Puccini classic a winner

Following their highly acclaimed series of Wagner's epic stage works in '˜concert performances', Opera North this year offer Puccini's spectacular Turandot in a similar format.
PERFORMANCE: Opera North's Turandot. PICTURES TRISTRAM KENTON.PERFORMANCE: Opera North's Turandot. PICTURES TRISTRAM KENTON.
PERFORMANCE: Opera North's Turandot. PICTURES TRISTRAM KENTON.

The major change came with a new producer, Annabel Arden, who dispensed with the three large screens at the back of the stage that had carried video images of the scene; the story in words, and an English libretto translation, and were the corner-stone on which Opera North’s incredible Wagner success was built.

That said, Arden has the cast dressed in costume to act on the apron stage, and there’s room for a full symphony orchestra with its massive battery of percussion, directed by one of our finest opera conductors, Richard Armstrong.

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Vocally it was an enormous success, with Rafael Rojas as thrilling as any tenor around today as the Calaf; Sunyoung Seo a sublime Liu, and three amusing Chinese Government Officials from Gavan Ring, Joseph Shovelton and Nicholas Watts.

Turandot does not sing until the opera is half over, but then has
two massive arias, Orla Boylan proving that she has the vocal resources to thrill an audience. Add the superb chorus to complete the line-up.

Puccini never finished the opera, and neither did I complete this review, having succumbed to the heat in the Town Hall.

There are two further Leeds Town Hall performances on May 12 at 7.30pm and May 14 at 4pm.