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Kenzu · Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 445 Location: Finland

ON TUESDAY EVENING 24.02.2004, TURANDOT WAS PERFORMED HERE IN HELSINKI (no, Andrea didn't perform :)

In the roles were:
Turandot - Baysa Daschnyam
Calaf - Mika Pohjonen
Liù - Soile Isokoski
Ping - Jaakko Kortekangas
Pang - Aki Alamikkotervo
Pong - Juha Riihimäki
Timur - Hannu Forsberg
Altoum - Pertti Mäkelä
and others

Turandot was sang by a Mongolian born soprano. She did great and brought a little bit reality in Turandots role of her asian origin. She hit the note good and her voice was metallic clear. The timbe was ok and pitch. didn´t notice much of a vibrato and it was alright. Her role was a princess with a cruel nature decapitating her rivals heads if they didn´t answer right in her three riddles so in my opinon her type of voice fit the role perfect. She sung well over the orchestra in scenes were the whole big opera choir and Calaf(Mika Pohjonen) sang with her.

Liù - Soile Isokoski is one of the world famous soparnos we got with Karita Mattila. Soile Isokoski was absolutely fantastic. She hit the note so presicely that my jaw must have dropped hearing her :lol: She posses tehnically perfect voice which she controlled in every turn. The pitch was accurate not to speak of the timbre which left no doubt how Liù the slave girl suffered of the love towards Calaf which was doomed to be platonic. Her legatos were amazing and musicality. It was clearily heard that she loves as much lied-singing as opera the musicality of her was so obvious. Something of Ann-Sofie von Otter came up my mind.....don´t know :lol:

Calaf - Mika Pohjonen carried his role well. His voice is light lyric tenor with a beautiful italian like color and he uses it well to express his love against Turandot. His pitch was nice and timbre but somekind of inmaturity was senced from his voice which can be explained with his youg age. His volume hardly carried over the scenes with opera choir and Turandot and left the attendents wishing something more. His Nessun Dorma that propably everybody in the opera waited was though absolutely brilliant the circumstances were perfect he was alone on the stage at the stairs lights dimmed and the orchestra played softly. His voice carried well and loud and the italian type of voice of his "reclaimed its place" and sounded fantastic. Nice pitch envyable timbe and his legatos were great. Shivers went through my body and propably through many others also. His acting was not as good as if he wouldn´t have known what to do in those moments he sang. In those intense scenes with Turandot in the second act when Turandot´s love rose towards Calaf, in those scenes when they were in immediate touch with each other his acting was good. Again his youg age had surely something to do with it. He is a tenor with all the qualities to develop a remarkable one if everything in his career goes well. Put his name in your memory you might some day here of him :wink:

The Finnish National Operas choir earned excellent reviews, they sang with a absolute beauty. They sounded like one in a perfect harmony with the elements in this opera. The choir played the role of common people and it was stunning to see as big choir on the stage singing with such professionality that you forgot where you are……China……opera…….

Ping, Pang and Pong linked the scenes to each other marvelously and each of their voices showed that they were perfect match to their roles and their chemistry worked perfect binding the story complete.

Leader of the orchestra was Muhai Tang, Director Sonja Forsell, Set and costumes by the plan of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. The production was a co-opration with Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla. Sets were amazing and I am sure that we attendants felt like being partly in China.

This marvelous opera of Puccini left an unforgettable memory and strenghtned the belief that opera is a remarkable form of art and it should in every aspect caress as such.

http://www.operafin.fi/2001/Englanti/index.html
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"Ex nihilo nihil fit"

LaSignoraMusica · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 274 Location: The Netherlands

Thank you for your wonderful review! What I'm curious about...was it written in the programme who was the one that completed this version of the opera? As you might know, Puccini died before he could finish it, and Steven Mercurio has been one of the composers who wrote an ending to the opera.
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I believe in the equality of all people, I try to respect all living creatures, and I believe in the power of love....

Signora Innamorata · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 1558

Kenzu · Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 445 Location: Finland

Kenzu · Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 445 Location: Finland

LaSignoraMusica · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 274 Location: The Netherlands

So this was the version which is mostly played. Because of the controverse between Toscanini and Alfano there were indeed other versions, and Mercurio's was one of them. (http://www.stevenmercurio.com , composer)
I like Steven as both a conductor and as a composer, S.I. Did you hear his Mercurial Overture? I love it!
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I believe in the equality of all people, I try to respect all living creatures, and I believe in the power of love....

