The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is honored to be the home for the Met Live Opera programs for the 2021-2022 season, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. The season will continue with Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” on Saturday, May 7. There will be one show at 10 a.m. — a live simulcast as it is happening at the Met!
Plan to come early as Deborah Raymond will lead a pre-opera talk one hour before the production.
Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska plays Puccini’s icy princess. Tenor Yonghoon Lee is the bold prince determined to win Turandot’s love, alongside soprano Ermonela Jaho as the devoted servant Liù and legendary bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as the blind king Timur. Marco Armiliato conducts Puccini’s stirring opera, which takes the stage in the company’s dazzling, ever-popular production by Franco Zeffirelli.
Act I
Legendary Peking. Any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If he fails, he will die. Among the crowd, CalaÌf discovers his long-lost father, Timur. As the latest failed suitor goes to his death, the crowd calls upon the princess to spare him, but Turandot orders the execution to proceed. Transfixed by her beauty, Calàf decides to win her. Timur and the slave girl LiuÌ, as well as the ministers Ping, Pang, and Pong, try to discourage him. CalaÌf is determined nonetheless.
Act II
Ping, Pang, and Pong dream of their country homes, but the noise of the crowd gathering calls them back to reality. Turandot arrives for the riddle ceremony. After CalaÌf answers all three correctly, the princess begs her father not to give her to the stranger. CalaÌf offers Turandot a challenge of his own: If she can learn his name by dawn, he will forfeit his life.
Act III
Ping, Pang, and Pong try to bribe CalaÌf to leave the city. Soldiers drag in LiuÌ and Timur. Despite being tortured, LiuÌ refuses to reveal the stranger’s identity. She snatches a dagger and kills herself. Turandot confronts CalaÌf, who impetuously kisses her. Turandot finally feels emotions, and sure of winning her, CalaÌf reveals his identity. Before the court, Turandot declares that the stranger’s name is Love.
The Met Live Opera’s “Turandot” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. (live simulcast). The pre-opera talk will take place one hour before the show. Tickets are $25 general admission, $22 for Film Festival members, and $15 for students. Tickets are available in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office or by calling 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.