Beautiful Christopher,letting go of the ego, making him vulnerable. You are rewriting history. You show a more wholesome way of being human Man. Thank you!!
I haven’t followed opera before. I have really appreciated following your process and then experiencing the opera with your new ending. Thanks for sharing your creative process, Chris.
Can't wait to hear the result. Your music always touches parts of my soul that I usually forget are there, and Turandot (along with Tosca) is one of my favorite operas, so, it can only be awesome.
I like your take and you were constrained by what Puccini had written up until the end. I had read that Puccini had a hard time trying to figure out an ending. I think he had a hard time because he was going towards a happy ending, as opposed to the typical ‘opera’ ending of tragedy. Quite frankly, neither Calaf nor Turondot are sympathetic characters as Turondot killed Liu. The men only wanted to marry her because they confused beauty with love. It would have been fitting if Turondot had died in the end. (Yes, I know a Puccini was in poor health but I don’t think that was why he was having a hard time with the end.)
Yes, we didn’t touch a note of the Puccini material but had to find a way to wrap up the story in a believable way. He did have a hard time finishing it-he was set on this idea that a kiss from Calaf was all that was needed to melt Turandot’s heart. We’ve taken a more nuanced approach.
Be Interesting to Hear the new ending and also if The Mandarins Names will as easily roll off the tongue as Ping ,Pang and Pong. Also , recently Alfano's uncut ending has gained Favour ,. Puccini never wanted Alfano in the first place , He suggested Riccardo Zandonai , Though apparently The Puccini Family wanted a lesser name to complete it.
Alfano’s original is very good, although still stylistically quite different from Puccini. Would have been curious to see how Zandonai would have finished it. There are many versions of the ending these days (and another one by Derrick Wang premieres tomorrow in Delaware).
Re-prising Nessun Dorma in this manner is a good artistic choice. I think, if there was someone who could have helped Puccini "break-thru" the last Act back in those days, he may have finished the opera. A lot of people forget that Turandot was left unfinished for a long time, and he wasn't even interested to go back to that opera, because he couldn't reconcile the story. Also, as a lot of his other operas showcases strong female persona, by killing off Liu, in my opinion, it also killed his interest to finish the opera. It is always tricky trying to complete the work of other composers, especially if you are not living during his time, and experiencing the culture of those yesteryears, but updating it to suit a more modern audience without going off-tangent like some other productions, and remain grounded is probably the best way to pay homage to a great composer, who have given so much melodious arias to the world. All I would say is, good job, and I look forward to your next album.
I beg your pardon? Calaf's toxic masculinity? After passing the three (deadly) riddles and yet Turandot withdraws her word? And he's the j*rk? I'm not saying he is the paragon of virtue, but this view seems a bit exaggerated.... Not least because Turandot also has her considerable problems. But in the end they both redeem themselves... at least in some way. The initial problem was the timing of the change. Turandot's ending is a bit rushed, like the eighth season of GoT. Apart from that, musically speaking, I love Alfano's ending, especially the original extended version. I haven't heard yours yet, and honestly I'm a little.... Um... conflicted. Otherwise I'm a big fan of your work ✌🏼
Re: Calaf, he was literally happy to send his father to death on the road, let Liù be tortured, and allow Turandot countless more beheadings of the citizens of China. He was surrounded by misery, and a terrified populace of his future subjects, and what does he do? Sing about how he’s victorious. I do hope you get a chance to hear our version someday and hope you enjoy it, but regardless respect your reading (and *polite* defense) of Calàf. Thanks for being a fan of my other work!
@@christophertin I understand your point but: 1) unintended consequences ('Nessun Dorma' is before the torture of his father and the death of Liù). And about the tortured people... well what can he do about it, back in the day you know 🤷🏼♂️ 2) He sings because... Oh well, it's an opera. That's the whole point of an opera. Anyway, I assume you know the world of opera lovers and their old-fashioned stubbornness very well, so you are prepared... I hope to hear your version soon, maybe even live here in Italy who knows 😊
@cris88acquario certainly! We’re not saying this is the replacement for Alfano or anything, just that it’s an alternative reading that applies 21st-century values to the story. I hope it arrives in Italy someday as well. 👍
The ending no one needed... First of all, calling Nessun dorma a moment of toxic masculinity is simply pathetic. Calaf is deeply in love with Turandot, which is why he is willing to risk his life to have her, BUT, even though he correctly answered to her three riddles he doesn't want her to marry him forcefully, so he risks his life AGAIN to prove her his LOVE. As sunrise approaches he pictures his dream of love finally coming true, when he will win, which is where he sings Nessun dorma. How can anyone say this is toxic masculinity? Clearly just trying to get your crappy leftist discourse forward to have someone paying attention to you. Simply sad.
