Turandot: Nourishing Souls

Presentation

Spanish Stage Director Paco Azorin and his creative team (stage, costume, light, video designer, choreographer and dramaturgy) are known to break through the boundaries of opera . His new production of Turandot (coproduced by Macerata Opera Festival and Opéra Grand Avignon, hereafter MOF and OGA) stages the conflict between the aristocratic world of the icy queen vs. her people, the poor peasants harvesting rice.

The rice field becomes the theatrical space in which all human feelings – hate, passion, loyalty, vengeance, power, hope, sacrifice, final catharsis – are sublimed through Puccini’s powerful music, his unforgettable melodies under the baton of Italian conductor Federico Santi.

On stage, together with professional artists, a diverse group of people will enact the People of Peking. They will be integral part of the creative process and contribute to the making of the opera, the “PILLARS” of the project, as they are essential not only to the success but to the existence itself of the act of creation, with their bodies and minds, their fragilities and strengths.

Because we believe that participation is the key to community building, social cohesion and true transformation is the key to a profound change. In order to prepare the production, the OGA Education Team, in collaboration with Opera Sin Fronteras (hereafter OSF) and the local institutions and associations (medical centres, schools, retirement homes, shelters) will build a fully comprehensive educational project addressed to the PILLARS, over 6 months preceding the première.

Diversity and sustainable approach are 2 crucial axes of OGA’s vision: cast, choir and orchestra regularly include people of different ethnicities and social backgrounds, as well as young emerging artists. The production and technical Dept. are constantly implementing a sustainable approach (as per transport, logistics, food catering, but also sets and costumes building and recycling).

Artistic Team

Spanish Stage Director and Set Designer Paco Azorin and his eclectic creative team (composed of 6 people, i.e. stage, costume, light, video designer, choreographer and dramaturgy) are known to break through the boundaries of opera productions. Opera is for him a tool of social transformation and inclusivity, attempting to cancel the elitist prejudice on opera. Critics have highlighted his interesting aesthetic contribution, as well as the variety of genres and formats through which he has been able to draw a clearly personal line. His productions are very visual, sometime controversial, but always coherent, poetic and addressing a strong political/social message. Mass movements (carefully planned and worked thorugh), costumes design, lights effects, video projections, all work together to mutliply and enhance the message to convey to the audience.

Partners