December 05. 2017 - January 27. 2018
Upcoming Dates
December 05. 2017 - January 27. 2018
New-to-Chicago Production Turandot
Turandot, Puccini’s final opera and one of the biggest blockbusters in the repertoire, transports us to a fantasy of ancient China. There the regal, forbidding Princess Turandot poses three riddles to each prince who wishes to win her — but anyone who fails to answer correctly is executed. Prince Calaf does answer correctly, and he declares that he’s willing to die if Turandot finds out his name by dawn. The plot unfolds to music of extraordinary brilliance, including “Nessun dorma,” the most popular of all Italian tenor arias!
- Language: Sung in Italian with projected English translations
- Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes with 1 intermission
- Location: Lyric Opera House
Turandot videos
Turandot
by Giacomo Puccini
Warner Classics recording — Nilsson, Corelli, Scotto, cond. Molinari-Pradelli.
Musical excerpts provided through a generous arrangement with Warner Classics, Official Education and Promotion Music Provider for Lyric Opera of Chicago.
“Straniero, ascolta!”
“Nessun dorma”
Turandot
by Giacomo Puccini
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
© 2017/18 Lyric Opera Commentaries Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Music Group. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board
Commentary by Sir Andrew Davis in collaboration with Jack Zimmerman
Turandot articles
What You Need and Want to Know About Turandot
Giacomo Puccini's glorious final opera, Turandot, opens December 5 in an extravagant production not previously seen on Lyric's stage. It showcases the composer's magnificent melodic outpourings and reveals Puccini at his peak as a creator of exotically beautiful orchestration.
Acclaim for Lyric's Turandot
Unforgettable music, atmospheric sets and costumes, a compelling story of persistent love melting a frozen heart...Lyric's performances this month of Puccini's epic masterpiece, Turandot (featuring the hit tenor aria "Nessun dorma"), are the sure cure for cabin fever, and not to be missed!
Synopsis
The regal, forbidding Princess Turandot poses three riddles to each prince who wishes to win her — but anyone who fails to answer correctly is executed. Heads roll as suitor after suitor are unable to pass the test until Prince Calaf answers all three correctly. Princess Turandot is distraught that she must marry, but Prince Calaf offers a way out with a riddle of his own: she must discover his name by dawn.
TIME: Legendary antiquity
PLACE: Beijing
Program book
Go inside this production of Turandot with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.
Meet the artists
* Lyric Opera debut
** Ryan Opera Center alumni
*** Current Member, Ryan Opera Center
Lyric presentation of Puccini’s Turandot generously made possible by
Production owned by Lyric Opera of Chicago, originally created by Bliss Hebert and Allen Charles Klein for Florida Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco Opera.