Kenzu · Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 445 Location: Finland

I read from Stevens web-site of his version of the second act of Turandot. It would surely be interesting to see his interpretation of Calaf´s and Turandot´s rising love in the music in second act.
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"Ex nihilo nihil fit"

Signora Innamorata · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 1558

Kenzu - I looked him up but I couldn't understand the language....lol! I was going to try & talk "intelligent" with you about him - but - nooo can do now....eheheh! :D

Thanks for telling me some things about him. His career certainly is remarkable, for sure!! I would love to hear him sing a Finnish tango (see caro, thats another reason I thought Napster was great - it brought world music and new styles to us, from all over the globe - che bella!) :wink:

I looked Stefania up & just heard a 47 second clip of Stefania Bonfadelli's voice (La Sonnambula). Ah, and the right spelling is Bonfadelli (with a "d"). eheh... see? After all this time I was able to teach you something....LoL! Whew! :P

One day I shall get to an opera. I must try this out for sure. Xo, la tua amica ~
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Don't marry the man you can live with... marry the man you can't live without ~

Signora Innamorata · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 1558

Kenzu · Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 445 Location: Finland

Signora Innamorata · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 1558

Kenzu, you know - by your description, I think I could possibly love opera. Somehow I always felt like perhaps I was not suited for opera, and yet, I am learning to enjoy opera music recently, thanks to a couple of very generous friends sharing Bocelli's opera music with me. And again, by your description of an opera itself, well - that sounds very much like my cup of tea. Very much! Another new lovely friend recently sent me the La Boheme video with Jose Carreras and in two minutes here, I am putting it on. Our FIRST opera..... Cin Cin! I'm quite excited. I shall report back to you. With hugs and a love to you & your family.... xo xo... me

p.s.... if *you* are a newbie - well, I wouldn't even know what to call myself. lol! ciao bello... sogni d'oro :wink:
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Don't marry the man you can live with... marry the man you can't live without ~

Signora Innamorata · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 1558

Kenzuuu caro - am back to report (if I can stop crying that is). I think it is safe to say my first opera experience (via the vcr & tv) was quite an emotional one. From near the end of Act lll alllll the way through the end of Act IV, I could not (literally) stop crying. Obviously this was a 5 star performance for my heart. If you are able, rent this video - La Boheme, 1982 performance - at the Met w/Jose Carrares & Teresa Stratas. It was magnificent and there were so many surprises for me. I was shocked at how much humor there was (I was not expecting that & it was delightful - right from the get go). Then as time went on, it became so emotional and I got so caught up in it, there were times I could not read the sub titles due to splashing tears. I now have a killer headache from crying & my face is so swollen. As she was dying, they were reflecting on the first tim ethey met in the garret and she was reliving how he acted as though he could not find her key (although, she knew he had found it) and he said with a twinkle that "he was helping fate" and that just did me in grandioso big time. si si caro, you must rent this video if you are able. There was also a fantastic interview with Franco Zeffirelli after the opera was over and his passion for producing was so emotional also. Che notte - what a night! Also - it was so exciting because I could also hear Bocelli singing because a friend sent me the La Boheme disc - ah too many emotions I am left with. By the way, is that Jose ever handsome. Mamma miaaaaaaaa!

ok bello. thanks for letting me share my first opera experience with you. baci baci e abbraccio, kenzu. ciaooooo : crying still but soooo :) happy, too
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Don't marry the man you can live with... marry the man you can't live without ~

TuscanTenor · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Ohio

Signora, if that is your reaction to Carrares playing Rudolfo you should see it with Andrea!! Now that is a real tear jerker!
Karen

Signora Innamorata · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 1558

Karen, I can't even imagine! I hear you though, and I had thought of that last night, too. I think my husband would have to peel me off the floor for sure. No doubt about it. Don't laugh, but I was so moved by the performance with Jose and Teresa that I actually had a dream about them last night.

I am very much looking forward to watching another opera now, and YES, by all means with Andrea next time. Are you one of the fortunate ones that have seen this opera in person - with Andrea? I'll have to get a little emotionally tougher before I ever indulge in "that" heavenly treat - I fear they would escort me out the side door, tissue's, sobs and all......eheh :wink:
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Don't marry the man you can live with... marry the man you can't live without ~

TuscanTenor · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Ohio

Yes, SI, I have been very fortunate to see Andrea in Butterfly and Werther. It is an experience I will never forget. Many tears were shed not only for his outstanding performance but for being able to witness his dreams come true! He has so much to be proud of! :D
Karen