Puccini's Final Opera, TURANDOT, Comes To The Big Screen In HD At The Ridgefield Playhouse

An encore presentation of Franco Zeffirelli's dazzling production of Puccini's Turandot conducted by Paolo Carignani for The Metropolitan Opera will be shown in HD on the big screen at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Monday, August 13th at 6:30pm. Acclaimed soprano Nina Stemme stars opposite tenor, Marco Berti in this performance, part of the Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings Classical Series with support from The Ridgefield Press and Whistle Stop Bakery, underwritten by Lori & John Berisford, Jeanne Cook, Liz & Steven Goldstone and Sabina & Walter Slavin.

Nina Stemme, one of opera's greatest dramatic sopranos, takes on the title role of the proud princess of legendary China, opposite tenor, Marco Berti as Calàf, the brave prince who wins her hand in this encore performance filmed in HD. The opera, written by Giacomo Puccini, was his last, unfinished at his death, which may account for it adventurousness. Laced with Asian touches throughout, the opera makes use of gongs, xylophones and glockenspiels, along with classical characters from Commedia dell'Arte, given different names. The opera takes place in

Peking, in the mythic past. Outside the Imperial Palace, a Mandarin reads an edict to the crowd: Any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If he fails, he will die. The most recent suitor, the Prince of Persia, is to be executed at the moon's rising. Among the onlookers are the slave girl Liù, her aged master, and the young Calàf, who recognizes the old man as his long-lost father, Timur, vanquished King of Tartary. Turandot contains one of the most instantly recognizable arias of all time, Nessun Dorma.

The Metropolitan Opera is a vibrant home for the most creative and talented singers, conductors, composers, musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world. The Ridgefield Playhouse offers free tickets to The Metropolitan Opera in HD series to students 18 and younger as a way for parents to introduce their children to the arts. FREE tickets are also available to students 18 and younger for Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings Live in HD screenings of The Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre of London.

For tickets ($25 | Members & Seniors $20 | Students $15 | FREE for students 18 and under), call or visit the box office, 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.