Opera review - Turandot, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome
Although 17 years old, this production of Turandot has a remarkable freshness and relevance for today's audience, as it is set in a totalitarian regime where human life is of little value.
Turandot - Welsh National Opera
Birmingham Hippodrome
Theatre review by Jerald Smith
Although 17 years old, this production of Turandot has a remarkable freshness and relevance for today's audience, as it is set in a totalitarian regime where human life is of little value.
Princess Turandot poses potential husbands three riddles. Failing to get the right answers means death.
Will long-lost king's son Calaf, dazzled by her beauty, succeed in his attempt to solve the perilous puzzles?
Gwyn Hughes Jones makes an impressive Calaf. He has developed enormously in the last two seasons and delivers a splendid version of the world's best-known operatic aria, Nessun dorma.
In the title role, Anna Shafajinskaia gives a steely-hearted portrayal of the vengeful princess.
Rebecca Evans provides a poignant performance as slave girl Liu and there are some nice comic touches from David Stout, Philip Lloyd Holtam and Huw Llewelyn as court officials Ping, Pang and Pong.
Conductor Lothar Koenigs draws a full-blooded account of Puccini's glorious music to match the on-stage passion.
Turandot is repeated on Friday, while Cosi fan tutte plays Thursday and Saturday.
