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
