Finland Puccini, Turandot: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera / Hannu Lintu (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 4.2.2023. (AA)
Production:
Director – Sofia Adrian Jupither
Sets – Erlend Birkeland
Costumes – Maria Geber
Movement Director – Katarina Sörenson
Lighting Design – Ellen Ruge
Cast:
Turandot – Astrik Khanamiryan
Calaf – Leonardo Caimi
Liù – Annika Leino
Timur – Jyrki Korhonen
Ping – Ville Rusanen
Pang – Markus Nykänen
Pong – Dan Karlström
Altoum – Jussi Miilunpalo
The Finnish National Opera presents the Finnish premiere of a brand new manufacturing of Puccini’s Turandot. Puccini’s closing opera is filled with wealthy colours and drama. It is a co-production with the Malmö Opera, Sweden.
Turandot relies on an previous Persian story, however the occasions happen in historical China. Emperor Altoum’s daughter Turandot is a princess who is known for her magnificence. To declare the princess, suitors from close to and much should reply three riddles appropriately or else lose their lives. The princess is tough to please and the suitors are despatched to their dying – one after one other till Prince Calaf emerges. Could Calaf be the one who provides Turandot the liberty to decide on for herself?
The story of Turandot addresses numerous psychological facets. It is a narrative about Turandot’s selections on a person degree, in addition to a narrative of our society now. Director Sofia Adrian Jupither has acknowledged that she wished to take away outdated layers of the piece and make Turandot work in trendy occasions. Jupither is conscious of the principle characters’ private and non-private roles. Still, the model seems fairly true to custom.
Erlend Birkeland is accountable for the set and Ellen Ruge for the lighting. Most of the stage is dominated by an enormous staircase to Altoum’s palace. The seat of the son of heaven is positioned on the very prime, whereas Turandot is commonly seen behind the rails of a balcony that might be mistaken for a cage. The darkish stairs are surrounded by blossoming cherry bushes. Pink petals maintain floating downwards. The set stays roughly unchanged all through the piece. Resembling a big portray, it’s enigmatic and easy, permitting us to concentrate on the music.
The music is marvelous; to me, Turandot combines all of Puccini’s greatest qualities. The opera is filled with lyrical melodies, creating a novel fairy-tale ambiance. This is enhanced by multi-faceted orchestral elements. Under the command of chief conductor Hannu Lintu, the musical depth stays excessive to the very finish. The night’s musical providing is highly effective, but elegant and nicely thought-through.
Turandot was sung by Astrik Khanamiryan, whose dramatic soprano captures the essence of the function. She first seems as a spoiled ice princess, distant and wayward, coated by yards of fluffy silk. Gradually, the masks are eliminated, Turandot discovers her actual passions and her voice opens up, too.
Leonardo Caimi is a pure born prince Calaf, with the requisite charisma and a gorgeous lyrical voice. And, sure, his ‘Nessun dorma’ is one to recollect.
Annika Leino carried out the a part of Liù, the slave whose concern to warn Calaf falls on deaf ears. Her rendition of Act III ’Tu che di gel sei cinta’ was so stuffed with emotion that it was one of the crucial touching moments of the night.
The ministers Ping (Ville Rusanen), Pang (Markus Nykänen) and Pong (Dan Karlström) kind a dynamic trio making an attempt to persuade Calaf to surrender – however to no avail.
Turandot can also be a really choral opera. In this model, a large choir representing the crowds of Peking is on stage for the higher a part of the efficiency. The piece additionally features a kids’s choir. Marge Mehilane and the choir of the Finnish National Opera did a wonderful job.
This manufacturing of Turandot is a real gem, delivering a common message: no matter who persons are or the place they arrive from, they’re all in search of love.
Performances of Turandot final till March 4th, 2023.
Anna Aalto