This work has nothing to do with human love, but with Divine love, that which the individual soul has with the Spirit, which lies within each human heart. Puccini hid it in this way so that only he who has eyes to see and ears to hear could see and hear it. For the common man these secrets are hidden. The same thing happened to Western translators, writers and scholars when they misinterpreted the "Rubaiyat" of Ommar Khayyam, who was a true mystic, and not a luster as it was interpreted, you can read if you want the correct spiritual interpretation of Paramhansa Yogananda, great Hindu saint who went to the United States in the 1920s. This interpretation of Turandot of yours, despite your good intentions, is only diluting the divine power that Puccini gave it. Take me for crazy if you want, but I had to at least write these words to defend and protect his original legacy.
With respect, I disagree. Christopher has proven again and again that he is one of these artists who isnt just full of human, but also "divine" love and inspiration, as you call it: Go listen to "Waloyo Yamoni", "Kia Hora", "Flocks a Mile Wide", "All That Could Never Be Said" "The Fall" etc. and tell me there isnt something between these notes thats more than the sum of its parts. I'm pretty sure Puccini would've loved these songs if he were still alive today. This music will go live on a life and legacy way longer than any of ours and inspire countless of future generations - at least in my opinion.
Beautiful Christopher,letting go of the ego, making him vulnerable. You are rewriting history. You show a more wholesome way of being human Man. Thank you!!
Never knew what Nessun Dorma was about, but now i'm intrigued
Check out Robert Greenberg's course How to listen to Opera
I haven’t followed opera before. I have really appreciated following your process and then experiencing the opera with your new ending. Thanks for sharing your creative process, Chris.
Can't wait to hear the result. Your music always touches parts of my soul that I usually forget are there, and Turandot (along with Tosca) is one of my favorite operas, so, it can only be awesome.
I like your take and you were constrained by what Puccini had written up until the end. I had read that Puccini had a hard time trying to figure out an ending. I think he had a hard time because he was going towards a happy ending, as opposed to the typical ‘opera’ ending of tragedy. Quite frankly, neither Calaf nor Turondot are sympathetic characters as Turondot killed Liu. The men only wanted to marry her because they confused beauty with love. It would have been fitting if Turondot had died in the end. (Yes, I know a Puccini was in poor health but I don’t think that was why he was having a hard time with the end.)
Yes, we didn’t touch a note of the Puccini material but had to find a way to wrap up the story in a believable way. He did have a hard time finishing it-he was set on this idea that a kiss from Calaf was all that was needed to melt Turandot’s heart. We’ve taken a more nuanced approach.
Love it!!!
I hope you come to the west coast in 2025! I have to see you live!!!
Be Interesting to Hear the new ending and also if The Mandarins Names will as easily roll off the tongue as Ping ,Pang and Pong.
Also , recently Alfano's uncut ending has gained Favour ,. Puccini never wanted Alfano in the first place , He suggested Riccardo Zandonai , Though apparently The Puccini Family wanted a lesser name to complete it.
Alfano’s original is very good, although still stylistically quite different from Puccini. Would have been curious to see how Zandonai would have finished it. There are many versions of the ending these days (and another one by Derrick Wang premieres tomorrow in Delaware).
Re-prising Nessun Dorma in this manner is a good artistic choice. I think, if there was someone who could have helped Puccini "break-thru" the last Act back in those days, he may have finished the opera. A lot of people forget that Turandot was left unfinished for a long time, and he wasn't even interested to go back to that opera, because he couldn't reconcile the story. Also, as a lot of his other operas showcases strong female persona, by killing off Liu, in my opinion, it also killed his interest to finish the opera.
