Emma Birski / OnP

Opera

New

Turandot

Giacomo Puccini

Opéra Bastille

from 04 to 30 December 2021

2h30 with 1 interval

Turandot

Opéra Bastille - from 04 to 30 December 2021

Synopsis

25 years after directing Madama Butterfly, today still one of the most acclaimed productions in the Opera’s repertoire, Robert Wilson returns to Puccini, this time with Turandot, the Italian composer’s final masterpiece. The pared down minimalist sets and the lighting compositions, so quintessential to the director’s perspective, lend themselves perfectly to the saga of the cruel Princess, daughter of the emperor of an immemorial China. The production is built as a series of tableaux, each borrowed directly from Noh theatre whose ritualised gestures magnify group scenes or bring a hint of burlesque as is the case with the comic trio, Ping, Pang and Pong.

Duration : 2h30 with 1 interval

Language : Italian

Surtitle : French / English

  • Opening

  • First part 80 min

  • intermission 30 min

  • Second part 40 min

  • End

Show acts

Detail of acts

Act I
A SQUARE BEFORE THE PALACE OF TURANDOT IN PEKING

A mandarin tells the crowd of the decree according to which Princess Turandot will marry the man, who, born of royal blood, succeeds in solving the three riddles which she puts to him. Anyone who fails is decapitated. The Prince of Persia, like so many before him, has not been able to find the solution to these riddles. He will therefore be executed. The guards endeavour to keep back the overexcited throng and in the crush an old man is thrown to the ground and would be trampled underfoot if it were not for the young girl who is accompanying him, who manages to protect him. A young man cornes forward to help them and recognises the old man as his father, Timur, the dethroned Tartar king. Calaf then hears how Timur has fled his country and owes his salvation to Liù, a slave girl, who has devoted herself to him through love for the prince, who once smiled upon her. Ali three decide to continue to remain in hiding. The bloody rite cannot be accomplished before the moon rises. As it does the crowd becomes elated and the victim appears. The prince is so young and so handsome that the mood of populace changes and they beg for mercy. Turandot appears, silences thecrowd with a gesture and orders the execution. This brief vision is enough for Calaf to fall hopelessly in love. Despite Timur's entreaties, he advances towards the gong which must be sounded three times to announce that a new prince is ready to face the test. The three ministers, Ping, Pang and Pong remind him of the vanity of love and the sweetness of life. Liù reminds him with humility of her love for him, but nothing can persuade him. Calaf rushes upon the gong and it sounds the fatal three times.

Act II
FIRST SCENE: THE KITCHEN IN THE PALACE

Ping, Pang and Pong are making the symbolic preparation with the two possible hypotheses in view: a wedding or another execution. They evoke Turandot's riddles and her victims in a half-tragic, half-comic tone. They start to dream of a happy outcome, of Turandot in love at last, and of a return of peace to the country.

SECOND SCENE: THE TOMB OF LO-OLING

The Emperor, Turandot's father, tries to dissuade Calaf and expresses the aversion he feels for these repeated sacrifices. But Calaf is unbending. Turandot then appears. She explains at length the reasons for the bloody practice: a female ancestor of hers was once abducted and raped by a foreign prince, who devastated the realm. It is to avenge herself that Turandot has sworn never to love, never to give herself to a man and to see all those who try to conquer her perish. She exhorts the unknown prince to withdraw. Calaf refuses. Turandot then poses the first riddle: « In the darkness ofthe night, a phantom spreads his wings over humanity. All invoke him, ail implore him. But the phantom disappears with the dawn to be reborn in the hearts of men. Each night, he is born, and each day he dies ». Calaf finds the answer: « Hope ». This answer is confirmed by the sages who hold the rolls of truth. Turandot then pronounces the second riddle: « lt quivers like a flame, but it is not a flame. Sometimes ardent, sometimes languid, it turns cold when one dies but flares up when one dreams of conquest ». Calaf hesitates, then finds the answer: « Blood». The sages give their confirmation. Turandot is troubled and the crowd rejoices. The princess pronounces the last riddle: « What is the ice that inflames you, but becomes icier still before your flame? ». Calaf would seem to be lost and Turandot exults, but the prince takes a grip of himself and gives the third answer: « Turandot ». The crowd is mad with joy, but Turandot begs her father to free her from her oath and not to deliver her up to the unknown prince. The Emperor is unbending, but Calaf himself cornes to the princess's aid. He proposes a single riddle: to discover who he is before dawn. If she can discover the answer, he will die,otherwise, she will be his.

