Visually this is a gripping production which captures the drama of this opera perfectly. It's downright exciting! and I found the singing, acting, and orchestral playing reasonably fine. I found only one major problem with it, a problem that kept Puccini for quite a few years. Turandot has been looking for an opportunity to kill Calif and Calif has singlemindedly tried to get Turandot to love and wed him focusing on her and ignoring a better looking girl who loves him truly. The problem is how to get the audience to applaud the match once Calif gets his wish. Puccini couldn't figure out how to do it. The traditional quick ending doesn't do it, and Berio's attempt is longer , tries its best, but ends up making it plain this is one wierd couple.
Nina Maria Stemme
as Turandot
Aleksandrs Antonenko
as Calaf
Maria Agresta
as Liu
Alexander Tsymbalyuk
as Timur
Angelo Veccia
as Ping
Roberto Covatta
as Pang
Blagoj Nacoski
as Pong
Carlo Bosi
as Altoum
Gianluca Breda
as Mandarin
Riccardo Chailly
as Conductor
Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
as
