Bring back the1960's Where's Cecil Beaton when you need him. When you have the greatest singers of the last half of the 20th century, Nilsson and Corelli, you don't need all this excess! The Met has toned this production down shortly after this broadcast. This production is so busy I hardly even noticed the singing. You'll find every thing you need on the stage but a basket ball court.
Awesome I was a little reluctant to purchase such a popular title; however, I was not disappointed because the costumes and performances were wonderful. I found myself clapping from my living room when watching.
Trunadot The CD recently bought it's of poor quality. It skips more than once several times during play.
From the depths of my heart!!!! I hate Zefirelli, he is extremely kitsch to my taste. I hate MET productions because I think they are usually too conventional to my taste. Then, why I am giving to this Turandot 5 stars? Well I do not have a rational answer to that question. I have to confess that these 5 stars come from the depths of my heart and have nothing to do with my brains. I really love Turandot, I think this is Puccini at his best, moving dangerously close to that thin line that separates the sublime from the bad taste, but always moving on the sublime side. Therefore you need an extremely intelligent stage director that would avoid crossing that line to the kitch side. Curiosly Zefirelli succeed doing that!!!! I never thougth that Zefirelli was that inteligent!!! I love Placido Domingo, I think he enhances every opera in which he sings and this Turandot is not an exception. I always have serious difficulties following the line of Turandot's parts and hate that particular spinto way of singing used by most sopranos that sing this role. However Eva Marton does an extraordinary job here. Indeed she instills some sweetness into this rather cold role. The scene of the three riddles in the second act is impecable. The acting of both, Marton and Domingo, is legendary to say the less. You feel the tension and the anguish of the characters on stage. Liona Mitchell is beautiful and delicate in her impersonation of Liu. The scene of her death in the third act is particularly moving. The action all through the opera goes fast paced thanks to the phenomenal singers/actors, the stage director and James Levine great (as always) musical direction. Fully recommended. This is a completely unbiased appreciation of this wonderful opera and production since I watched it, in the first place, with the sick intention of critizicing it badly.
Turandot at the Met I was looking forward to Turandot at the Met with Domingo! Disappointment often follows anticipation. The set was truly outstanding, the grandeur of the era was displayed. This performance is over 20 years old; Domingo was in his prime - a tenor hunk! But the magic, the chemistry between him and Marton was lacking. The one who stole the show was Liu - Leona Mitchell. A voice of an angel, innocent and full of emotion. The entire opera lacked believability. The story itself is unbelievable, so it takes a master director to make the audience be transported to China to witness this love story. It was the first time I have even seen Calaf sing Nessum Dorma seated! He looked very uncomfortable. Marton was truly an ice goddess but even when she realized then end result, she was cold. This was also reflected in her voice.
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