Giacomo |
EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC - BAHRAIN - |
PROGRAMME FOR 26 JANUARY 2000 |
CAST Turandot, princess of China Altoum, emperor of China Timur, deposed king of the Tartars Calaf, his son, the unknown prince Liu, a young slave-girl Ping, great chancellor Pang, general purveyor Pong, chief cook Mandarin Prince of Persia |
- Ghena Dimitrova (soprano) - Gianfranco Manganotti (tenor) - Ivo Vinco (bass) - Nicola Martinucci (tenor) - Cecilia Gasdia (soprano) - Graziano Polidori (baritone) - Pier Francesco Poli (tenor) - Antonio Bevacqua (tenor) - Orazio Mori (baritone) - Ivan del Manto (tenor) |
Chorus and Orchestra of the Arena di Verona conducted by MAURIZIO ARENA Recorded 1983 at Verona Producer: Giuliano Montaldo Set Design: Luciano Rucceri Costume Design: Nana Cecchi |
THE STORY The scene is set in Peking, in legendary times ACT 1 - The walls of Peking As the curtain rises we learn from a mandarin that Turandot, the daughter of the Chinese Emperor Altoum, will only marry a suitor of royal descent who can answer three riddles set by her. Any unable to do so shall be beheaded. Among the assembled crowd is Timur, the blind and banished King of Tartary, accompanied by the faithful slave-girl Liu. Amid the general melee he is knocked to the ground and it is his son, Calaf, whom he had thought dead, who comes to his aid. The crowd urges the executioner to sharpen the ceremonial sword as they wait for the rising of the moon - the signal for the execution of the latest victim, the Prince of Persia. The mob has a change of heart when they see that he is a handsome youth. Voices call for pardon and Calaf curses the beauty of Turandot which sends noble and innocent victims to the scaffold. He falls silent at the appearance of Turandot on tha palace balcony, overwhelmed by the passion he feels. In vain his father and Liu, who secretly loves him, implore him to desist, as do the three imperial ministers, Ping, Pang and Pong. Calaf is not dissuaded from his folly and strikes the gong three times, announcing his wish to be put to the test. ACT 2, Scene 1 - Inside the pavillion Ping, Pang and Pong lament the state of China and discuss either the funeral or victory arrangements for the unknown prince. They recall the unfortunate suitors and long for a time when peace will once again reign in China. They hear drums in the distance announcing that the next trial is shortly to begin. ACT 2, Scene 2 - A square in front of the palace A large crowd has come to witness the event and watch excitedly as the Emperor implores the prince to give up his attempt, thus avoiding certain execution. After the reading of the proclamation, Turandot appears and gives her reason for imposing such a harsh decree. Many years ago, a king had enslaved her ancestress, Lou-Ling, in whose memory she has sworn to hate all men. She then propounds the first of the three riddles: "Which phantom is born anew every night, vanishes with the dawn, and yet lives on in human hearts?". Withouit hesitation the prince declares: "Hope!". The second riddle is read: "What kindles like a flame, without being one; seethes in fever, is cold in death, but flares up when victory is dreamed of, and glows like the setting sun?". Again the prince answers correctly: "Blood!". Turandot now becomes agitated and alarmed. She asks the final riddle: "Which ice now consuming you gives you fire and by doing so freezes even harder?". After a moment's hesitation the prince replies: "Turandot!". Calaf has been successful and he crowd hails their new victor. Turandot, however, is furious and begs her father to declare the result null and void. The Emperor stands firm and insists that Turandot should marry the prince according to the bargain. Calaf does not want Turandot to be forced to marry him. He announces to the astonished crowd that it is now his turn to set her a riddle: "If Turandot can discover his name before sunrise, he is prepared to die like the other princes." ACT 3, Scene 1 - The garden of the imperial palace By royal herald, Turandot decrees that the whole of Peking must remain awake to discover the name of the unknown prince. While Calaf quietly awaits daybreak, Ping, Pang and Pong urge him to depart the city, but their efforts fail. Meanwhile, Timur and Liu are dragged in by torturers. They were seen with the prince and it is now hoped that they can disclose his identity. Turandot demands from them the name of the prince. Liu admits that she loves the prince and would neverbetray him. In a last act of defiance, she grabs a dagger and kills herself. The people are greatly moved by her sacrifice and carry her body away, accompanied by a grieving Timur. Calaf and Turandot are left alone. Calaf embraces the icy princess, and she is transformed by his kiss, confessing that she had both hated and loved him from the very beginning. Calaf tells her his name to put her love to the test - if she so wishes, she is now free to have him executed. ACT 3, Scene 2 - Before the imperial palace Turandot announces to her father that she knows the name of the unknown prince. She must now pronounce his name or be given in marriage to him. The people gathered in the courtyard expect her to condemn him to death, but Turandot looks at Calaf, and overcome by her newly-found love, says that his name is "Amore". Calaf embraces her passionately while the cheering crowd breaks into songs of joy. |
25 GREAT COMPOSERS SERIES This evening features 1 more composer (no 4 in the series) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI (1858-1924) |
4 |
TURANDOT |
Opera in three acts Libretto: Giuseppe Adami & Renato Simoni Premiere: 25 April 1926 in Milan |
Giacomo |
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