"Turandot" marks Giacomo Puccini's 150th anniversary
Posted: 29 August 2008 1535 hrs

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SINGAPORE – Opera lovers have a cause for celebration. The Singapore Lyric Opera is staging Giacomo Puccini’s famous “Turandot” to mark the 150th anniversary of the artist's birth.

The opera, a dramatic story of love, sacrifice and passion, revolves around a cold and cruel princess, Turandot, who vows never to allow any man to possess her. Any man who wishes to marry her must answer three riddles and if he fails to do so, a horrifying fate awaits him - execution.

A prince from Tartary who has fallen in love with Turandot succeeds in answering the riddles. However, seeing that Turandot is visibly upset, the prince makes an offer - to find out his name by sunrise. Her reward - his life to her.

The three-act opera reaches its climax when the prince reveals his name to her. By leaving his life in her hands, Turandot’s icy demeanour melts, and she learns to love the prince.

Director Lo King-Man, who is directing "Turandot" for the fifth time, explains that this Puccini piece was chosen because it is the only grand opera that borrows a Chinese background.

It is also Puccini’s "final statement as an artist".

The Hong Kong director who describes Puccini as "the foremost in popular appeal and distinct finesse", believes this latest production will be different from other productions because he will bring the opera "right back to the early days of civilisation".

“Once you put it so far into ancient China, then the distance makes you relive it as a fairy-tale, not as a naturalistic,” he told Primetime Morning.

Lead actor Wei Long Tao who plays the prince sees himself as a performer, not the character, which is remote to him, "I'm doing the opera more as a performer, as an opera singer," he said.

When asked about the pieces that he has to perform, the actor from China said that Puccini did indeed write a difficult piece, "broad lines with heavy orchestration".

"It can be very difficult to sing, but if you have the voice and if you have the technique, it's very possible (to be able to sing it)."

"Turandot" runs from August 29 to September 3 at the Esplanade Theatre.

- CNA/sl