Charles Duprat / OnP

Opera

Turandot

Giacomo Puccini

Opéra Bastille

from 06 to 29 November 2023

2h30 with 1 interval

Turandot

Opéra Bastille - from 06 to 29 November 2023

Synopsis

Listen to the synopsis

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In Peking, a princess renowned for her beauty submits her suitors to three riddles. The prince who manages to solve them will win her hand and the throne. Alas, so far, all have failed and suffered the implacable punishment: death. Will young Calaf succeed? Inspired by Carlo Gozzi's fable, itself drawing on several sources including the Thousand and One Nights, Puccini's last opera revives the oriental atmosphere already present in Madama Butterfly. But in 1924, the year in which the composer died leaving his score unfinished, his writing had grown in modernity, without losing any of its melodic inspiration, as illustrated by the famous aria "Nessun dorma". The references to Asia could not fail to appeal to Robert Wilson, whose aesthetic draws on Japanese Noh theatre. His sparse staging, interspersed with touches of commedia dell'arte, offers striking and hypnotic images.

Duration : 2h30 with 1 interval

Language : Italian

Surtitle : French / English

  • Opening

  • First part 80 min

  • Intermission 30 min

  • Second part 40 min

  • End

Show acts and characters

CHARACTERS

Turandot: Princess of China
Altoum:  Emperor of China, her father
Timur:  Exiled king of Tartary
Calaf:  The “unknown prince”, his son
Liù:  Slave girl, Timur’s guide
Ping: Grand Chancellor of China
Pang:  Grand Master of provisions
Pong:  Grand Master of the Imperial kitchens

Act 1:
A SQUARE BEFORE THE PALACE OF TURANDOT IN PEKING
A mandarin tells the crowd of the decree according to which Princess Turandot will marry the man, who, born of royal blood, succeeds in solving the three riddles which she puts to him. Anyone who fails is decapitated. The Prince of Persia, like so many before him, has not been able to find the solution to these riddles. He will therefore be executed. The guards endeavour to keep back the overexcited throng and in the crush an old man is thrown to the ground and would be trampled underfoot if it were not for the young girl who is accompanying him, who manages to protect him. A young man cornes forward to help them and recognises the old man as his father, Timur, the dethroned Tartar king. Calaf then hears how Timur has fled his country and owes his salvation to Liù, a slave girl, who has devoted herself to him through love for the prince, who once smiled upon her. Ali three decide to continue to remain in hiding. The bloody rite cannot be accomplished before the moon rises. As it does the crowd becomes elated and the victim appears. The prince is so young and so handsome that the mood of populace changes and they beg for mercy. Turandot appears, silences thecrowd with a gesture and orders the execution. This brief vision is enough for Calaf to fall hopelessly in love. Despite Timur's entreaties, he advances towards the gong which must be sounded three times to announce that a new prince is ready to face the test. The three ministers, Ping, Pang and Pong remind him of the vanity of love and the sweetness of life. Liù reminds him with humility of her love for him, but nothing can persuade him. Calaf rushes upon the gong and it sounds the fatal three times.

Act 2:
FIRST SCENE: THE KITCHEN IN THE PALACE
Ping, Pang and Pong are making the symbolic preparation with the two possible hypotheses in view: a wedding or another execution. They evoke Turandot's riddles and her victims in a half-tragic, half-comic tone. They start to dream of a happy outcome, of Turandot in love at last, and of a return of peace to the country.

SECOND SCENE: THE TOMB OF LO-OU-LING
The Emperor, Turandot's father, tries to dissuade Calaf and expresses the aversion he feels for these repeated sacrifices. But Calaf is unbending. Turandot then appears. She explains at length the reasons for the bloody practice: a female ancestor of hers was once abducted and raped by a foreign prince, who devastated the realm. It is to avenge herself that Turandot has sworn never to love, never to give herself to a man and to see all those who try to conquer her perish. She exhorts the unknown prince to withdraw. Calaf refuses. Turandot then poses the first riddle: « In the darkness ofthe night, a phantom spreads his wings over humanity. All invoke him, ail implore him. But the phantom disappears with the dawn to be reborn in the hearts of men. Each night, he is born, and each day he dies ». Calaf finds the answer: « Hope ». This answer is confirmed by the sages who hold the rolls of truth. Turandot then pronounces the second riddle: « lt quivers like a flame, but it is not a flame. Sometimes ardent, sometimes languid, it turns cold when one dies but flares up when one dreams of conquest ». Calaf hesitates, then finds the answer: « Blood». The sages give their confirmation. Turandot is troubled and the crowd rejoices. The princess pronounces the last riddle: « What is the ice that inflames you, but becomes icier still before your flame? ». Calaf would seem to be lost and Turandot exults, but the prince takes a grip of himself and gives the third answer: « Turandot ». The crowd is mad with joy, but Turandot begs her father to free her from her oath and not to deliver her up to the unknown prince. The Emperor is unbending, but Calaf himself cornes to the princess's aid. He proposes a single riddle: to discover who he is before dawn. If she can discover the answer, he will die,otherwise, she will be his.

