Royal Opera

Turandot

In Cinemas 3, 4 & 7 May 2025
Conductor
Rafael Payare
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Cast
Sondra Radvanovsky (Princess Turandot), SeokJong Baek (Calaf), Gemma Summerfield (Liù), Adam Palka (Timur), Hansung Yoo (Ping), Aled Hall (Pang), Michael Gibson (Pong), Paul Hopwood (Emperor Altoum), Ossian Huskinson (Mandarin)
Composer
Giacomo Puccini
Director
Andrei Serban
Set Design
Sally Jacobs
Duration
3h17 incl. 2 intervals
Sung in Italian, with English subtitles
Captured live from Covent Garden, London, 1 Apr 2025
Official Event Listing
  • An ageless production that offers its own distinctive kind of spectacle. There must be a finite number of singers who can surmount the two lead roles, but the Royal Opera has succeeded in delivering another good cast.
    Richard Fairman, FINANCIAL TIMES
    An exciting performance, full of percussive power. SeokJong Baek's Calaf lived up to the anticipation, “Nessun dorma” was thrillingly dispatched. An impressive revival for this house favourite.
    Mark Pullinger, BACHTRACK
    Meticulous. With high energy, mighty voices and delicacy, this epic staging feels newly minted. Sondra Radvanovsky shows why she is the reigning Turandot of the day. She and SeokJong Baek are both stellar in the central roles.
    Martin Kettle, THE GUARDIAN
    Thrilling. Impeccable, unstintingly empowered vocalism.
    George Hall, THE STAGE

Opera in three acts (1926)

A princess's deadly game...

Puccini's opera of love and revenge is brought to life in Andrei Serban's dazzling production. 

Escape to mythical Peking where the beautiful but icy Princess Turandot (Sondra Radvanovksy) will only marry a man who can correctly answer three riddles. Those who fail are brutally beheaded. But when an unknown prince arrives, the balance of power in Turandot’s court is forever shaken, as the mysterious stranger does what no other has been able to.

Turandot has become synonymous with the beloved aria ‘Nessun Dorma’ (None shall sleep), sung as Calaf (South Korean tenor SeokJong Baek) anticipates winning the Princess's hand.

Șerban's staging – one of the most spectacular in The Royal Opera's repertory – transports audiences to a beautiful but ruthless world, enhanced in the cinema environment. Sally Jacobs' colourful sets and costumes are inspired by ancient Chinese culture, reflecting the traditional Chinese melodies woven into the score.

Please note programme change: rising soprano Gemma Summerfield replaces the previously billed Anna Princeva in the role of Liù. [updated 2 Apr 25]

 

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Royal Opera

The Royal Opera is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in London’s iconic Royal Opera House (1858) in Covent Garden, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today’s leading opera composers, such as Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Thomas Adès.

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