Opera in three acts & five scenes (1926)

In Peking, a cruel princess renowned for her beauty (celebrated Swedish soprano Iréne Theorin) submits her suitors to three riddles, and the prince who can solve them will obtain her hand and the throne. But alas! So far, all have failed and suffered the relentless sentence: death. Will the young Calaf (fast-rising American tenor Brian Jagde) succeed?

Puccini's glorious score, left unfinished in 1924 when the composer died, is rich in modernity and melodic inspiration, as illustrated by the famous aria “Nessun dorma”.

Singular American director and artist Bob Wilson’s refined production offers striking and hypnotic images, and the pared down sets and lighting compositions, so quintessential to the director’s perspective, lend themselves perfectly to the saga. The production is built as a series of tableaux, each borrowed directly from Noh theatre whose ritualised gestures magnify group scenes or bring a hint of burlesque as is the case with the comic trio, Ping, Pang and Pong.

Please note cast change: the previously billed Sondra Radvanovsky was forced to withdraw from this performance due to illness. [updated 25 Oct 23]