| This season at Lyric Opera of Chicago the | | | | arias. Though the movement between the arias is |
| company is performing Puccini's masterpiece | | | | almost seamless the dramatic structure of the |
| Turandot. Without question this is Puccini's | | | | plots make it so. Turandot is not a patchwork. |
| greatest work and thus requires the maximum | | | | This is the most Wagnerian of his pieces and all of |
| effort from all parties. | | | | the music is developed out of a larger fabric of |
| The story takes place in ancient China where the | | | | music from which Puccini draws. Therefore, you |
| beautiful and cruel princess Turnadot is sought | | | | never go from aria to aria in a void but rather are |
| after by pricess from other lands for her hand. | | | | lead down the path both musically and |
| However, to have her hand you must answer | | | | dramatically. The entire work has continuity like no |
| three very complicated riddles, if you fail any of | | | | other opera ever written. |
| the three your head will be cut off. Thus far no | | | | Musically one could write for hours, however, I |
| one has been able to take her hand until the | | | | would like to mention the end of Act I. This music |
| appearance of Calaf, prince of Tartary come to | | | | in my estimation is perhaps the finest music ever |
| fore. In exquisite song and memorable acting skill | | | | penned. It is so rich, intuitive, and right for the |
| Calaf answers the riddles and wins the heart of | | | | scene that it impossible to imagine any other |
| Turandot. | | | | music for the part, in particular at the high point |
| Of all of Puccini works this is his greatest. Without | | | | when Calaf strikes the gong. Puccini is able like no |
| going into the technical easpects of the work I | | | | other person to take you from this high point and |
| would like to focus on the general aspects of the | | | | bring you to yet a higher plane and successfully. |
| piece and Lyric's masterful handling of it. | | | | The music only builds on itself and never become |
| Unlike any opera Turandot is unique in that it | | | | redundant. If you listen carefully you can hear the |
| combines every aspect of comic and dramatic | | | | counterpoint to Um Ball Di in the trio. More |
| theatre with music that matches. This is truly a | | | | carefully written is the scoring for percussion |
| muisco-dramatic work like no other. There are so | | | | which gives way to the timpani on the third |
| many fine elements that I would like to touch on | | | | refrain of the aria. This is a true masterstroke of |
| but I will focus on the most important. | | | | musical skill. |
| Up until this point in Puccini's development his | | | | In closing I highly recommend Lyric's outstanding |
| opers were a very smooth but patchwork of | | | | performance this season for Puccini's Turnadot. |