Puccini: Turandot (The Royal Opera)

Lise Lindstrom (Turandot); Marco Berti (Calaf); Eri Nakamura (Liù); Dionysios Sourbis (Ping); Douglas Jones (Pong); David Butt Philip (Pang); Alasdair Elliott (Altoum); Raymond Aceto (Timur);

Andrei Serban’s spectacular and thrilling 1984 production of Puccini’s final and grandest opera has long been a classic at the Royal Opera House. First filmed for BBC TV in the 80s, this new recording – of its fifteenth revival – is in stunning HD and makes this famous production available for the first time on DVD and Blu-ray. The release will rightfully take its place alongside the outstanding Royal Opera Puccini DVDs of La Bohème, Tosca (on EMI) and Il Trittico. American Lise Lindstrom is one of the very few contemporary Turandots who can genuinely sing this ‘killer’ role, and is supported by a touching Liù from Japanese soprano Eri Nakamura and an unashamedly Italianite Calaf from Marco Berti. The young Hungarian conductor Henrik Nánási directs the large orchestra and all-important chorus.

Reviews

"The production is in good health and the revival, directed by Andrew Sinclair, was as crisp and involving as ever." (Opera Today)

"Set in ancient China, this is a production that never dates. The massive sets, dramatic lighting, scene-setting oriental choreography and glorious costumes offer a sumptuous visual treat. Just add Puccini's wonderfully emotional music and some exceptionally fine singing, and it adds up to a wholly satisfying experience." (The Daily Express)

"Andrei Serban's 1984 production of Turandot, with its fearsome Chinese masks and dragons, flashing swords and blood reds, spectacularly captures the aestheticised cruelty of Puccini's work. That it does so as vibrantly as ever in its 15th revival (directed by Andrew Sinclair) is largely due to the ongoing involvement of the original designer (Sally Jacobs) and choreographer (Kate Flatt)." (Evening Standard)

"The stage presence and immensely powerful voice of the American soprano Lise Lindstrom made the elusive Turandot the magnetic force that she needs to be. A willowy and imposing figure, possessing a voice replete with brilliance and focus – and without excessive wobble – Lindstrom is a fast-rising star of the dramatic soprano repertory and absolutely one to watch." (The Independent)

"The superb Italian tenor Marco Berti [...] is the physical and vocal embodiment of implacability, reinforcing his resolve with such astonishing volume you fear for his vocal cords – and the crockery. Equally determined is American soprano Lise Lindstrom, making her Covent Garden debut ... She is a complete match for Berti, bringing a suitably icy edge to her upper register as the thrilling riddle scene unfolds – just one of the many moments of high drama that punctuate Puccini's most coherent and ambitious score, each episode dressed in the startling orchestral colours of marimba, xylophone and gongs vast and small." (The Observer ★★★★)