It is always tricky trying to complete the work of other composers, especially if you are not living during his time, and experiencing the culture of those yesteryears, but updating it to suit a more modern audience without going off-tangent like some other productions, and remain grounded is probably the best way to pay homage to a great composer, who have given so much melodious arias to the world.
All I would say is, good job, and I look forward to your next album.
Italia 1990. Gazza’s tears. Jumpers for goal posts, isn’t it? Hmm.
I beg your pardon? Calaf's toxic masculinity? After passing the three (deadly) riddles and yet Turandot withdraws her word? And he's the j*rk? I'm not saying he is the paragon of virtue, but this view seems a bit exaggerated.... Not least because Turandot also has her considerable problems. But in the end they both redeem themselves... at least in some way. The initial problem was the timing of the change. Turandot's ending is a bit rushed, like the eighth season of GoT. Apart from that, musically speaking, I love Alfano's ending, especially the original extended version. I haven't heard yours yet, and honestly I'm a little.... Um... conflicted. Otherwise I'm a big fan of your work ✌🏼
Re: Calaf, he was literally happy to send his father to death on the road, let Liù be tortured, and allow Turandot countless more beheadings of the citizens of China. He was surrounded by misery, and a terrified populace of his future subjects, and what does he do? Sing about how he’s victorious.
I do hope you get a chance to hear our version someday and hope you enjoy it, but regardless respect your reading (and *polite* defense) of Calàf. Thanks for being a fan of my other work!
@@christophertin
I understand your point but:
1) unintended consequences ('Nessun Dorma' is before the torture of his father and the death of Liù). And about the tortured people... well what can he do about it, back in the day you know 🤷🏼♂️
2) He sings because... Oh well, it's an opera. That's the whole point of an opera.
Anyway, I assume you know the world of opera lovers and their old-fashioned stubbornness very well, so you are prepared... I hope to hear your version soon, maybe even live here in Italy who knows 😊
@cris88acquario certainly! We’re not saying this is the replacement for Alfano or anything, just that it’s an alternative reading that applies 21st-century values to the story. I hope it arrives in Italy someday as well. 👍
Wait what the fuck toxic masculinity?
I thought Turandot is about a guy that answered all the riddles and barely escaped his supposed execution
The ending no one needed... First of all, calling Nessun dorma a moment of toxic masculinity is simply pathetic. Calaf is deeply in love with Turandot, which is why he is willing to risk his life to have her, BUT, even though he correctly answered to her three riddles he doesn't want her to marry him forcefully, so he risks his life AGAIN to prove her his LOVE. As sunrise approaches he pictures his dream of love finally coming true, when he will win, which is where he sings Nessun dorma. How can anyone say this is toxic masculinity? Clearly just trying to get your crappy leftist discourse forward to have someone paying attention to you. Simply sad.
and it’s so not a toxic masculinity moment, that he in fact, reveals the name to her in the subsequent scene.
Why should you do something like this?
This work has nothing to do with human love, but with Divine love, that which the individual soul has with the Spirit, which lies within each human heart. Puccini hid it in this way so that only he who has eyes to see and ears to hear could see and hear it. For the common man these secrets are hidden. The same thing happened to Western translators, writers and scholars when they misinterpreted the "Rubaiyat" of Ommar Khayyam, who was a true mystic, and not a luster as it was interpreted, you can read if you want the correct spiritual interpretation of Paramhansa Yogananda, great Hindu saint who went to the United States in the 1920s. This interpretation of Turandot of yours, despite your good intentions, is only diluting the divine power that Puccini gave it. Take me for crazy if you want, but I had to at least write these words to defend and protect his original legacy.
With respect, I disagree. Christopher has proven again and again that he is one of these artists who isnt just full of human, but also "divine" love and inspiration, as you call it: Go listen to "Waloyo Yamoni", "Kia Hora", "Flocks a Mile Wide", "All That Could Never Be Said" "The Fall" etc. and tell me there isnt something between these notes thats more than the sum of its parts.
I'm pretty sure Puccini would've loved these songs if he were still alive today.
This music will go live on a life and legacy way longer than any of ours and inspire countless of future generations - at least in my opinion.