Utah Opera's New Production of Puccini's TURANDOT Opens Next Month

Pageantry and energy will fill the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre from March 15 to 23, 2014 as Utah Opera presents the operatic spectacle of the season, Giacomo Puccini's final masterpiece, the electrifying Turandot.

Turandot is Puccini's "cruel princess." She is vain, icy, and seemingly incapable of love. In keeping with her impenetrable persona, she announces that she will marry the man who can solve her three riddles but gravely punish those who cannot. Heads do roll until one clever prince appears and solves her trio of challenges. He then counters with a riddle of his own and Turandot is caught uncomfortably in a web of her own making.

This epic new production by the creative team of director and choreographer Renaud Doucet and set and costume designer André Barbe arrives in Salt Lake City after sold-out performances and rave reviews from Utah Opera's co-producers in Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Seattle. From the spectacular music, including the sweeping aria "Nessun Dorma," to the breathtaking pageantry of one of opera's greatest hits, Turandot is certain to be the highlight of the season.

The title role of Turandot will be portrayed by soprano Maida Hundeling, who is praised by Opera News for a "tone [that] is plush, slightly metallic and solidly produced from the lower depths to sustained, perfectly focused high notes." The part of Prince Calàf will be sung by tenor Jonathan Burton, who the Baltimore Sun credited with having "thrilling power and beauty" and who Opera News called "an engaging all-around singer with a powerful, full-bodied sound."

According to Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth, Puccini's compositional style creates an intense and often overwhelming experience for opera audiences. "From moments of quiet nuance to immense power - and everything in between - this is some of Puccini's most amazing, beautiful, and emotionally-manipulative music," said Mr. McBeth. "Because of its enormity and the specific forces required, it is only possible to produce this masterpiece occasionally but I know this one will live in your memory for a long time."

Utah Opera's Turandot production employs the largest orchestra Puccini ever called for - 60 Utah Symphony musicians - and a massive chorus prepared by Utah Opera Chorus Master Caleb Harris. In addition to nine principals and 58 Utah Opera Chorus members, the cast includes close to 30 children choristers from the Madeleine Choir School, plus 12 non-singing men and six dancers.

After the successes of La Bohème, Tosca, and Madame Butterfly, illness prevented Puccini from completing Turandot. It was left unfinished after his death, and the last two scenes were written by Franco Alfano based on the composer's sketches. The libretto for Turandot was based on a play of the same name by Carlo Gozzi. The first performance was held at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1926.

The performance will last approximately 2 hours 20 minutes with two intermissions.