Turandot act-II "Tre enigme...straniero ascolta" Puccini

A.Shafajinskaia sings a title roleact IIWithin the walls of the Imperial Palace, the old Emperor, perched on a high throne, vainly asks Calàf to reconsider ("Un giuramento atroce"). Heralded by a chorus of children, Turandot enters to describe how her beautiful ancestor, Princess Lou-Ling, was abducted and killed by a conquering prince; in revenge, she has turned against men and determined that none shall ever possess her ("In questa reggia"). Facing Calàf, she poses her first question: What is born each night and dies each dawn? "Hope," Calàf answers, correctly. Unnerved, Turandot continues: What flickers red and warm like a flame, yet is not a flame? "Blood," Calàf replies after a moment's pause. Shaken, Turandot delivers the third riddle: What is like ice but burns? Tense silence prevails until Calàf triumphantly cries, "Turandot!" While the crowd expresses thanks, the princess vainly begs her father not to give her to the stranger. Hoping to win her love, Calàf offers Turandot a challenge of his own: if she can learn his name by dawn, he will forfeit his life.About A.ShafajinskaiaAnna has emerged as one of the most important young dramatic sopranos of our time. Her debut in "TURANDOT" with WNO was called "A sensation" Rodney Milnes "The Times", "Opera" magazine and her Princess Turandot at The Royal Opera House/Covent Garden, being praised as "reminiscent of Callas" Matthew Connolly "The Times"; "She sings with great assurance and truly imperious quality that few achieve" - "Opera" magazine, London.Anna has been an acclaimed guest at many of the world's opera companies including:The Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Opera National de Paris (Bastille); Opera de Nice; Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona); The New National Theatre (Tokyo); Teatro Massimo (Palermo); Teatro Comunale (Florence); Torre del Lago Puccini's Festival; Deutsche Oper (Berlin); Oper Frankfurt; Semperoper in Dresden; New York City Opera; The Dallas Opera; Michigan Opera ( Detroit); Nederlandse Opera; The Amsterdam's Concertgebouw; The Mariinsky Theatre (St.Petersburg); The Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow); Finnish National Opera; Den Norske Opera (Oslo); Opera National de Montpellier; Royal Opera de Wallonie (Liege); Welsh National Opera; Florida Grand Opera (Miami); San Diego; New Orleans; Columbus; Nacionale Opera (Mexico City); Opera de Montreal; Opera Festival of New Jersey; Opera Ontario (Hamilton)...

Channel: Music
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: francotenelli

Length: 10:37
Rating: 4.70
Views: 23621

Tags: ana  anna  dramatic  opera  puccini  shafajinskaia  soprano  turandot  

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