Turandot [Blu-ray]

I have both this production on Blu-ray and the old Met version from 1987, both staged by Franco Zefirelli. Both have Italian subtitles. The new version was filmed at the Arena of Verona and is spectacular. But I prefer the older version: Eva Marton is really the ice-cold princess while Maria Guleghina looks not just like an old maid, but also like an old woman (Blu-ray shows a lot that might better remain unseen). Placido Domingo is a better actor, sure of himself as a man. Leona Mitchell is the better Liu, ready to die for her love, and her death is far more moving that that of Tamar Iveri.There are two awkward moments in the Verona production. The first one after Nessun Dorma: first the orchestra stops, then the public understands that they are supposed to applaud wildly, and they do; this seems pre-arranged to enable the tenor to get his fill of applause. The aria is then repeated. The second awkward moment is when Calaf kisses Turandot. He is a couple of inches shorter than she is, and he has to stand one step higher; in a position like that, you cannot expect much passion.All the same, I am glad that I bought this Blu-Ray disc; the stage here is wider than at the Met, and it is really spectacular!

I purchased this because I have bought other operas done in the same venue. The expansive setting was a wonder to behold, especially when the royal palace appears. Unbelievable gold and lighting of that set. So expansive. I have no arguments against any of the singing. I was only too happy let the prince answer the three questions. If I had to do so, I would have lost my head.When I purchase an opera, I look for the staging, sets, and the camera work as well as the singing/orchestra. This met all those criteria.

The setting, in the Arena di Verona, was spectacular, but the singing was not. It was good, but far from outstanding. The late Salvatore Licitra sang an encore of "Nessun Dorma" after a workmanlike rendition the first time through. It appeared to have been planned, as he and the conductor nodded agreement shortly into the ovation. The other principals were passable, Ping, Pang, and Pong barely so, and staging of the principals and chorus was static

Well sung, suitably spectacular Verona staging.

This is the same production that was used at the Met with Eva Marton and Placido Domingo in 1988 (i think), and later with Maria Guleghina who plays Turandot in this production as well.First things first, Maria dominates as Turandot, she may not be young and pretty like a princess should, but she has a set of lungs and a powerful voice to boot. She's not 100% prefect, but she definitely convinces and sells like she always does. The late Salvatore Licitra is Calaf, and pretty convincing one too, he delivers a Nessun Dorma worthy of tears, the only strange thing is the encore he did for the aria, being in America, I am not accustomed to seeing an aria encore, but nevertheless it's still wonderful the 2nd time around. Tamar Iveri is everything you want in Liu, shes touching, and delivers one of the most heart wrenching performances I've ever seen, and her death scene... whoo, let's stop before I start crying. Ping, Pang, and Pong well... They're always a treat to watch so there's no complaints for me.Now, onto the production, I absolutely have a guilty pleasure for Franco Zeffirelli's productions, and the good looking, muscular Prince of Persia in this and the stage version don't detract either ;) well... maybe a little because they're so good looking, but I'm not complaining. I feel this open space provides the perfect setting to Turandot, especially Zeffirelli's, the Met performances look just as stunning, but there is so much for that one stage that I felt it was all packed in and looked very claustrophobic, but was more intimate. The reveal of the palace in the 2nd act on stage is amazing, but here is it BREATHTAKING! It feels so much larger than the version used on stage because of this open space, the lighting, the costumes and everything in the 2nd act comes together perfectly. The Arena gave it a very spacious and grand appearance, the lighting was fantastic, and there were elements that were simplified due to the lack of the stage mechanics, such as:PRODUCTION SPOILER ALERT!!! (I guess it counts as a spoiler alert, I'm not sure if it counts in Opera productions...)1.) Turandot emerges from a balcony, as opposed to a rising Palace in the stage version.2.) Turandot's gown in the 2nd act's riddle scene is simpler, there are no poles with the flags like the stage version, these are unraveled and removed each time the riddles were solved.Among many others, that are too numerous to list.The open space gives a better look to the 3rd act's appearance, which looks a little too lackluster for Zeffirelli on stage, but here, it looks so much better, it takes place down in the village square in the first act, as opposed to an empty courtyard with 2 little towers on each side. It fits better since Turandot's soldiers and henchmen are heckling the villagers for Calaf's name, as opposed to the villagers all raiding a palace courtyard at night to see the action unfold.All in all, I feel this is a perfect version to own, it compliments the 2 released Met versions and it's enjoyable to see not only the performances, but the transition from stage to outdoor grandeur. Get it! It's incredible.

