Puccini: Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera

This is tremendous production. The singing (with the exception of the emperor) is top notch. The acting is emotional. The music and the chorus were all fantastic. Despite being recorded live, the sound quality is as clear as a studio recording.The first thing that is very gratifying about this DVD is the SUBTITLES!!! Holy s***! THE FIRST opera that I've watched, whether live or from a recording, that literally translate ALL of the librettos and follow closely with the singing. The English translation isn't perfect, some liberties were taken to make sure the non-Italian speaking audience understands, but they are close enough. This really made the viewing significantly easier and smoother. Because with the translation I can see just how beautifully written the libretto was. I never understood why people object to subtitles. But this time, it has been done right!The set is also fabulous, and unlike other versions of Turandot, the set and the acting pretty much all directly corresponded to the meaning of the libretto, so it makes it easier to understand and made the performance more natural. I only wished that Domingo had done this performance much younger than in this production. Here he is already entering the 50s, so age-wise not really suited for Calaf anymore. You can also tell that he has sung this role way too many times already because he has a bit of a smugness for the role. Whereas in his earlier year performances (e.g. 1982 in La Scala), there was a bit of uneasiness and more focus and passion, and also the acting is a little bit more physical, which suited the character of Calaf better. Whereas here Domingo has this smirk at times, which is fine but I just like his younger year performances better without it. But his singing is fantastic as always--gentle phrasing on the language, smooth transitions and powerful ring of voice resolves in velvet-like softness. Eva Marton is very good as Turandot, she also closely follows the character of Turandot as written. Her acting is not always natural but she does all of the emotional spectrum, unlike other performances of Turandot that I've seen which tend to be more stale. Marton's chemistry with Domingo is also smoking! Leona Mitchel is also great as Liu. The other main casts all sang their parts excellently. Especially to note are the three tenors who sang ping pong and pang. Best trio from any performances that I've heard. Top-notch singers who harmonized perfectly.A couple of minor complaints:Although I know that it's an opera set in a fictional China, I still wish that they at least stick to some fundamentally known style of costumes. Why is the emperor in black and wearing the clothes of an official? Is he supposed to be mourning or something? Which doesn't make sense since even the libretto tells you that the color of mourning in China is white not black. The emperor always wear golden color unless you are talking about extremely early dynasties, which then wouldn't match the rest of the set and costumes, or when the story supposedly has taken place. The set designer also seemed to confuse what the emperor is suppose to wear on his head. As two people (I'm not sure what they were supposed to be) standing slightly lower than the emperor actually wear the emperor's crown, whereas the emperor wears the official's head piece. It's just totally laughable to me, a Chinese, while watching this.The emperor's singing was just bad. The singer portrayed an emperor shaking in his boots the whole time. Okay, I know that it's fictional and that supposedly even the emperor is a bit wary of the princess, but still, seriously? The emperor of China acting like a weasel old man? Unless the libretto specifically mentions it (it doesn't), it's just not how it's supposed to be. The emperor of China is supposed to be glorious and divine. I like the La Scala version of the emperor, and even with that one the emperor still looks a bit too humbled. But the bottom line is, the way he acted in this production seriously compromised his singing, which I find to be the worst thing you can do.But if you like Turandot, I really do think that you should take a look at this one. It's quite a fantastic production overall. I wished that I would have seen it live. But I'm grateful for this recording to enter my collection.

The sound could have been better, but the staging, costumes, and performances were great. I thought Mario Lanza's "Nessun Dorma" was underwhelming.

Ever since my taste in music did a 180 and all I now listen to is classical music, I have been in love with nessun dorma. One of my newer recordings had this breathtaking climax of music that turned out to be the Turandot's first act closing. That sealed it for me, I had to see the opera. My PBS station aired it and I recorded it. In replaying it, just as Turandot entered for her first scene, a previously set program came on and that was the end of that recording of Turandot. All that was left to do was purchase it. Upon arrival I opened the DVD, trying not to use my teeth to get the wrapping off, then sat back in comfort to watch Turandot. It was everything I could have hoped for. My ruined recording was a Franco Zeffirelli production but all that was available was an earlier Zeffirelli production, but as a consolation prize, I got Placido Domingo. Sublime.As a plot line, Turandot's refusal to gracefully accept her loss and live up to her bargain made me want to somehow slap her silly face, but since one cannot do that, I tried to ignore that part of the story. When that happens I know the author has done well.

