is set within a project called Sculpting the Opera, by which we try to gather great painters and scultptors to interpret Puccini's heroines world by their creativeness.

It is a great pleasure for me, therefore, to thank all those who worked hard to make this enthralling adventure possible and we wish Melbourne audience, tonight, will enjoy this extraordinary event.

Manrico Nicolai - President Puccini Festival Foundation

 

                                      

                                                          

                                                              Manrico Nicolai

 

  
  below: Open Air Theatre, Torre del Lago Puccini