Name: Turandot
Start: 2025-03-19T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-04-19T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Royal Opera House

Admin

Royal Opera House

Stage director

Andrei Serban

Costume designer

Sally Jacobs

Set designer

Lighting designer

F Mitchell Dana

Choreographer

Kate Flatt

Conductor

Rafael Payare

Francesco Ivan Ciampa

Chorus master

William Spaulding

Singer

Soprano

Sondra Radvanovsky

Turandot

Tenor

SeokJong Baek

Calaf

Anna Princeva

Liù

Bass

Adam Palka

Timur

Baritone

Hansung Yoo

Ping

Aled Hall

Pang

Michael Gibson

Pong

Paul Hopwood

The Emperor Altoum

Ossian Huskinson

A Mandarin

Gemma Summerfield

Ewa Płonka

Gwyn Hughes Jones

Jerzy Butryn

Alasdair Elliott

Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Others

Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Italian

London

United Kingdom

Public

Rahul Solomon

English

Approved

Drawing on Chinese and Italian theatrical tradition to evoke a richly-imagined, mythical Peking, Andrei Șerban’s dazzling production is a ‘blazing masterpiece’ (Financial Times). Rafael Payare and Francesco Ivan Ciampa conduct Puccini’s opera of love and revenge, with Sondra Radvanovsky and Ewa Płonka sharing the title role and SeokJong Baek and Gwyn Hughes Jones sharing the role of Calaf.

PUCCINI’S UNFINISHED MASTERPIECE 
In the final months of his life Puccini struggled to depict Calaf's triumph: he died before finishing the final act of this grand opera. Turandot was completed by Franco Alfano two years later and given its premiere in 1926 at La Scala, Milan. During this initial performance the conductor Arturo Toscanini famously laid down his baton in Act III, declaring 'at this point, the Maestro died'. Turandot has gone on to have great worldwide success.

WORLD-FAMOUS MUSIC
Puccini creates a rich sound world for this dark fairy tale. The opera contains many memorable arias, from 'Signore, ascolta' (Sir, listen), as Liù appeals to Calaf not to attempt Turandot's deadly riddles, to Turandot's defiant 'In questa reggia' (In this palace), as well as 'Nessun dorma' (None shall sleep), sung as Calaf anticipates winning the Princess's hand. Andrei Șerban's staging – one of the most spectacular in The Royal Opera's repertory – transports an audience to a beautiful but ruthless world. Sally Jacobs' colourful sets and costumes are inspired by ancient Chinese culture, reflecting the traditional Chinese melodies woven into the score.

Turandot by Puccini, From (2025/2025), Directed by Andrei Serban,, Conductor Rafael Payare, Francesco Ivan Ciampa, Royal Opera House, London, United Kingdom

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

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Further reading

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