BalletAndOpera.com  St. Petersburg City, Russia - ballet, opera, concert and show tickets.

OperaAndBallet.com home page
   VIEW CART  |   CHANGE CURRENCY  |  Your Account  |  HELP  |  
Toll Free (888) 885 7909
OperaAndBallet.com / BolshoiMoscow.com. Moscow, Russia - ballet, opera, concert and show tickets.
SCHEDULE
NEWS
FESTIVALS
Bolshoi
SEE MORE
STAGES
We accept Amex, Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diner
   SEE MARIINSKY TICKETS
(ST. PETERSBURG)
Hello. Returning customer? Sign in. New customer? Start here
02 November 2021 (Tue), 19:00 Chamber Stage Boris Pokrovsky Theatre on Nikolskaya Street - Opera Giacomo Puccini "Turandot" (Opera in three Acts)

Running time: 3 hours 50 minutes (till 21:30)


Schedule for Giacomo Puccini "Turandot" (Opera in three Acts) 2022

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Conductor: Alexander Vedernikov
Stage Director: Francesca Zambello
Set Designer: Georgy Tsypin
Costume Designer: Tatyana Noginova
Light Designer: Rick Fisher
Dancer: Andrei Melanyin

Opera in 2 acts

Performed in Russian

Premiere of this production: 8 October 2002

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni
after motifs from the story of the same name by Carlo Gozzi

Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot was first produced at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1931. The director, Leonid Baratov, was worried that, for ideological reasons, the production might seem untimely. And indeed critics, judging it from the perspective of the triumphant working class, hurried to slang the opera: "This opera is alien to Soviet audiences and not needed by them. Who cares whether Turandot does, or does not love Calaf?"

But this - would Turandot fall for him or not? - was a question that very much interested Francesca Zambello, whom the Bolshoi Theatre invited to direct Turandot in 2002. In her words, she tried to tell the story in such a way that would whip up the curiosity of each and every member of the audience. And in this she succeeded. "Virtually everyone is pleased by what Zambello has done with Puccini’s exotic "exercise"… This production in no way owes a debt to previous interpretations of the work - gripping, permeated by vital fluids, it has laid bare the operatic roots of Carlo Gozzi’s tale - a magic tale of the 18th century…The designer, with whom Zambello worked, is worthy of her."
(Financial Times, 19.09.2002).

Presented with two intervals.
Sung in Italian with Russian subtitles.

Synopsis

Giacomo Puccini "Turandot" (Opera in three Acts)ACT I
A crowd assembled by the walls of the Imperial palace in Peking listens to a Mandarin reading a decree - anyone who wishes to win the hand of Princess Turandot must solve three riddles; whosoever cannot answer must die. The young Prince of Persia is to be executed this night. The excited crowd rushes towards the palace, but the guards keep the people back. An old man falls to the ground. In anguish, a young girl calls for help. A young man rushes out from the crowd, recognising the old man to be his father. Their unexpected meeting is not a joyful occasion - old Timur’s enemies have usurped his throne and banished him from his native land; his son Calaf has been forced to wander foreign parts, hiding his name from everyone. Timur is accompanied everywhere by the faithful slave girl Liu, whose love for Calaf is unrequited. Giacomo Puccini "Turandot" (Opera in three Acts)
Preparations for the execution are underway on the square. Night descends. As the moon rises, the crowd awaits the appearance of Turandot. A triumphal procession approaches. It is met by a funeral procession - that of the Prince of Persia going to his execution. The people feel pity for him and beg Turandot to have mercy on him. Calaf vengefully curses the hard-hearted Princess. Finally, however, she appears, and Calaf is blinded by her beauty. In vain, his father tries to dissuade him: Calaf knows he must win Turandot’s heart. Suddenly the ministers Ping, Pong and Pang bar his way. They warn the Prince and jeer at him, summoning the spirits of those who have died from their love of Turandot. Liu begs Calaf to leave - neither she nor his father could bear to see him die. Calaf is touched by her entreaties, but cannot relinquish his love for Turandot. At his signal, a servant strikes a huge gong three times, declaring Calaf’s decision to attempt to win the Princess.

ACT II
Scene I
Ping, Pong and Pang are pondering the fate of the unknown Prince who has decided to solve Turandot’s riddles: what will dawn bring - a wedding or an execution? They dream of returning to a peaceful and tranquil life, far, far away from the Imperial palace. But madmen in love continue to try their luck, and their heads continue to roll in honour of the Princess. When will the suitor come who will defeat Turandot, who can transform her by love and put an end to these perpetual executions in the country?

