Turandot is not my favourite Puccini opera, but it being the first opera I sang in the Chorus for I am very fond of it. I prefer the 1988 production with Domingo and Marton, but I cannot deny the many good things about this production. The colourful and imperial looking costumes and sets being one, and the wonderful music being another. Also impressive are the orchestral playing, choral singing and conducting, all of which are spot on. In Questa Reggia is perfection in every sense of the word especially. Staging is effective, the Grind and Sharpen chorus is chilling without being claustrophobic and the whole Enigma scene is nail-biting as it should be. Montserrat Caballe is a superb Turandot, one of the best I've seen actually, and Giuseppe Giacomini is suitably heroic and sings Nessun Dorma with little fault at all. Leona Mitchell's Liu is heart-breaking, Timur is noble and sympathetic and Ping, Pong and Pang once again steal every scene they appear in. All in all, an excellent Turandot and worth seeing for Caballe. 10/10 Bethany Cox
