A scene from Washington National Opera’s production of Turandot. Photo by Cory Weaver, courtesy of WNO
By Southwester Staff
In a well-loved community tradition, the Washington National Opera (WNO) will once again broadcast a free performance at Nationals Park this summer. WNO’s production of Puccini’s Turandot will be shown on the big screen on August 24.
Turandot is a spectacular fairytale about a princess and the man determined to win her heart. Princess Turandot decrees that a suitor must answer three riddles she poses to win her hand or literally lose his head in the process. A huge chorus pleads with the princess as one by one we watch these suitors perish.
An unknown prince, Calàf, arrives. He is willing to risk all upon first sight of the princess, and his love is presented in some of opera’s most heart-wrenching moments. The aria “Nessun Dorma” had a global audience when Luciano Pavarotti performed it for the 1990 World Cup.
Puccini died before the opera was complete in 1924. In the last scene, music and words have been provided by others over the years. Turandot was first performed in the United States at the Metropolitan Opera in 1926, and revitalized in the 1987 staging by the famous director Francesco Zeffirelli in one of the most spectacular productions in all opera history.
This year, the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death, the show is again being presented in multiple venues around the world. The WNO’s production first opened at the Kennedy Center in May. While true to Puccini’s music and its romantic themes, it also offers fresher, more modern themes and settings in its rendition of this classic.
INFORMATION
The opera is in Italian with easy-to-follow English titles. The event will be fully captioned. Gates for Opera in the Outfield will open at 4:30 p.m. for pre-opera activities for the entire family, including photo opportunities, prizes and performances by local artists. The opera will be displayed on the high-definition scoreboard at 6:30 p.m. Free seating will be available on the outfield grass (weather permitting) and in the stands.
More information is available at https://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/home/education/opera-in-the-outfield/