Opera Australia: Puccini's Turandot

Turandot

Opera Australia presents
Turandot
Puccini

What is born at night and dies by dawn? What is hot as flame, yet gives no light? What is the ice that gives off fire?

Shrouded in mystery, Princess Turandot sets three riddles for those seeking her hand. Failure means death. Yet still they come, determined to break through her defences.

International director and choreographer Ann Yee brings a fresh perspective to Puccini's final opera, combining monumental sets, immersive visuals and mesmerising dance. Her staging explores Turandot's courage, the trauma of her ancestor and another woman's sacrificial love, drawing these threads into a powerful story of strength and resilience.

Puccini's atmospheric score moves between intimate emotion and magnificent choral passages, building to the electrifying notes of 'Nessun dorma', one of opera's most famous arias.

Australian soprano Anna-Louise Cole brings her acclaimed portrayal of Turandot to Melbourne for the first time, alongside Diego Torre and Samantha Clarke. Opera Australia Music Director Andrea Battistoni and Head of Music Tahu Matheson lead the musical interpretation of this dramatic masterpiece.

Season Details

5-27 May 2027 | Ian Potter State Theatre

Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes, including one interval.