The Israeli Opera announces that performances of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot will take place from June 30 – July 12, 2025. Originally scheduled to open on June 24th, the war put a halt to rehearsals. International opera soloists, who had come to Israel to perform in Turandot, elected to remain here for the duration, and experienced the war in Israel together with us all. Once it was possible to begin rehearsals once more, all 200 participants in the opera – soloists, musicians, dancers, chorus members, and actors, began intensive rehearsals. It is thanks to their efforts that the opera will open with only a slight delay.
Directed by Andrei Serban and conducted by Dan Ettinger, Turandot is produced in association with the Royal Opera House in London. Serban’s staging of Turandot was originally created for the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and has been performed at Covent Garden many times since, with the most recent revival in March 2025, to critical accolades. The revival director at the Israeli Opera is Gadi Schechter.
Turandot was Puccini’s final opera; he died in 1924 before finishing the third act. The music was completed by Franco Alfano and the opera premiered in 1926. The world of Turandot is one of folklore and mythology, the tale of a stern and cold-hearted princess who sets her suitors an almost impossible task: solve the riddle or be put to death. The libretto by Guiseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, draws inspiration from several adaptations of a short story by François Pétis de la Croix published in 1722, in the volume Les Milles et un jours. His story in turn, may possibly have been inspired by Haft Peykar, a 12th century epic by the Persian poet Nizami, which also has a story of a princess. Puccini’s Turandot is set in China, and in composing the opera he researched Chinese melodies and folk tunes, and these influenced the music of the opera. The most popular aria of the opera is Nessun Dorma, which is perhaps one of the best-known arias worldwide. It is sung by Calaf, the mysterious suitor. Unlike all those who came before him, he has succeeded in solving the riddles set by the Princess. Yet she still recoils at the thought of marrying him, so he offers her a riddle of his own. If she guesses his name by dawn, he will die, but if she cannot guess his name, she must marry him. At night, when all in the palace are asleep, Calaf sings Nessun Dorma, which, memorably ends on the word: Vincerò!
Serban’s staging sets the mood with elaborate Chinese costumes and masks, with choreography by Kate Flatt, and revival choreographer is Alexandra Bareggi. Soloists in the opera are: Elena Mikhailenko and Oksana Nosatova alternating as Turandot; Mikhail Pirogov and Aleksandrs Antonenko alternating as Calaf; Alla Vasilevitsky and Yael Levita alternating as Liu; Insung Sim and Goderdzi Janelidze alternating as Timur; Oded Reich as Ping; Chuan Wang as Pang; Anthony Webb as Pong; Eitan Drori and Adi Ezra alternating as Altoum; Kirill Odintsov and Pnini Leon Grubner alternating as Mandarino.
Performances will take place: Tuesday, July 1st at 20:00; Wednesday, July 2nd at 20:00; Thursday, July 3rd at 20:00; Friday, July 4th at 13:00; Sunday, July 6th at 19:00; Monday, July 7th at 18:00; Tuesday, July 8th at 20:00; Wednesday, July 9th at 19:30; Friday, July 11th at 13:00; Saturday, July 12th at 21:00.
Tickets and additional information may be found on the Israeli Opera website.
