London - Event

English National Opera continues to refresh the Puccini repertoire by welcoming a new director to the operatic stage. Rupert Goold, fresh from success in Shakespeare, Pirandello and Oliver!, turns his attention to Turandot. Music director Edward Gardner conducts.

The cold-hearted Chinese princess Turandot will only marry the man who can answer three riddles. Calaf - disguised and long-lost heir to the kingdom of Tartary - answers them correctly. Turandot pleads to be released from the consequences of the oath and Calaf says that if she can find out his name by morning she can have him beheaded. The princess threatens a mass execution if his name is not disclosed and the people of Peking turn against him.

Kirsten Blanck makes her UK stage debut as Turandot opposite Gwyn Hughes Jones' role debut as Calaf. Also in the cast are Amanda Echalaz (Liù), James Cresswell (Timur) and Stuart Kale as Turandot's father, Emperor Altoum.