December 05. 2017 - January 27. 2018

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December 05. 2017 - January 27. 2018

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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

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See what critics are saying about Turandot at Lyric Opera

Sir Andrew Davis on the music of Puccini's Turandot

Lyric's Music Director Sir Andrew Davis talks about some of the most glorious music that you will hear when you come to Lyric Opera's production of Puccini's Turandot.

Director Rob Kearley on the look and feel of Puccini's Turandot

Stage Director Rob Kearley talks about what people should expect when they come and see Lyric's production of Puccini's Turandot.

Puccini's Turandot at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Amber Wagner on the Character of Turandot

Soprano Amber Wagner discusses how she will bring a sense of relatability to the generally icy character of Turandot in Lyric's production of Puccini's Turandot.

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.

“Signore, ascolta”

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“Straniero, ascolta!”

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“Nessun dorma”

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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

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Turandot articles

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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

The people of Beijing hear a mandarin recite Princess Turandot’s decree: she will marry only the nobleman who can correctly answer three riddles. All who fail will be executed. The latest unsuccessful candidate, the Prince of Persia, will die this very day when the moon rises. It is now evening, and the excited crowd is eager to wake Pu-Tin-Pao, the executioner. Many people are nearly trampled, including Timur, the exiled king of Tartary. A young man rushes to him – his son, Calaf, who embraces the old man joyfully. Timur explains that Liù, the slave who is accompanying him, has been his guide and support. When Calaf asks why she chose to share his father’s suffering, Liù answers that it’s because the prince once smiled at her.

Pu-Tin-Pao’s assistants prepare for the execution, and children lead in the procession. When the crowd sees the Prince of Persia, its scorn turns to pity. When Turandot appears, her beauty dazzles Calaf. Once she signals to proceed with the execution, the Prince of Persia is heard crying her name, but his voice cuts off: the execution has taken place.

Despite the gruesome scene, Calaf is now obsessed with Turandot. He is about to strike the gong – the signal that a new suitor is ready to meet his fate – when Ping, Pang, and Pong confront him. These three ministers urge Calaf to return to his own country. Turandot’s handmaidens insist on silence, since she is sleeping.

Timur and Liù plead with Calaf to turn away from this dangerous passion. The prince begs Liù to remain with his father, no matter what happens. Ignoring everyone’s protests, Calaf strikes the gong.
Scene 1.

Ping, Pang, and Pong prepare for what may be a wedding or a funeral, depending on Calaf’s success or failure. Life was always smooth in China, they reflect, until the birth of Turandot. Since then, many unlucky suitors have lost their lives. Each minister longs to leave Beijing and enjoy a quieter existence. They ruminate on how wonderful it would be if love finally conquered Turandot. All three depart, since the ceremony of the riddles is about to begin.

Scene 2.

The crowd cheers the arrival of the ministers and wise men. When Calaf appears, he is addressed by Turandot’s father, Emperor Altoum, who cannot persuade the prince to abandon his desire to win Turandot. The mandarin again summarizes the law regarding Turandot’s marriage. When she finally appears, she reveals that she cannot forget the story of her ancestor, Princess Lo-u-Ling: many years before, a conqueror of China dragged Lo-u-Ling from the palace and killed her. Turandot now will not let herself to be possessed by any man.

The princess poses her three riddles, and each time Calaf answers correctly. When the crowd hears the third answer, it bursts with joy. Turandot implores her father not to yield her to the unknown prince, but Altoum insists that the law is sacred. Calaf now offers the princess a bargain: If Turandot can learn his name before dawn, he will release her and give up his life. If she is unsuccessful, she will have no choice but to belong to him.
Scene 1.

Turandot’s heralds proclaim that no one may sleep that night; the unknown stranger’s name must be revealed by morning. Alone in the palace garden, the prince repeats, “No one may sleep” and looks forward to the dawn, when Turandot will be his. The ministers offer him beautiful women, sparkling gems, and fabulous adventures, if he will leave Beijing. They are concerned for their own lives, since no one knows where Turandot may strike in her desperation to learn the stranger’s name.

