The documentary “Ai Weiwei’s Turandot” is set to open in cinemas on Sept. 26 at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Los Angeles. The thought-provoking feature documentary follows the journey of Ai Weiwei, the renowned Chinese revolutionary artist and activist, as he embarks on his operatic directorial debut at the iconic Rome Opera House. The documentary shows how Ai Weiwei {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Puccini’s “Turandot” for 17 performances. The opera will be presented between Sept. 23 and June 6 in Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic production. The opera will first be shown in September and October for seven performances with Carlo Rizzi conducting. The cast includes Angela Meade in the title role, Michael Fabiano as Calaf, and Masabane {…}
(© Agathe Poupeney) The Opéra National de Paris will continue its program of transmitting two pre-recorded opera performances across the world. This year’s two operatic selections include “La Fille du Régiment” and “Turandot.” The former, featuring the Laurent Pelly production, got its first screening at Guatemala City in the gardens of the Alliance Française de Guatemala. That showcase took place {…}
The Greek National Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Turandot.” The company said, “Due to Brian Jagde’s illness, Riccardo Massi will perform the role of Calaf on June 3, 6, and 8, while Francesco Pio Galasso will take over on June 5.” The news comes after Jagde canceled the June 1 performance due to diverticulitis. Jagde {…}
The Greek National Opera’s “Turandot” featured a major cast change for its first performance on June 1, 2025. The role of Calaf was sung by Riccardo Massi, who took over for Brian Jagde, who withdrew due to health concerns. Jagde opened up about his health condition on social media, stating, “A few months ago I was diagnosed with diverticulitis. It’s a {…}
At the risk of repeating myself, opera should be all about the music and the voice. If I’m ever asked to quantify that statement, I readily proffer “Turandot” in support of my assertions. For here is a ridiculous, cruel, convoluted tale that is impossible to like and grasp, perpetrated by a pair of unpleasant, thoroughly dislikeable characters with, were it {…}
Sweden’s Opera på Skäret has announced the full cast for its production of “Turandot.” Puccini’s final opera takes the stage with two casts from July 26 through August 24, 2025. In the title role will be Lucyna Jarzabek and Léa Bianco Chinto. As Calaf audiences will see Errin Duane Brooks and James Lee. Kseniya Bakhritdinova-Kravchuk and Lilla Horti alternate as {…}
(Credit: Bettina Soss) On Feb. 14, 2025, the Deutsche Oper Berlin closed its revival of “Turandot.” The company was reviving its 2008 production by Lorenzo Fioroni, which is set in a fairy-tale realm of an indeterminable period. However, it is set in the context of a modern-day dictatorship with the riddle and execution scenes given a ritualistic, quasi-religious role. The {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. New Productions The season opens on a Sunday with Mason Bates and Gene Scheer’s “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” in its Met Opera premiere. Bartlett Sher directs and Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a cast starring Lauren Snouffer, Sun-Ly Pierce, Miles Mykkanen, Patrick Carfizzi, Craig Colclough, and Andrzej Filoncyzk. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced a cast change for its production of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The company said for the performances on Feb. 1, 7, and 14, 2025, Jorge Puerta takes over the role of Calaf from Clay Hilley. For his part, Puerta said, “!BREAKING NEWS! I couldn’t be happier to return to my house Deutsche Oper Berlin to sing Calaf {…}
Director Davide Livermore withdrew from the production of “Again 2024 Turandot” 24 hours before it opened in Seoul. Per The Korea Herald, his reasons for pulling out included creative and contractual disputes with the creative team. Per the report, Livermore did not recognize the direction of the production as his own. He cited that the team continually made changes to {…}