The Washington National Opera presents a revamped production of ‘Turandot,’ featuring a reimagined ending and modern visual elements, to offer audiences a more empowering and contemporary interpretation of this classic opera.
The Washington National Opera (WNO) at the Kennedy Center has unveiled a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot,” directed by Francesca Zambello. This production, running through May 25, features both visual and vocal enhancements, and includes a newly composed ending by Christopher Tin and Susan Soon He Stanton. The opera, which originally premiered in 1926, lacked a completed finale due to Puccini’s death in 1924, leaving the ending ambiguous and traditionally filled by Franco Alfano.
The new WNO production attempts to provide a more empowering and believable conclusion, deviating from Alfano’s version. The show features a notable performance by Polish soprano Ewa Plonka as Turandot and South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee as Calaf. In addition to the 274 performers involved, the production incorporates modern visual elements designed by Wilson Chin and S. Katy Tucker, which include industrial settings and projections that augment the narrative depth.
Conducted by Speranza Scappucci, the opera’s musical direction complements the revised narrative, aimed at delivering a fresh interpretation of Puccini’s score. This reimagined “Turandot” not only strives to resonate with contemporary audiences through its updated music and storyline but also through its more dynamic staging and character development.
