Turandot from the Verona Arena: Franco Zeffirelli’s epic production of Puccini’s masterpiece.

In its 88th year, the prestigious Verona Arena Festival honoured the legendary Italian stage director Franco Zeffirelli. Zeffirelli delivered an opulent staging of the fairy-tale story of the Chinese Princess Turandot, who will only marry a prince capable of solving her riddles.

The Russian soprano Maria Guleghina proved a brilliant Turandot, whilst tenor Salvatore Licitra’s trump card is his imposingly radiant voice of which he remains in sovereign control, even in the role’s much feared tessitura. The soprano Tamar Iveri is a beautiful and sensitive Liù.

Cast:
- La Principessa Turandot: Maria Guleghina
- L’ Imperatore Altoum: Carlo Bosi
- Timur: Luiz-Octavio Faria
- Calaf: Salvatore Licitra
- Liù: Tamar Iveri
- Ping: Leonardo Lopez Linarès
- Pong: Gianluca Bocchino
- Pang: Saverio Fiore
- Mandarino: Giuliano Pelizon
- Il Principe di Persia: Angel Harkatz Kaufman

“Gold and more gold. It is the precious metal to dominate in the Forbidden City created by Franco Zeffirelli for the new, lavish setting of Turandot, which opened the opera season at the Arena of Verona. An epic production, with huge processions, sumptuous costumes and technology... After the blue and gray moon of the first act, the court and the appearance of Turandot (played by Maria Guleghina international star), including pagodas, statues and gold banners, give a glance awesome ripping applause.” - Corriere della Serra

NTSC 16:9,
Sound: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio, Subtitles: Fr, Eng, Ger, It, Sp, Jap
Total Time: 2h 8min
Filmed in HD, August 2010