Act III

FIRST SCENE: THE PEOPLE'S QUARTER

No one can sleep this night. Across the city can be heard the echo of the proclamations made in the name of the princess, who is seeking to discover the identity of the unknown prince. Ping, Pang and Pong inform Calaf that torture and terror reign. The three ministers try to drag his secret out of him. Timur and Liù are brought in. They have been seen speaking with the prince and are suspected of complicity. The old man is ill-treated, but Liù affirms that she alone knows the secret. The two women confront each other. Manhandled and tortured, Liù keeps her secret and replies to Turandot, who asks her from where she derives her strength, « from love». The young slave girl assures the princess that one day she too will be moved by love, then, seizing a dagger, she kills herself, so as to be sure not to betray Calaf.

SECOND SCENE: A ROOM IN THE PALACE

Calaf throws himself at Turandot. The princess's resistance gradually weakens. Calaf, who is now sure of victory, reveals his name to her just before the breaking of the dawn. He thus puts his life in Turandot's hands. She calls for the people to assemble. The crowd awaits Turandot's announcement. She declares that she knows the name of the stranger: « his name is Love ». The crowd breaks out into a jubilant chorus, celebrating the power of love.

Artists

Opera in three acts and five scenes

After Carlo Gozzi La Fiaba cinese teatrale tragicomica

Creative team

The Paris Opera Orchestra and Choruses.
Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine / Paris Opera’s Children Chorus.

With the exceptional support of Aline Foriel-Destezet
Turandot will be broadcast on France musique on January 8, 2022 at 8pm at the occasion of the program "Samedi à l'Opéra" (A Saturday at the opera) hosted by Judith Chaine

Media

  • Draw-me Turandot

    Draw-me Turandot

    Watch the video

  • Turandot, a cruel beauty

    Turandot, a cruel beauty

    Watch the video

  • Podcast Turandot

    Podcast Turandot

    Listen the podcast

Draw-me Turandot

Watch the video

Understand the plot in 1 minute

1:55 min

Draw-me Turandot

By Matthieu Pajot

25 years after directing Madama Butterfly, today still one of the most acclaimed productions in the Opera’s repertoire, Robert Wilson returns to Puccini, this time with Turandot, the Italian composer’s final masterpiece. The pared down minimalist sets and the lighting compositions, so quintessential to the director’s perspective, lend themselves perfectly to the saga of the cruel Princess, daughter of the emperor of an immemorial China. The production is built as a series of tableaux, each borrowed directly from Noh theatre whose ritualised gestures magnify group scenes or bring a hint of burlesque as is the case with the comic trio, Ping, Pang and Pong.

© Elena Bauer / OnP

Turandot, a cruel beauty

Watch the video

Interview with Gustavo Dudamel

5:58 min

Turandot, a cruel beauty

By Marion Mirande

For his first production as Music Director of the Paris Opera, Gustavo Dudamel conducts Puccini's Turandot. Absent from our stages for nearly twenty years, the Italian master's final work is a repertoire masterpiece, as rich orchestrally as it is demanding for its performers.    


Playlist

© Javier del Real | Teatro Real

Podcast Turandot

Listen the podcast

"Dance! Sing! 7 minutes at the Paris Opera" - by France Musique

07 min

Podcast Turandot

By Charlotte Landru-Chandès

"Dance! Sing! 7 minutes at the Paris Opera" offers original incursions into the season thanks to broadcasts produced by France Musique and the Paris Opera. For each opera or ballet production, Charlotte Landru-Chandès (opera) and Jean-Baptiste Urbain (dance), present the works and artists you are going to discover when you attend performances in our theatres.

  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT by Puccini - Final
  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT by Puccini (Elena Pankratova & Gwyn Hughes Jones)
  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT by Puccini "Signore, ascolta" (Guanqun Yu)
  • Turandot (saison 21/22) - Acte 2

  • Turandot (saison 21/22) - Acte 3

  • Turandot (saison 21/22) - Acte 3 (Gwyn Hughes Jones et Elena Pankratova)

  • Turandot (saison 21/22) - Acte 3 (Gwyn Hughes Jones)

  • Turandot (saison 21/22) - Acte 1 (Guanqun Yu)

Access and services

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

Partners

  • Timepiece of the Paris Opera

  • With the support of The American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet

  • With the support of the Cercle Lully

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