Directors: Hugo Käch, Ruth Käch (co-director)
Yimou Zhang ... stage director
Zubin Mehta ... conductor
Stars: Giovanna Casolla, Sergej Larin, Barbara Frittoli.
Chen Weiya ... choreographer
First performed in 1926. Apparently Puccini died with the last half of the 3rd act to be created, and that was completed by a friend, Franco Alfano using Puccini's notes (per Simon's 100 Greatest Operas).
Although I intended just to let it run to test the disc, the images captured my attention. It _is_ interesting to have the story performed in the historical location where the fiction was set, especially in 1999. And the camera doesn't always stay on the performers; architecture, sunset/sunrise, ancient artwork, landscapes also are cut in to remind us this is not just a stage made to look like the Palace, but the Palace itself.
They were able to build seating for an audience; I think they said 4000. They're pretty quiet until the end. Don't know if they had any titles to help them understand the Italian.
Spoiler: The moment when Liu grabs Turandot's hair ornament and kills herself goes very fast. I had to rewind a few times to catch it.
The tenor didn't hold the final note on Nessun dorma as long as they do in concert.
A featurette from '99 said the director (Zhang) had 3 Oscar noms; he has over 100 (60/40 win/nom) by now, but none are actually from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
I'd love to see a "traditional" version now, and learn the story properly. I have no idea why the prince didn't want to reveal his name to Turandot, and Liu died for it (and other reasons), but then he does give it to her.
It's been 24 hours since I watched it, and the closing chorus is still in my ears, which is a good thing. And it's doesn't linger because Looney Tunes used it for a wascally wabbit.
live opera, various+ KQED, cond. Mehta; 8