There are many versions of operas in Youtube. Some are excellent, others should not have been posted.Turandot included. The metropolitan I selected with Eva Marton, Placido Domingo and others is simplyand extraordinary of upmost talent in all the aspects of the opera gendre, singing, staging, choreography, etc.This version has the possibility of captioning subtitles in various languages which help people understandand follow this simple but extremely powerful believable plot!

Fellini, Moran and Domingo make Turandot what it should be and almost never is: a grand dramatic opera with lyric moments, rather than the other way around. Domingo's Nessum Dorma is far from the best, but the rest of his performance is revieting.

This is a massive opera with big sets and nearly continuous choral music. The solo arias are lost in the music. There is one real solo aria in it.The disk is good. The sound is good, although some singing seems drowned out--you see lips moving but no sound coming out.

Opera is inspiring, when it’s great.

1. Hope...I hope you will buy this dvd. One of the best opera that I have seen on DVD.2. Blood...This cast has passion. Levine is divine. Domingo is a strong Calaf with a dramatic voice that soars over Puccini's masterpiece. His acting is tremendous as usuall. Mitchell is the bonus of this great cast. She sings flawlessly and one of the best Liu I have heard.3. Turandot...Eva Marton might not be the best Turandot, but that does not matter. When she and Domingo were singing in act III it was magic. When she was shedding tears while singing my heart palpitated to a renewed passion of why I loved Opera to begin with. My eyes and ears where glued to my home theater. For all I care Marton and Domingo could have cracked their voices and it would have not mattered to me a bit, cause folks the stars were alligned right over the Met that night. I have not seen Metha's version of the Turandot, but this is the best Turandot I have seen so far.

This is one of the classic productions of Turandot. Spectacularly designed by Franco Zeferelli, Domingo is in great voice and the Met Orchestra has never sounded better.

美しいメロディーに加え、プッチーニの想像力＆創造力に感銘。配役もそれぞれに良く非常に楽しめた。

This is a very fine production from that director of spectacle and splendour: the famed Franco Zeffirelli. The lead singers are magnificent both showing they are up to the considerable challenges. Placido Domingo's smooth yet powerful voice is compelling throughout. Not only did Eva Marton (as Turandot) cope well with the demanding vocals but her high acting standard provided double the delight . I would also highlight the considerable contribution provided by Leona Mitchell (as Liu) who gave her fine voice the plaintive quality required. The big highlight, of course, is 'Nessun Dorma' and Domingo's marvellous rendition greatly impressed.

Puccini's Turandot is one of my favourite operas, but rarely I find a dazzling production with excellent performers. This performance is one of them. Firstly, Zeffirelli's production is the best production ever made for Turandot, with awesome settings and costumes by any aspect. Secondly, the performers are amazing; Eva Marton is the best Turandot I have ever seen and heard (both on CD and DVD) and Placido Domingo is a great Calaf. Leona Mitchell is a wonderful Liu -because of her magical singing and acting . The Metropolitan Chorus sings with so much intensity and passion the choruses and James Levine conducts so good! So, if you're an Opera fan this is an essential you musn't miss!

I just can't fault this. Really really good, I love it. The production from Deutsche Gramaphone is brilliant, the voices are very how do you say, come from the depths, and if you are into loud music, well, this is your DVD. All I can say is Buy It!!! and Amazon is very good at getting goods to you, just make sure that they have the European No 2 Region or you won't be able to play it. Mine waqs No 1, but I have a No 1 PC so I backed it up to an MP4 thanks to E-Z software, Enjoy