This fall, Vancouver Opera is promising a night that is colossal and colourful, spectacular and intimate with their presentation of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, the opening production of the company’s 2017–2018 season.
Running Oct. 13, 15, 19 and 21 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, the production is created by director-designer duo Renaud Doucet and André Barbe, and features many Langley talents.
In the chorus are Langley residents Lisa-Dawn Markle (mezzo-soprano), Karen Ydenberg (soprano) and Tamar Simon (soprano). The orchestra includes Langley musicians Allan Thorpe (bassoon), Chris Light (bass) and Heilwig von Koenigsloew (violin).
Turandot, Puccini’s final opera, combines his musical mastery with a tale as old as time. Based on Persian legend, and set in ancient Beijing (Peking), Turandot is the story of an icy princess, emotionally imprisoned by her own vengeful cruelty, who sets herself and her people free when she opens her heart to love.
The show features towering sets and lavish costumes complemented by the 64-piece Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and a 52-member chorus. The cast includes the vocal talents of soprano Amber Wagner making a role debut as Turandot, as well as tenor Marcelo Puente, making his Vancouver Opera debut as Calaf, and Alain Coulombe singing the role of Timur.
Tickets for the show range in price from $49 to $135 are available at the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre, by telephone (604-683-0222), or online at www.vancouveropera.ca.
Turandot is performed in Italian with English titles projected above the stage.