소프라노 헤 휘가 미 해군 장교 핑커튼에게 모든 것을 바치는 헌신적인 게이샤로 등장한다. 핑커튼 역은 테너 안드레아 카레가 맡았고, 메조소프라노 엘리자베스 드숑이 버터플라이를 위해 헌신하는 하녀 스즈키 역을 불렀다. 토니상을 수상한 뮤지컬 배우이자 바리톤 가수인 파울로 스조트가 메트에서 처음으로 샤플레스 역을 노래했다. 피에르 조르조 모란디가 앤서니 밍겔라의 아름답고 분위기 있는 이 프로덕션을 지휘했다.
The story is by the dramatist Carlo Gozzi and dates from 1762, telling of the Chinese princess Turandot, who sets her suitors three riddles in order to marry her. Only the suitor who solves the riddle may ask for her hand in marriage, otherwise death awaits.
Alex Ollé, one of the famous La Fura dels Baus, recreates the conflict and places principal protagonists in clear, transforming set with supporting lighting – facing all primal emotions directly, with no place to hide. The set design (smart and impressive solution of scenography by Alfons Flores) encased in mirrors and accented with silently moving columns, creating cloister, battlefield, cemetery or castle with minimalistic hints (impressive lighting design by Urs Schönebaum), gives us the opportunity to keep full attention on the vocal performance of main characters.
The grand scale and magnificent acoustics of the Roman arena in Verona are ideally suited to the pageantry of Verdi's Egyptian opera, presented here in a staging that is true to the original 1913 production, framed by obelisks and sphinxes and filled with chorus and dancers. Chinese soprano Hui He has won international acclaim for her portrayal of the eponymous slave girl whose forbidden love for the war hero Radamés (Marco Berti, the experienced Verdi tenor) brings death to them both.
