When Pavarotti sang out the top B in Puccini’s ‘Nessun dorma’ across a huge crowd at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the world collectively held its breath. A generation of football fans were learning what opera was all about — music that can transport you to another world, another place, a place where emotion wells up inside you at the sound of a single note.
“Vincerò”, the tenor cries — “I will win! I will WIN!”
Few had seen Turandot — Puccini’s opera about a brutal princess and an impossibly brave suitor, who will make any sacrifice to win her love. How many of the millions of people who watched that broadcast suddenly had an inkling of what the power of that music can be?
Turandot is a fantasy opera of poetry and myth, set in an exotic world where fear and love go hand in hand and death is always just around the corner. ‘Nessun dorma’ is just one of its magnificent moments.
Renowned conductors Christian Badea and Leonardo Sini return to Australia to conduct.
Conductor Christian Badea (Jan 12–Feb 12), Leonardo Sini (Feb 15–Mar 14)
Director & Choreographer Graeme Murphy AO
Revival Director Shane Placentino
Set & Costume Designer Kristian Fredrikson
Lighting Designer John Drummond Montgomery
Turandot Lise Lindstrom (Jan 12-Feb 5), Anna-Louise Cole (Feb 9-Mar 14)
Calàf Yonghoon Lee (Jan), Ivan Gyngazov (Feb-Mar)
Liù Karah Son (Jan 12-Feb 12), Mariana Hong (Feb 15-Mar 14)
Timur David Parkin
Pong Virgilio Marino
Pang Iain Henderson
Ping Luke Gabbedy
Emperor Dean Bassett
Mandarin Alexander Sefton
Handmaiden 1 Leah Thomas
Handmaiden 2 Katherine Wiles
Prince Of Persia Dean Bassett
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Children’s Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra
... more