(Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski) What do you expect to find in a Polish forest? Chanterelles or blueberries, deer or foxes perhaps. But opera? That’s how it is in the forest of the seaside resort of Sopot, not far from Gdansk, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. And has been since 1909! Not continuously, but over and over, so much so {…}
Rai 3 is joining forces with the Arena di Verona once again to televise Puccini’s “Turandot.” The broadcast will be on August 19 in Franco Zeffirelli’s production featuring costumes by Oscar-winning designer Emi Wada. The cast will include mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk in the title role alongside Yusif Eyvazov as Calaf. The cast will also include Mariangela Sicilia, Riccardo Fassi, Youngjun {…}
How big is Puccini? Well just take a look at all the stagings opera companies want you to experience for the Centennial of his death. Whether it be “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” “Madame Butterfly,” “Manon Lescaut,” and certainly “Turandot,” it feels like all the major companies are putting it all on Puccini. But what’s worth betting on in this race? Great {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has announced a cast change for its final three performances of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The company said, “Due to illness, Roberto Alagna has to withdraw from the performance of “Turandot” on July 9, 12 and 15. The role of Calaf will be entrusted to Brian Jagde for the performances on July 9 and 12, and to Yusif {…}
The Tetro alla Scala’s new production of Puccini’s “Turandot” is set to be streamed on Arte concert. The company announced that the new production by David Livermore which is celebrating the centenary of the death of Puccini, will be broadcast on July 4, 2024. The broadcast will coincide with the stream on the Teatro alla Scala TV which will be {…}
(Credit: Simon Pauly) Update: “Following the first announcement of the cast change in the role of Turandot, we have further discussed with Artistic Director Antonio Pappano to find the best possible artistic solution for audiences in this situation. The title role will now be sung by two sopranos, Maida Hundeling (on 23 and 26 June) and Ewa Płonka (29 June {…}
(Credit: La Scala) The Teatro alla Scala is set to stream Puccini’s “Turandot” on July 4, 2024. The company is set to showcase the opera on La Scala TV in a new production by Davide Livermore which will showcase Franco Alfano’s ending. The opera is set to star Anna Netrebko, Raúl Giménez, Vitalij Kowaljow, Yusif Eyvazov, and Rosa Feola. Michele {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to present a new production of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The new production is set to present a new ending by two-time Grammy Award winner Christopher Tin and Emmy Award winner Susan Soon He Stanton. Artistic Director Francesca Zambello directs the new production and Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci leads the WNO Orchestra. The cast will include Ewa {…}
La Fundacio Òpera de Catalunya is joining forces with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Catalunya to present “Turandot.” The opera, scheduled for performances between April 17 and May 17, will be headlined by Maribel Ortega and Eugenia Montenegro in the title role. Joining them are Antoni Lliteres and Nacho Guzmán as Calaf, Ivana Ledesma and Violeta Alarcón as Liù, and Gonzalo {…}
On March 20, 2024, the Metropolitan Opera was forced to present Puccini’s “Turandot” in a sem-staged version after a stage elevator jammed. According to the Associated Press, Met General Manager Peter Gelb made an announcement before the performance stating, “I’m sorry to say that this is not going to be a normal night at the opera — not that when {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) The 350th performance of “Turandot” at the Met exceeded expectations with Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv and Russian soprano Elena Pankratova making their house debuts and intentionally working together to deliver jaw-dropping moments of overwhelming musical beauty and power. The night also featured remarkable performances by South Korean tenor SeokJong Baek, Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, {…}