Puccini: Turandot - Teatro alla Scala

Visually this is a gripping production which captures the drama of this opera perfectly. It's downright exciting! and I found the singing, acting, and orchestral playing reasonably fine. I found only one major problem with it, a problem that kept Puccini for quite a few years. Turandot has been looking for an opportunity to kill Calif and Calif has singlemindedly tried to get Turandot to love and wed him focusing on her and ignoring a better looking girl who loves him truly. The problem is how to get the audience to applaud the match once Calif gets his wish. Puccini couldn't figure out how to do it. The traditional quick ending doesn't do it, and Berio's attempt is longer , tries its best, but ends up making it plain this is one wierd couple.

Cast

Nina Maria Stemme

Turandot

Aleksandrs Antonenko

Calaf

Maria Agresta

Liu

Alexander Tsymbalyuk

Timur

Angelo Veccia

Ping

Roberto Covatta

Pang

Blagoj Nacoski

Pong

Carlo Bosi

Altoum

Gianluca Breda

Mandarin

Riccardo Chailly

Self - Conductor

Orchestra della Scala