“Turandot”
Puccini — from the 2015/2016 Season
CAST: Nina Stemme, Anita Hartig, Marco Berti, Alexander Tsymbalyuk
Franco Zeffirelli’s golden production stars the great dramatic soprano Nina Stemme as Turandot, the icy Chinese princess who has renounced all men. Tenor Marco Berti is Calàf, the unknown prince who solves Turandot’s riddles and wins her love. Soprano Anita Hartig sings Liù, the faithful slave girl who gives her life to save Calàf, and bass Alexander Tsymbalyuk is the fallen King Timur. Paolo Carignani conducts.
ACT I
Legendary Peking. Any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If he fails, he will die. Among the crowd, Cala`f discovers his long-lost father, Timur. As the latest failed suitor goes to his death, the crowd calls upon the princess to spare him, but Turandot orders the execution to proceed. Transfixed by her beauty, Calàf decides to win her. Timur and the slave girl Liu`, as well as the ministers Ping, Pang, and Pong, try to discourage him.Cala`f is determined nonetheless.
ACT II
Ping, Pang, and Pong dream of their country homes, but the noise of the crowd gathering calls them back to reality. Turandot arrives for the riddle ceremony. After Cala`f answers all three correctly, the princess begs her father not to give her to the stranger. Cala`f offers Turandot a challenge of his own: If she can learn his name by dawn, he will forfeit his life.
ACT III
Ping, Pang, and Pong try to bribe Cala`f to leave the city. Soldiers drag in Liu` and Timur. Despite being tortured, Liu` refuses to reveal the stranger’s identity. She snatches a dagger and kills herself. Turandot confronts Cala`f, who impetuously kisses her. Turandot finally feels emotions, and sure of winning her, Cala`f reveals his identity. Before the court, Turandot declares that the stranger’s name is Love.