On April 30, 2021 the premiere of the legendary opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini is to be held at the Great Hall of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. Spectators will see the opera in its French version staged by Opéra de Marseille. The baton will be held by Pavel Smelkov, Principal Conductor of the Primorsky Stage.
Turandot (1926) is the final opera by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, which became one of the most popular compositions of the 20th century. The libretto is based on Count Carlo Gozzi’s Chinese-style play; the scene is laid in the Imperial Palace in Peking. The cold princess Turandot ruined suitors who could not solve her three riddles. Many suitors were killed before the mysterious prince Calaf appeared.
At the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre Turandot will be represented in its French version staged by Charles Roubaud and designed by Isabelle Partiot-Pieri. “I wanted to depict relations between Calaf and Turandot and primarily the transformation of Turandot who opened love and who accepted it”, said the stage director about his conception. The large-scale design is produced with both realistic and symbolic patterns and complemented with historical Chinese costumes.
On April 30, 2021 the main parties will be performed by the soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre from Saint Petersburg Yekaterina Shimanovich and Akhmed Agadi and leading singers of the Primorsky Stage. On May 2, 2021 the party of Turandot will be performed by Alena Diyanova, of Calaf – by Mergen Sandanov. At the premiere performances the baton will be held by Pavel Smelkov, Principal Conductor of the Mariinsky Orchestra of the Primorsky Stage.
