Puccini: Turandot

A 1958 RAI production starring Franco Corelli in what is considered to be one of his greatest roles with the tenor at his technical and artistic peak. Lucille Udovich is a powerful, credible Turandot.

Approximately two hours, with optional English, French, and German subtitles. Black & white, mono.

With Rosario La Spina cast as Calaf, Susan Foster as the icy princess and Hyeseoung Kwon as the loyal slave girl Liù, the singing throughout is superlative.

The choreography and direction of Graeme Murphy is visionary, add the set and costume designs of Kristian Fredrikson, and the lighting of John Drummond Montgomery and this production is glorious in its beauty.

With Rosario La Spina cast as Calaf, Susan Foster as the icy princess and Hyeseoung Kwon as the loyal slave girl Liù, the singing throughout is superlative.

The choreography and direction of Graeme Murphy is visionary, add the set and costume designs of Kristian Fredrikson, and the lighting of John Drummond Montgomery and this production is glorious in its beauty.

The choreography and direction of Graeme Murphy is visionary, add the set and costume designs of Kristian Fredrikson, and the lighting of John Drummond Montgomery and this production is glorious in its beauty.

Set Design by EZIO FRIGERIO

The story of the beautiful but cruel princess Turandot has a unique place among Puccini‘s works, displaying the composer‘s ability to reflect the musical trends of his time more convincingly than any of his other operas. Despite its wealth of inspired melodies (among them Calaf‘s aria „Nessun dorma“ in the third act), even today the opera‘s chief fascination remains its imaginative tonality and subtle instrumentation.

The title role is performed by Luana DeVol, who has been on the international opera scene for more than three decades and whose versatile, dramatic soprano perfectly suits the character of the despising, yet vulnerable Turandot. Lirico-spinto soprano Barbara Frittoli, one of the best-known Puccini/Verdi performers on the current scene, presents her lyrical vocal qualities in the role of the slave Liù.

The director, Núria Espert, retained the lavish settings and magnificent sets traditionally associated with the opera. None the less, Espert‘s approach to the work is founded on the doubts that Puccini himself expressed about the final scene of the work. In Espert‘s conception, Turandot remains incapable of turning into an ordinary, docile woman defeated by male strength, and so she stabs herself to death.

BONUS: Luana DeVol – Following the Dream / Directed by Stephen DeVol

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitles: IT (Original Language), DE, GB, FR, ES, Catalan

Running Time: 132 mins + 19 mins (Bonus)

FSK: 0

Turandot from the Verona Arena: Franco Zeffirelli’s epic production of Puccini’s masterpiece.

In its 88th year, the prestigious Verona Arena Festival honoured the legendary Italian stage director Franco Zeffirelli. Zeffirelli delivered an opulent staging af the fairy-tale story of the Chinese Princess Turandot, who will only marry a prince capable of solving her riddles.

The Russian soprano Maria Guleghina proved a brilliant Turandot, whilst tenor Salvatore Licitra’s trump card is his imposingly radiant voice of which he remains in sovereign control even in the role’s muchfeared tessitura. The soprano Tamar Iveri is a beautiful and sensitive Liù. The Orchestra and Chorus of the Verona Arena are conducted by Maestro Giuliano Carella.

NTSC 16:9, Sound: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1

Audio, Subtitles: Fr, Eng, Ger, It, Sp, Jap

Total Time: 2h 8min

Filmed in HD, August 2010

Turandot from the Verona Arena: Franco Zeffirelli’s epic production of Puccini’s masterpiece.

In its 88th year, the prestigious Verona Arena Festival honoured the legendary Italian stage director Franco Zeffirelli. Zeffirelli delivered an opulent staging af the fairy-tale story of the Chinese Princess Turandot, who will only marry a prince capable of solving her riddles.

The Russian soprano Maria Guleghina proved a brilliant Turandot, whilst tenor Salvatore Licitra’s trump card is his imposingly radiant voice of which he remains in sovereign control even in the role’s muchfeared tessitura. The soprano Tamar Iveri is a beautiful and sensitive Liù. The Orchestra and Chorus of the Verona Arena are conducted by Maestro Giuliano Carella.

Sound: PCM Stereo, 5.1 DTS HD Master

Audio, Subtitles : Fr, Eng, Ger, It, Sp, Jap

2h 8min

Filmed in HD, August 2010