Organization

Conductor

Donald Runnicles

Stage director

Brian Large

Set designer

David Hockney

Costume designer

Singer

Soprano

Eva Marton

Turandot

Tenor

Michael Sylvester

Calaf

Lucia Mazzaria

Liù

Bass

Kevin Langan

Timur

Baritone

Theodore Baerg

Ping

Dennis Petersen

Pang

Craig Estep

Pong

Joseph Frank

The Emperor Altoum

Chester Patton

A Mandarin

Lighting designer

Thomas J Munn

Ian Falconer

Peter McClintock

San Francisco Opera

Others

San Francisco Opera Chorus

Orchestra

San Francisco Opera Orchestra

San Francisco

United States

The enclosed DVD video release is an ARTHAUS MUSIK presentation of no more and no less than the perfect blend of two human senses: a music lover"s eye and ear will both experience the very finest quality production. Alone the star-studded vocal ensemble, under the direction of internationally renowned director David Runnicles, guarantees a satisfactory interpretation of Puccini"s majestic opera. The aria, "Nessun dorma," which has now become a global hit, is sung by the young Indiana-born tenor Michael Sylvester as Calaf. At the vanguard of the contemporary art genre, David Hockney has been hired as both director and designer to contribute his experience to this well-staged opera project.

War Memorial & Performing Arts Center

It‘s true that from a cultural studies or feminist point of view, not much of Turandot can be rescued. Yet we can learn a lot by engaging with ideologies other then our own. Is it possible that this is what David Hockney and Brian Large had in mind when they staged this naive, Disney-like version back in 1994?

At the San Francisco Opera, Peter McClintock presents a stirring staging of the opera Turandot composed by Puccini on a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, with title roles performed by Eva Marton and Michael Sylvester.

In the medieval Beijing, the gorgeous and cruel princess Turandot, who doesn't want to get married, condemns to death all the suitors who can't answer three riddles she asks them. When the young Prince of Persia is about to be executed, an Unknown Prince arrives with his guide Liú. Firstly shocked by the princess's cruelty, he completely falls in love when he meets her. Ignoring his father's advices, the Prince attempts the challenge and manages to rightly answer the three enigmas. Because he doesn't want the princess to marry him just in respect of the deal, the Prince offers her to be free of commitment if she finds his name before the dawn.

The Hungarian soprano Eva Marton performs Princess Turandot, one of the most important roles of her career. The power of her voice doesn't alter her perfect mastery of the musical nuances, she sings in a wonderful way several passions, between cruelty, love and torment. The American tenor Michael Sylvester performs a noble and heroic prince, and the legendary and comical ministers Ping, Pang and Pong are performed by Theodore Baerg, Dennis Petersen and Craig Estep.

The scenery made in a pure style by David Hockney, declined in blue and red tones, is a perfect frame to highlight the sumptuous costumes of the characters made by Ian Falconer. Thomas Munn's deft variations on lightings completely plunge us into the atmosphere of the tale taking place at the heart of medieval China. Puccini found in particular inspiration in the original play composed by Carlo Gozzi.

Turandot Puccini

Public

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading