Royal Opera House an Turandot

We were off to the Opera today - to see Turandot.  As usual we left early enough for a walk and some photography before getting there.

Unfortunately, there were rail works on the Underground which meant we had to change our route on the spur of the moment!

We did have time for a little bit of shopping enroute to Covent Garden but no time for pictures.

The seats were good albeit right up in the gods.

The first thing that struck me was the staging - excellent scenery which moved seamlessly from one part to another.  The costumes were very clever for all the singers, chorus and dances - and the lighting really made the atmosphere memorable.

I was unfamiliar with the score of Turandot with the exception of Nessun Dorma (this was sung by Marco Berti who, regrettably, didn't, in my view, sing this with the depth I've come to expect from other tenors when singing this piece and didn't really give me that 'tingly' feeling.

Those playing the parts of Ping, Pang and Pong brought humour to the roles.

The leading (female) role of Turandot by Lise LIndstrom was very good but, for me, it was eclipesed by the performance of Eri Nakamura in the role of Liu - the slave girl, who, got the most rapturous applause at the end.

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House were magical under the concert master Vasko Vassilev.

Having said all that, it was a very entertaining and moving production... there was a tear in my eye at one point...  lovely!!