Turandot at the Forbidden City is a 1998 live production of Puccini's opera Turandot directed by Zhang Yimou. The opera was performed by Giovanna Casolla, Audrey Stottler, and Sharon Sweet alternating as Princess Turandot; Kristján Jóhannsson, Sergej Larin and Lando Bartolini as Calàf; and Barbara Frittoli, Angela-Maria Blasi and Barbara Hendricks as Liù, with Zubin Mehta conducting the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
Production
Zhang Yimou's 500+ extras in Ming dynasty costumes.
Cinematography
The actual Forbidden City glowering behind every aria.
Direction
Zubin Mehta wrangling acoustics in an outdoor stone palace.
Director
Hugo Käch
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Puccini died before finishing the final scene; Franco Alfano completed it from sketches, though some productions now use Luciano Berio's darker 2001 ending.
This 1998 production was the first Western opera performed in the Forbidden City since the Cultural Revolution banned such 'bourgeois' art.
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