What's New
The National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) Coproduces International Performance Puccini: Turandot; The Largest International Opera Performance Takes Stage in Taiwan during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Puccini: Turandot, coproduced by the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) and which premiered in Taiwan, Asia in Apr. 2019, will be performed again in the Weiwuying Opera House on Aug. 28 and 30. The performances will feature director LI Huan-hsiung; General and Artistic Director CHIEN Wen-pin; the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra; the Kaohsiung Chamber Choir; the Century Voice Choir; the Kaohsiung City Wind Orchestra; eminent Taiwanese sopranos Hanying TSO-PETANAJ and LIN Ling-hui; and Korean tenor Yonghoon LEE. Tickets for the first three performances were sold out as soon as they were released, resulting in the aforementioned additional performances being scheduled. As of today, all of the tickets for said additional performances have been sold.
CHIEN Wen-pin stated that Puccini: Turandot will be delivered by 260 performers, which is of great domestic and international significance considering that the performances will take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that all seats will be occupied while meeting the required pandemic-prevention conditions. The delivery of said performances signifies the success of Taiwan's pandemic-prevention strategies, and highlights the patience and determination of Weiwuying's production and performance teams in overcoming various hardships including current strict border risk control policies and decreased international flights.
Puccini: Turandot, a classic opera performed in major international opera houses worldwide, was written by Giacomo Puccini and premiered in 1926, nearly a century ago. In 2015, Weiwuying and Deutsche Oper am Rhein coproduced said opera in Theater Duisburg, employing a creative team of Taiwanese artists including director LI Huan-hsiung, costume designer LAI Hsuan-wu, stage designer LIANG Jo-shan, and new media designer WANG Jun-jieh to add contemporary, oriental aesthetic elements to the opera. Said creative team incorporated Eastern imaginations of the West and trending orthodox Chinese court styles, presenting viewers with a brand-new perspective. LI Huan-hsiung employed his remarkable collage techniques to allow the plot to shift between the real and imaginary. Additionally, by creating a stage using concise images such as palace outlines and scrolls as well as alternating both classical and modern clothing and styles, the audience is offered room for imagination and interpretation. The Eastern and Western elements resonate with their respective audience, enabling this performance to be a huge success in both Europe and Taiwan.
Princess Turandot, the protagonist of this opera, is played by soprano Hanying TSO-PETANAJ. Hanying TSO-PETANAJ is the first Taiwanese candidate to play such a role, utilizing lyrical, coloratura, and theatrical soprano techniques to showcase the many temperaments of the princess, which include coldness and gentleness. Prince Calaf, an affectionate and courageous individual, is played by Yonghoon LEE, a widely acclaimed Korean tenor who has performed in renowned major opera houses worldwide. Regarding the other roles, they are also performed by famous domestic vocalists. For example, the beautiful, brave Liu is played by soprano LIN Ling-hui; Altoum is played by tenor CHANG Yuh-yin; Timur is played by baritone TSAI Wen-hao; Ping, Pang, and Pong are played by Martin NG, Claude LIN, and HUANG Ya-chung, respectively; and the Mandarin is played by baritone Rios LI. The combination of famous domestic and foreign vocalists and performance teams brings the audience an awe-inspiring performance.
Before all performances, Weiwuying has conducted risk assessments and drawn up contingency plans in accordance with CECC's six guidelines for mass gathering events. Audience members will have their temperatures taken at the entrance, wear surgical masks at all times, and register personal contact information. The venue will be disinfected and sanitized hourly. Staff members will have their temperatures taken before going on duty and wear masks while on duty. All adjustments to COVID-19 preventive measures shall follow CECC's instructions. In the meantime, we urge citizens to wash their hands frequently. Please consult a medical professional, should symptoms of fever or acute respiratory infections appear.