| Beautiful but cold hearted and cruel, Turandot has sworn - to avenge her ancestor raped and killed by an invader - that she will never belong to anyone. Those who desire her are asked three riddles: if they answer correctly she promises to wed them. If they fail, as they all do, they are beheaded.
At the execution of the Prince of Persia, one such failed suitor, an old blind man accompanied by his young slave girl Liù, is knocked over in the rush to watch the beheading. Exiled Prince Calaf, in disguise, helps the old man to his feet and sees....his father. Then his eyes fall on Turandot. The Prince desperately in love, decides to confront the challenge of the riddles.
Prince Calaf correctly answers the fatal riddles, but rather than claim Turandot he poses a riddle of his own, defying her to tell him his name before morning, ‘and at dawn I shall die’.
|
| Like his Tosca, La Boheme and Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot is a sweeping tale of love, suspense and death – a drama played out in the sublime music that has ensured his place as the best-loved classical composer of the 20th Century.
Adored for its breathtakingly beautiful music - Nessun dorma, from Turandot is perhaps the world’s favourite aria – Turandot is coming to Melbourne in November.
A monumental, $5 million production, Turandot features Italy’s celebrated soprano, Maria Dragoni in the role of the heartless Princess Turandot, and Spain’s Antonio Ordonez as Prince Calaf. Australia’s Rosamund Illing will sing the role of the slave girl, Liù.
Turandot will have more than 120 performers on stage, supported by a choir of 100 and a 38-piece orchestra conducted by Richard Divall OBE.
Turandot is Directed by Daniele De Plano, and Designed by Pietro Cascella with costumes by Cordelia von den Steinen.
Turandot, created for this summer’s Puccini Festival, and staged at Australia’s biggest theatre, The Palais, St. Kilda, over 3 performances from November 16th, will mark the first time that Italy’s most famous opera festival has presented one of its productions in Australia.
Turandot will be produced in Australia in collaboration with Puccini Festival Australia, The State Opera of Victoria and Melbourne Opera Company. |
