The tale of a ruthless princess and a young suitor bewitched by her beauty, separated only by the answers to three riddles. To those who fail, death; to the one who succeeds, the Princess Turandot. A young stranger, Calàf, takes the challenge and wins the hand of the Princess. In order to win her love as well, Calàf proposes his own riddle: if Turandot can discover his name before dawn, Calàf will forfeit his life. ‘Nessun Dorma’, one of the most famous tenor arias ever written, accompanies this sleepless night. At first light, Turandot confronts Calàf, who impetuously kisses her. Overcome by love, Turandot weeps and declares she knows his name, ‘Amore’ (love). Calàf, sure he has won her heart, reveals his true identity.
Southam Hall/NAC
All performances 8:00 PM / Sung in Italian with English and French surtitles.
Guest Conductor - Andreas Delfs
Director - Brian Deedrick
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Join us for Pre-Opera Chats presented by Opera Lyra Ottawa Guild. Learn about the history of the opera,
its composer, and little known facts about the show you are about to see - Puccini's Turandot
Pre-Opera Chats are free and presented at 7 :00 pm before each mainstage performance
at the Southam Hall Mezzanine, NAC
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Turandot - Lori Phillips
Lori Phillips is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative dramatic soprano voices in the opera industry. The New York Times has her praised as "impressive with formidable vocal power". The May 2010 issue of Opera News said: "Lori Phillips was a terrific Brünnhilde: her voice started out in excellent form and kept getting better, her clarion upper register sending chills down one’s spine". This season she performs Turandot with the Portland Opera and Maddalena in Andrea Chenier with the Nashville Opera. Recent performances include Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer in concert with the Syracuse Symphony, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana with Opéra de Québec and Turandot with Opera Carolina, Opera Birmingham and the Chattanooga Symphony.
Liù - Shu-Ying Li
In the space of a few seasons, the Chinese American soprano, Shu-Ying Li, has become the most sought after interpreter Puccini’s Cio-cio-san in North America. Ms Li made her operatic debut as Madama Butterfly with Providence Opera in 2001. She sang the title role in the 2002 world premiere of Bun-Ching Lam’s Wenji in New York and later at the Hong Kong International Arts Festival. She also sang the Princess in Tan Dun’s new opera, Tea in Shanghai, returned to Hong Kong for Madama Butterfly and was the soprano soloist for the Beethoven 9th with the New York Choral Society.
Calàf - Richard Margison
Hailed for his ringing top notes and spine-tingling power, Richard Margison is one of the most critically acclaimed singers on the international stage today, performing regularly in many of the world’s leading opera houses. His 2010-2011 season celebrates his Canadian roots – following Turandot, he appears at the Opéra de Québec, the Manitoba Opera and the Canadian Opera Company, and in the spring undertakes a recital tour of British Columbia. Among his acclaimed recordings are Richard Margison Sings Verdi (CBC), Beethoven’s Fidelio (Chandos) and the recently released DVD of Tosca (Decca).
Timur -
Peter Volpe
Peter Volpe continually receives critical and popular acclaim possessing a vast and ever-expanding repertoire of over 80 roles in 6 languages. Of a recent portrayal as Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Opera News said "he managed to create in his single aria and scene an impressive dignity. His full-bodied bass and great candor of tone, together with his intelligent interpretation, won him a well-deserved ovation." In the 2009-2010 season and beyond, engagements include Idraote in Rossini's Armida at the Metropolitan Opera, Commendatore in Don Giovanni at Palm Beach Opera and Opera New Jersey, Timur in Turandot at Arizona Opera, Mephistopheles in Faust at Opera New Jersey and several productions at Arena di Verona in Italy including Aida, Turandot, Carmen and Il Trovatore.
Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus
National Arts Centre Orchestra
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