City guards drag in Timur and Liù, whom they apprehended near the city walls. The crowd gathers before Turandot suddenly appears. She orders Timur to speak, and the guards are about to torture him when Liù declares that she alone knows the prince’s name and that she will keep it a secret. When Turandot orders that she be tortured, the guards twist her arms as Ping repeatedly demands the name, but she refuses to reveal it. When Turandot asks what gives her such strength, Liù answers that it is love. Before dawn, she says, her eyes will close forever and Turandot will love the prince. Seizing a dagger from a soldier, Liù stabs herself and falls
lifeless. The stunned crowd carries her body away, accompanied by the heartbroken Timur, and leaving Turandot alone with Calaf.

Furious at her coldness, the prince tears away the veil covering Turandot’s face. Ignoring her insistence that he not touch her, he kisses her passionately. Overwhelmed by new feelings, Turandot confesses that she is weeping her first tears. She begs the prince to leave her, taking his mystery with him, but he declares that he will now give her both his name and his life: he is Calaf, son of Timur. The ecstatic Turandot commands that he appear before the people with her.

Scene 2.

Before her father and the people of Beijing, Turandot declares that she now knows the stranger’s name: “His name is Love!” Calaf ascends the staircase to embrace Turandot as the crowd joyfully sings love’s praises.

Program book

Go inside this production of Turandot with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet the artists

Amber Wagner

Turandot

Ryan Opera Center alumna

American soprano and Ryan Opera Center alumna Amber Wagner has sung nine roles with Lyric since 2007|18

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Stefano La Colla

Calaf

Italian tenor Stefano La Colla made his Lyric debut as Calaf/Turandot (2017|18)

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Maria Agresta

Liù

(December)

Maria Agresta is acclaimed as one of the most remarkable Italian singers of her generation.

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Janai Brugger

Liù

(January)

Soprano and Chicago native Janai Brugger is a 2012 triple award-winner at the Operalia competition and a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Brugger has also won the Sphinx Prize and the Marian Anderson Vocal Award.

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Andrea Silvestrelli

Timur

Italian bass Andrea Silvestrelli's Lyric credits include Nourabad/The Pearl Fishers (2017|18)

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Zachary Nelson

Ping

Baritone Zachary Nelson's Lyric credits include Marcello/La boheme (2018|19), Ping/Turandot (2017|18)

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Rodell Rosel

Pang

Ryan Opera Center alumnus

Filipino-American tenor and Ryan Opera Center alumnus Rodell Rosel has sung over 20 roles with Lyric Opera since 2005/06.

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Keith Jameson

Pong

Tenor and South Carolina native Keith Jameson has sung eight roles with Lyric since 2007/08

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Josh Lovell

Altoum

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Canadian tenor and Ryan Opera Center alumnus Josh Lovell has performed five roles at Lyric since 2017|18.

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Patrick Guetti

Mandarin

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Ryan Opera Center alumni Patrick Guetti's Lyric credits include Fafner/Siegfried (2018|19).

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Uniting Voices Chicago

Uniting Voices Chicago is the nation’s preeminent youth choral organization, serving 5,200 students across the city of Chicago.

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Sir Andrew Davis

Conductor

(12/5 – 1/21)

Sir Andrew Davis served as music director and principal conductor of Lyric Opera of Chicago from 2000 through the 2020/21 Season.

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Robert Tweten

Conductor

(1/27)

The Canadian conductor has led productions throughout the U. S. and Canada, and has performed as a collaborative pianist with many of today’s most prominent singers.

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Rob Kearley

Director

The British director made his Lyric directorial debut with Turandot (2017|18)

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Chris Maravich

Lighting Designer

Chris Maravich, Lighting Director, has been with Lyric Opera since 2014

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Michael Black

Chorus Master

Michael Black has served Lyric Opera of Chicago since the 2013/14 Season.

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