Act 3:
FIRST SCENE: THE PEOPLE'S QUARTER
No one can sleep this night. Across the city can be heard the echo of the proclamations made in the name of the princess, who is seeking to discover the identity of the unknown prince. Ping, Pang and Pong inform Calaf that torture and terror reign. The three ministers try to drag his secret out of him. Timur and Liù are brought in. They have been seen speaking with the prince and are suspected of complicity. The old man is ill-treated, but Liù affirms that she alone knows the secret. The two women confront each other. Manhandled and tortured, Liù keeps her secret and replies to Turandot, who asks her from where she derives her strength, « from love». The young slave girl assures the princess that one day she too will be moved by love, then, seizing a dagger, she kills herself, so as to be sure not to betray Calaf.

SECOND SCENE: A ROOM IN THE PALACE
Calaf throws himself at Turandot. The princess's resistance gradually weakens. Calaf, who is now sure of victory, reveals his name to her just before the breaking of the dawn. He thus puts his life in Turandot's hands. She calls for the people to assemble. The crowd awaits Turandot's announcement. She declares that she knows the name of the stranger: « his name is Love ». The crowd breaks out into a jubilant chorus, celebrating the power of love...

Artists

Opera in three acts and five scenes

After Carlo Gozzi La Fiaba cinese teatrale tragicomica

Creative team

Cast

Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine / Chœur d’enfants de l’Opéra national de Paris

A coproduction with the Teatro Real, Madrid, the Lithuanian national Opera and Ballet, Vilnius, the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto, and the Houston Grand Opera, Houston

Media

[TRAILER] TURANDOT by Giacomo Puccini
[TRAILER] TURANDOT by Giacomo Puccini
  • Podcast Turandot

    Podcast Turandot

    Listen the podcast

  • Draw-me Turandot

    Draw-me Turandot

    Watch the video

© Javier del Real | Teatro Real

Podcast Turandot

Listen the podcast

"Dance! Sing! 7 minutes at the Paris Opera" - by France Musique

07 min

Podcast Turandot

By Charlotte Landru-Chandès

"Dance! Sing! 7 minutes at the Paris Opera" offers original incursions into the season thanks to broadcasts produced by France Musique and the Paris Opera. For each opera or ballet production, Charlotte Landru-Chandès (opera) and Jean-Baptiste Urbain (dance), present the works and artists you are going to discover when you attend performances in our theatres.

Draw-me Turandot

Watch the video

Understand the plot in 1 minute

1:55 min

Draw-me Turandot

By Matthieu Pajot

25 years after directing Madama Butterfly, today still one of the most acclaimed productions in the Opera’s repertoire, Robert Wilson returns to Puccini, this time with Turandot, the Italian composer’s final masterpiece. The pared down minimalist sets and the lighting compositions, so quintessential to the director’s perspective, lend themselves perfectly to the saga of the cruel Princess, daughter of the emperor of an immemorial China. The production is built as a series of tableaux, each borrowed directly from Noh theatre whose ritualised gestures magnify group scenes or bring a hint of burlesque as is the case with the comic trio, Ping, Pang and Pong.

  • [DEBRIEF] Vos impressions sur TURANDOT de Puccini
  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT de Giacomo Puccini ("Nessun dorma" - Brian Jagde)
  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT de Giacomo Puccini ("O giovinetto" - Brian Jadge)
  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT de Giacomo Puccini ("In questa reggia" - Tamara Wilson)
  • [EXTRAIT] TURANDOT de Giacomo Puccini ("Tanto amore" - Ermonela Jaho)
  • Turandot (saison 23/24) - Acte 3 Air Liu Mort De Liu Tanto Amore

  • Turandot (saison 23/24) - Acte 3 Air Calaf Nessum Dorma

  • Turandot (saison 23/24) - Acte 2 Air Turandot Calaf Enigme Straniero, Ascolta

  • Turandot (saison 23/24) - Acte 2 Air Turandot In Questa Reggia

  • Turandot (saison 23/24) - Acte 1 Choeur Calaf O Giovinetto

Press

  • With a wonderful production, and a flamboyant orchestral direction, the latest Paris Opera creation celebrates Puccini's work, the singers and the choirs.

    Artistikrezo, 2021
  • As usual, Robert Wilson and his team and his team have created a show of striking beauty.

    Les Echos

Access and services

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot
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Imagined as benchmark, richly illustrated booklets, the programmes can be bought online, at the box offices, in our shops, and in the theatres hall on the evening of the performance.      

BUY THE PROGRAM
  • Cloakrooms

    Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.

  • Bars

    Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.

  • Parking

    You can park your car at the Q-Park Opéra Bastille. It is located at 34 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris. 

    BOOK YOUR PARKING PLACE.

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot
super alt text
super alt text
super alt text
super alt text

Imagined as benchmark, richly illustrated booklets, the programmes can be bought online, at the box offices, in our shops, and in the theatres hall on the evening of the performance.      

BUY THE PROGRAM
  • Cloakrooms

    Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.

  • Bars

    Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.

  • Parking

    You can park your car at the Q-Park Opéra Bastille. It is located at 34 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris. 

    BOOK YOUR PARKING PLACE.

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

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3 min

Turandot

Turandot in 5 costumes

Turandot is an opera by Puccini set during the Middle Age in an exotic, imaginary China. Let me tell you this story with 5 essential costumes of this opera.

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