The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot
The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot

Movie spotlight

The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot

2019
Movie
143 min
Italian

Christine Goerke has wowed audiences as Turandot, the icy princess at the heart of Puccini’s grand final masterpiece. In this performance from the 2019–20 Live in HD season, Goerke stars alongside tenor Yusif Eyvazov (as Calàf) and soprano Eleonora Buratto (as Liù) in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic staging, which dazzles with its opulent visions of mythic China. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is on the podium, drawing a vivid array of musical colors from the incomparable Met Orchestra and Chorus.

Insights

Director: Franco Zeffirelli (Production)Genres: Opera, Classical Music

Plot Summary

Set in legendary China, Princess Turandot has decreed that she will only marry a suitor who can answer her three riddles. Those who fail are executed. Prince Calaf, a forgotten Tartar prince, arrives and is captivated by Turandot's beauty. Despite the warnings of his father and the pleading of the slave girl Liù, Calaf succeeds in answering the riddles, but then poses a riddle of his own to Turandot to discover her name and win her love.

Critical Reception

Franco Zeffirelli's opulent production of Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera has been a perennial audience favorite, celebrated for its grand spectacle and effective staging. While the visual grandeur is consistently praised, critical reception often focuses on the performances, with individual singers receiving varying levels of acclaim for their vocal prowess and dramatic interpretation of the iconic roles.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visual splendor and grand scale, true to Zeffirelli's signature style.

  • Performances of the lead roles are often highlighted, with soprano Christine Goerke receiving particular attention for her interpretation of Turandot.

  • The opera's dramatic intensity and Puccini's soaring music are consistently appreciated by audiences.

Google audience: Audience feedback for this production of Turandot at the Met generally emphasizes the breathtaking sets and costumes, highlighting the spectacular visual experience. The powerful vocal performances, particularly from the lead soprano, are frequently cited as a major draw. Many viewers express satisfaction with the overall operatic spectacle.

Awards & Accolades

None notable (as this is a specific production recording, rather than a film or new work seeking traditional awards)

Fun Fact

Franco Zeffirelli's production of Turandot, which premiered in 2019, was his final opera production for the Metropolitan Opera, following a long and distinguished career with the company.

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