Turandot (Opera)

World Premiere Production with new commissioned ending

Directed by Francesca Zambello

Music by Giacomo Puccini and Christopher Tin

Libretto by Guiseppi Adami, Renato Simoni and Susan Soon He Stanton

 

Conductor: Speranza Scapucci

Co-Choreographers: Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa

Costume Designer: Linda Cho

Lighting Designer: Amith Chandrashaker

Set Designer: Wilson Chin

Associate Director: Anna Marie Bruzzese

Dramaturg / Supertitles: Kelly Rourke

Projection Designer: S Katy Tucker

Fight and Intimacy Director: Casey Kaleba

 

World Premiere at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, May 11, 2024 by Washignton National Opera.

"Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa, co-choreographers, added much to the spectacle by creating energetic dance sequences that drew on the precision style of Chinese parade grounds and the ballet “Raise the Red Lantern.”  The dancers  executed these interludes terrifically. Bravo to Speranza Scappucci, who returned to WNO to conduct the production. She held the reins firmly, masterfully guiding all the elements at work. She delivered Puccini’s complicated harmonic structures and brought Puccini’s and Tin’s music together in a satisfying whole. This was indeed a powerful evening of grand opera."

- Susan Galbraith, DC Theater Arts, May 13, 2024 link

 

"Incredibly rich in detail --from staging to technical aspects-- and emboldened with Puccini’s soaring music and meticulous, intelligent direction by Francesca Zambello, Washington National Opera’s production of Turandot is a production for the ages. The entire creative team, the cast, the Washington National Opera Orchestra, the Washington National Opera Chorus, the Washington National Opera Children’s chorus and the Washington National Opera Corps Dancers have given us a Turandot that respects the glorious bones of this beloved Italian opera while adding a new ending that gives the opera a more mature and modern appeal...Co-choreographers Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa excelled in conveying stage movement especially in the marching of fascist-like Red Guards, the crushing of crowds and a balletic-like pageantry of various groupings in the opera’s ensemble."

- David Friscic, Broadway World, May 14, 2024 link

 

"The Washington National Opera Chorus of 60 singers, plus a children’s chorus of 20, are frequently present but seldom underfoot. Ditto the troupe of 10 dancers, whose fleeting appearances did help tighten some pockets in the pacing."

- Michael Andor Brodeur, The Washington Post, May 13, 2024

 

"For me, the dancers with choreography by Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa were a delight, a bit of pleasure in an unfun society."

- Opera Gene, May 13, 2024

 

"Director Francesca Zambello, costume designer Linda Cho, lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker, and co-choreographers Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa all work together brilliantly to bring this opera to a new generation, with an accessible score and an intriguing political allegory."

- Mark Dreisonstok, Falls Church News Press, May 23, 2024

 

 

Performance History:

The Kennedy Center, May 11 - 25, 2024