Puccini: Turandot

Turandot was Giacomo Puccini's last opera, set to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, and was left incomplete when the composer died. The opera was completed by another Italian composer, Franco Alfano.

The opera received its first two performances at La Scala Milan: on 25 April 1926, only Puccini's music was performed, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The following evening, 26 April 1926, the complete opera was performed, with Alfano's additions, led (probably) by Toscanini or by the Argentinian conductor and composer Ettore Panizza.

Puccini's version of the story is set in China, and up to eight of the opera's themes and tunes appear to be settings of traditional Chinese melodies. The opera quickly became popular in the west. It was banned in China until the late 1990s because the government there felt that it portrayed Chinese people unfavourably.

 

A selection of articles about Puccini: Turandot

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Ensemble. Two Performances of 'Turandot' in Rome - Giuseppe Pennisi attended one and saw the other on TV

Ensemble. 'Music Makes a Town' - Anett Fodor reports from the opening gala of the 2019 Bartók Plus Opera Festival

Ensemble. Extreme Staging - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from Palermo on the opening of Teatro Massimo's 2019 opera season

Ensemble. Bold and Daring - Contrasting Busoni and Puccini in Cagliari, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Profile. Magical Transformation - Ron Bierman talks to the American dramatic soprano Lise Lindstrom during rehearsals for Puccini's 'Turandot' at San Diego Opera

Ensemble. Psychoanalysis and 'Turandot' - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from the Macerata Opera Festival

Ensemble. A Keen Interest - A new 'Turandot' at the Puccini Festival, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Turandot for Children - Giuseppe Pennisi investigates a Puccini production with one hundred and fifty performances in twelve months

Ensemble. An Asian Fairytale - Puccini's 'Turandot' live in HD from New York, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Far from Traditional - Puccini operas in Rome, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Good Sense - Turandot in Rome as written by Puccini, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. An Elegant Staging - Chinese National Opera's 'Turandot' on tour, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Asian Aid - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the 2011 Puccini Festival

Ensemble. A Smooth Delivery - Maria Nockin was at San Diego for Puccini's 'Turandot'

Ensemble. Opulent and Effective - Puccini's 'Turandot' in Arizona, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Wonderful Rendition - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West' at the movies impresses Maria Nockin

Performances to Remember - Maria Nockin looks forward to San Diego Opera's 2011 season

Ensemble. Growing Up - Hans Werner Henze's 'Pollicino' thrills children and adults in Florence, by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Almost a Transformation - David Rubinstein plays Busoni, heard by K C Devereaux. '... Rubenstein's hand is steady on the tiller.'

Ensemble. Opera in the Arena - Rebecca Schmid listens to Renée Fleming and the Berlin Philharmonic

Ensemble. Atmosphere is Everything - Weber's 'Der Freischütz', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Truly Memorable - A concert of arias at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. A Lyric Voice - Arias performed by Vania Vatralova-Stankov, reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... a richness and depth ...'

An Authentic Voice - Laura Kennelly visits Cleveland Ohio's latest opera company

CD Spotlight. Substantially Admirable - Vocal music by Puccini, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... more than sufficient ... to recommend unstintingly ...'

Ensemble. New Territory - An unusual version of Puccini's 'Turandot', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Limitless Combinatorics - Eric Pettine postulates 'No Shortage of Melodies Anytime Soon', and offers some real hope for cynical musicians who think they've heard it all

Ensemble. Dramatic Veracity - Puccini's 'Turandot' from St Louis, reviewed by Maria Nockin

DVD Spotlight. Terrifying Intensity - Puccini's 'Turandot', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... brimful of imagination ...'

Ensemble. Suspending disbelief? - 'Turandot' at Welsh National Opera, reviewed by Rex Harley

Ensemble - Fresh and engaging. Roderic Dunnett reports on Chisinau National Opera's 'Turandot'