This production, from San Francisco Opera, suffers from the considerable handicap of being designed by David Hockney. The sets and costumes are in garish primary colours like a comic strip or a Hammer horror film. Halfway through the first act I turned my television to monochrome so that I could continue to watch and listen to this, otherwise excellent, production.
Michael Sylvester, who is new to me, sings the role of Calaf as well as I have ever heard it. Lucia Mazzaria as Liù and Kevin Langan as Timur are also very strong. Ping, Pang and Pong are well sung but it was difficult to distinguish between them because of the silly costumes and clowns' faces that Hockney gives them.
Eva Marton as Turandot is perhaps not in her best form vocally. However, she more than makes up for this in her acting performance. This is an unusual interpretation of Turandot because Marton makes it clear from the moment she sees Calaf that she is besotted with him. When she poses the three riddles, you can tell that she is willing him to get them right. In the final scene when, she succumbs to Calaf, most Turandot's signify it with a decorous peck on the cheek but with Marton it is a passionate kiss. Brian Large, the doyen of opera film directors captures all these details beautifully.
Michael Sylvester, who is new to me, sings the role of Calaf as well as I have ever heard it. Lucia Mazzaria as Liù and Kevin Langan as Timur are also very strong. Ping, Pang and Pong are well sung but it was difficult to distinguish between them because of the silly costumes and clowns' faces that Hockney gives them.
Eva Marton as Turandot is perhaps not in her best form vocally. However, she more than makes up for this in her acting performance. This is an unusual interpretation of Turandot because Marton makes it clear from the moment she sees Calaf that she is besotted with him. When she poses the three riddles, you can tell that she is willing him to get them right. In the final scene when, she succumbs to Calaf, most Turandot's signify it with a decorous peck on the cheek but with Marton it is a passionate kiss. Brian Large, the doyen of opera film directors captures all these details beautifully.