Just from the cover - Turandot, Maria Guleghina, the Arena Di Verona, and staged by Franco Zeffirelli - this DVD said "buy me" right off the bat. And was I ever grateful to receive it and pop it in my DVD player. It is excellent from start to finish.Puccini's music is captivating and emotionally draws the listener in, and conductor Giuliano Carella's interpretation is just fantastic. I was already familiar with Maria Guleghina's abilities, having seen her in a previous production of Turandot, but here performance here is filled with nuances that really enable the viewer to empathize with her, particularly when Liu meets her untimely end and Turandot realizes what she has really done. Salvatore Licitra's performance as Calaf is very, very good, and it was refreshing to see him doing an encore of the Nessun Dorma as he did it so well - this type of encore being something not often seen in the United States where I live. And I don't know where to begin talking about Tamar Iveri's performance as Liu. She is everything you would want in a Liu, and her death is heart wrenching. Ping, Pang, and Pong are a treat to watch, and the staging is just gorgeous.I enjoyed this production very much, and it will certainly be viewed on more than one occasion. Highly recommended!

This production certainly spectacular, performance at a very high level. The greatness of the arena, and Dziferelli's productions here is very organic. I like the sound recording - a convincing recording of what is happening in the open arena. If your equipment allow, you will hear very good realistic sound. This is not the clinical cleanliness of the studio and no pop singing with playback, but I like this sound verism. Video director Andy Sommer did the job perfectly. I saw all I wanted to see.I have not heard anywhere else Carlo Bossi, but here I really liked it. Perhaps for the passionate love Prince he was somewhat frigid, but, fortunately, his vocal ability is much better than his acting. I like Guleghina and no surprises here. Guleghina here I like more than on video with Mehta. Iveri in its place. Fragile or not - she sings well and is not unattractive.Turandot with Sutherland-Pavarotti-Mehta I will listen on CD, but I will watch this record, or Maazel-Domingo-Dimitrova (with terrible quality recording).Excuse me my English.

Great video and good performance. Impressive venue and setting.

What makes this version of Turandot a winner is the clarity of the image offered by the blu-ray disc and Franco Zeffirelli's wonderful staging of the opera. It is colourful, detailed, with excellent costumes and well directed, at least for the singers that have some acting ability. The voices are mediocre and there are other visual documents of this opera with far better singers. As a spectacle the only other version that compares favourably to this is the one filmed in the forbidden city of Peking, with Zubin Mehta conducting, but this is not in blu-ray and the image is not as good.

Sans savoir vraiment pourquoi, j'étais assez réticent pour acheter ce Blu-ray...La mise en scène de Bregenz m'avait marqué....Elle me paraissait bien plus inventive que celle de Vérone, ce qui explique sans doute mon hésitation...Et pourtant j'avais tort...La captation de Vérone est incontestablement l'une des plus belles de Turandot...Décors et costumes somptueux de Franco Zeffirelli, ...Cette production ressemble d'ailleurs beaucoup à celle que Zeffirelli avait imaginée pour le Métropolitain Opéra en 1988...Certes Maria Guleghina, au demeurant remarquable Turandot, chante souvent "fortissimo", il faut reconnaitre que le lieu si vaste s'y prête plus qu'un peu..Sans pour autant me faire oublier les prestations dans ce même rôle, Eva Marton, la Princesse Chinoise de Guleghina fait partie des plus convaincantes...Tamar Iveri est une Liù bien émouvante...Calaf admirablement bien campé par le regretté ténor Salvatoré Licitra... Quel dommage de "partir" si jeune, alors qu'une belle carrière lui semblait promise...Mais contrairement a ce que j'aie pu lire ici, je ne crois pas qu'il serait devenu pour autant l'équivalent d'un Pavarotti...Timur à la superbe voix de Luiz-Ottavio Faria... Ping; Leonardo Lopez Linares, Pong; Gianluca Bocchino, Pang; Saverio Fiore, tous trois excellents...Les chœurs sont splendides, et l'orchestre sous la direction de Paolo Facincani, l'est tout autant...La prise de son est admirable, on peut enfin entendre, comme jamais auparavant pour un Blu-ray, les divers pupitres de cette ultime et géniale partition de Puccini...Un formidable spectacle auquel répond un public enthousiaste et chaleureux, dans une ambiance festive..les nuits d'été à Vérone sont si belles.. Un Blu-ray que tous passionnés d'Opéras, notamment de ceux de Puccini, doivent avoir..

Eccezionale il suono in surraund 7.1! Ottimi gli interpreti per questo blu-ray da non perdere per nessuna ragione al mondo! Il Blu ray rispetto al DVD 5.1 canali offre indubbiamente una migliore qualità sonora, ma anche visiva per questo nobile ed irripetibile capolavoro della musica mondiale ed italiana. Bellissima l'interpretazione (Bissata) del tenore nella famosissima e sublime aria "nessun dorma" cavallo di battaglia del compianto Pavarotti.