Scene II
The crowd gathers on the square before the palace. Timur and Liu are also there. At last, Emperor Altoum appears. He tries to dissuade the Prince from the attempt. The Mandarin repeats once again the dreadful conditions of the challenge.
Turandot appears at the head of a triumphal procession. She is consumed with hatred of all men: once, many thousands of years ago, in this very palace, a foreign invader ravaged a Chinese Princess and, centuries later, her cry resounded in Turandot’s heart. She takes vengeance on all strangers for this evil act. No-one may marry her: there will be three riddles followed by one death. But Calaf answers her proudly that there will be three riddles followed by one life...
Turandot announces her first riddle: what bright, alluring vision is created at night and dies at dawn, only to return the next night? The Prince answers that it is the hope that will bring him to Turandot. The wise men confirm that hope is indeed the answer to the first riddle - it is written thus in their scrolls. The second riddle is announced: what is like a flame, yet is not a flame? What runs cold when a man dies, but burns brighter than the sun if he succeeds? In his confusion, Calaf is silent. The Emperor, Liu and the crowd encourage him and he finds the answer - it is the blood that flows in his veins from his love for Turandot. The Princess is struck with rage and fear and she hurries to pose her third Giacomo Puccini "Turandot" (Opera in three Acts)riddle: what is like ice but freezes in fire? What makes a man a slave if he wants to be free and makes him a King if he becomes its servant. In triumph, Turandot mocks the Prince. What kind of ice could he burn in? However, Calaf solves the third riddle: it is Turandot , and the ice of her heart will melt in the fire of his love. The crowd praises the victor. In terror, Turandot begs her father not to marry her to the stranger, but the Emperor is unyielding - his word is sacred. Calaf, however, will not accept Turandot’s hand against her will as he desires the Princess’ love. He sets Turandot just one riddle which she must solve by daybreak: in all Peking not one person knows his name. If the Princess can discover it, he will die willingly.

ACT III
Scene I
The sounds of far-off heralds can be heard in the garden of the Imperial palace - Turandot has decreed that none shall sleep this night in Peking on pain of death; the name of the unknown Prince must be discovered by daybreak. Calaf dreams of Turandot’s love: she will only know the answer to his secret when he holds her in his arms. Daybreak will bring his victory.
Ping, Pong and Pang tempt Calaf with the delights of love, wealth and ultimately compassion - thousands will be tortured to death if Turandot does not know his name by dawn. But Calaf firmly resists all their temptations: the entire world may perish, but he will not be denied Turandot. Liu declares that she alone knows the Prince’s name and nothing will make her reveal the secret. Turandot is confounded by the slave girl’s courage. Where does she get her strength? It comes from the power of love for which Liu is ready to die. Turandot will know it herself soon, though Liu will not live to see this - snatching a dagger from Turandot, she stabs herself. Timur and the crowd are broken-hearted at Liu’s death. With ardent words and kisses, Calaf awakens the love in Turandot’s icy heart. The stranger’s courage and passion have defeated her pride - now she is his. And so, the Prince tells Turandot his name. Night passes and the sun begins to rise.

Scene II
Before the assembled crowd and in the presence of the Emperor, Turandot gives the answer to Calaf’s riddle: his name is... Love.
Everyone sings in praise of love, light and life. ”

Additional information

  • Characters and performers




  • Synopsis

    A stamp depicting "The Government Inspector", from the souvenir sheet of Russia devoted to the 200th birth anniversary of Nikolay V. Gogol, 2009

    The corrupt officials of a small Russian town, headed by the Mayor, react with terror to the news that an incognito inspector (the revizor) will soon be arriving in their town to investigate them. The flurry of activity to cover up their considerable misdeeds is interrupted by the report that a suspicious person has arrived two weeks previously from Saint Petersburg and is staying at the inn. That person, however, is not an inspector; it is Khlestakov, a foppish civil servant with a wild imagination.

     

    Having learned that Khlestakov has been charging his considerable hotel bill to the Crown, the Mayor and his crooked cronies are immediately certain that this upper class twit is the dreaded inspector. For quite some time, however, Khlestakov does not even realize that he has been mistaken for someone else. Meanwhile, he enjoys the officials' terrified deference and moves in as a guest in the Mayor's house. He also demands and receives massive "loans" from the Mayor and all of his associates. He also flirts outrageously with the Mayor's wife and daughter.

     

    Sick and tired of the Mayor's ludicrous demands for bribes, the village's Jewish and Old Believer merchants arrive, begging Khlestakov to have him dismissed from his post. Stunned at the Mayor's rapacious corruption, Khlestakov states that he deserves to be exiled in chains to Siberia. Then, however, he pockets still more "loans" from the merchants, promising to comply with their request.

     

    Terrified that he is now undone, the Mayor pleads with Khlestakov not to have him arrested, only to learn that the latter has become engaged to his daughter. At which point Khlestakov announces that he is returning to St. Petersburg, having been persuaded by his valet Osip that it is too dangerous to continue the charade any longer.

     

    After Khlestakov and Osip depart on a coach driven by the village's fastest horses, the Mayor's friends all arrive to congratulate him. Certain that he now has the upper hand, he summons the merchants, boasting of his daughter's engagement and vowing to squeeze them for every kopeck they are worth. However, the Postmaster suddenly arrives carrying an intercepted letter which reveals Khlestakov's true identity—and his mocking opinion of them all.

     

    The Mayor, after years of bamboozling banter Governors and shaking down criminals of every description, is enraged to have been thus humiliated. He screams at his cronies, stating that they, not himself, are to blame. At this moment, the famous fourth-wall breaking phrase is uttered by the Mayor to the audience: "What are you laughing about? You are laughing about yourselves!" While the cronies continue arguing, a message arrives from the real Government Inspector, who is demanding to see the Mayor immediately.




    Schedule for Giacomo Puccini "Turandot" (Opera in three Acts) 2022


    Feedback
    If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
    HELP SECTION. Privacy Policy. Your remarks and offers send to the address: info@OperaAndBallet.com
    © Ballet and Opera Ltd, 1995-2022
    Select preferred currency:

    BAO   ED   SHRT   LINK   LND   INFO