A ‘cleaner’ version of ‘Turandot’ opens Music Festival

Lu Jia, Giancarlo del Monaco and William Orlandi onstage

From October 1 to 4 the three act Opera “Turandot” by Giacomo Puccini will hit the stage of the Grand Auditorium of the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM). Conducted by the hand of Maestro Lu Jia leading the Macao Orchestra, and staging the production the world-renowned producer Giancarlo del Monaco and stage and costume designer William Orlandi, the production is set to be a great show.
The opera tells the story of Turandot, a beautiful Chinese princess who tests her suitors using three riddles. Only the one who can answer the riddles correctly can marry her, those who fail will face death.
The producer Giancarlo del Monaco in a meeting yesterday with the press explained that the show, which will open the 30th Macao International Music Festival, is a special version of the opera of Puccini “cleaned from the usual exaggeration of Chinese elements that we usually see in other productions of Turandot.” He added that most of the time this opera is presented with “too much Chinoiserie.”
Del Monaco revealed that this story has a clear tribute moment to its original author, Giacomo Puccini, who died before being able to finish it.
“The moment will clearly be marked on stage with a blackout and the appearance of a photograph of Puccini together with white chrysanthemum flowers and an evocative message,” he noted, explaining that the remainder of the show following the moment will be the section completed by Franco Alfano.
A confessed “long time friend” of Maestro Lu Jia, Music Director and Principal Conductor of Macao Orchestra del Monaco remarked during the backstage tour, “conditions are gathered for a great show.” Highlighting the cooperative efforts among the several parties involved, he added, “Maestro Lu Jia is responsible for what you will hear and I’m responsible for what you will see.”
The stage design and the lighting are also important parts of the show, as del Monaco explained, “the light [in the show] will materialize and be part of the scenography.” Big importance was given to the wardrobe and the use of colorful masks that will contrast with the black background,” del Monaco added.
Stage and costume designer William Orlandi remarked that the idea of creating a “clean” version with only the essential elements on stage was developed to highlight the importance of these elements to the story: “The Stairway, Chinese art elements that resemble the main gate of the forbidden city, and the Chinese imperial throne are essential.” Orlandi also revealed several details regarding the production of the costumes, all designed by him and produced locally in a Hong Kong atelier where he often works.
Tickets for the four Turandot performances are already sold out.