METROPOLITAN OPERA BROADCASTS: TURANDOT, TAPE 3
OF 3 (RADIO)
Summary
Continued from R:3157. Part three of three. One in
this series of performances by the Metropolitan Operas.
In this program, the Metropolitan Opera company
performs Puccini's "Turandot," based on an ancient
Chinese fable. The story concerns the beautiful but
cold-hearted Chinese princess Turandot, who has
promised to marry any man of royal blood who can
answer the three riddles she asks, but has decreed that
any man who fails must pay with his life. This part
begins with announcements for upcoming performances.
In Act III, Calaf sits alone in the garden of the
Imperial Palace, listening to the distant shouts of the
crowd crying "Nessun dorma!" ("No one sleep!"). He vows
to himself that his identity will not be discovered
until he himself whispers it to Turandot at dawn, and
then "my kiss will make you mine." In the darkness,
shadowy figures appear, led by the three ministers,
Ping, Pang and Pong. They try to bribe Calaf to tell
them his name, offering him beautiful women and untold
riches. Liu and Timur are dragged in by soldiers who
claim that their captives know the secret. Turandot
appears and demands that Timur tell her the name. As
they seize him, Liu runs toward Turandot, declaring that
she alone knows the name. The executioner is summoned
as the crowd cries out to have Liu tortured. She
screams as the soldiers twist her arms, and tells
Turandot "You, O Princess, who are girdled with ice, you
will love him too. Before the break of day I shall
close my tired eyes, never to see him more." She
snatches a dagger from one of the soldiers and stabs
herself, falling dead at the horrified Calaf's feet.
After Liu is carried away with Timur at her side, Calaf
and Turandot are left alone; he reproaches her for the
innocent blood that was shed for her, and tears off her
veil. Despite her indignation, he swears that she will
be his and kisses her passionately. Turandot cries out
"Sacrilege!", but then admits that she has lost.
Weeping, she confesses that she loved him at first
sight. In his triumph, Calaf reveals his identity and
gives her permission to destroy him if she now wishes.
The scene shifts to the royal staircase where Turandot
announces to her father and the crowd that she has
discovered the stranger's name -- it is Love. The crowd
cheers as the lovers embrace. The program concludes
with curtain calls and various announcements by host
Milton Cross. Sponsored by Texaco.
(Network affiliation varies; as above, 1960 to the
present; NBC, 1931-1943; Blue Network, 1943-1945;
ABC, 1945-1958; CBS, 1958-1960.)
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: December 3, 1966 Saturday 4:20 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:21
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:3158
- GENRE: Radio - Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: Syndicated - Radio series, 1960-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Giacomo Puccini … Composer
- Zubin Mehta … Conductor
- Metropolitan Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Kurt Adler … Choral Director, Chorus Master
- Nathaniel Merrill … Stage Director
- Milton Cross … Host
- Birgit Nilsson … Cast, Princess Turandot, Singer
- Mariano Caruso … Cast, the Emperor Altoum, Singer
- Bonaldo Giaiotti … Cast, Timur, Singer
- Franco Corelli … Cast, Calaf, Singer
- Mirella Freni … Cast, Liu, Singer
- Theodore Uppmann … Cast, Ping, Singer
- Robert Nagy … Cast, Pang, Singer
- Charles Anthony … Cast, Pong, Singer
- Lawrence Eddington … Cast, a servant, Singer
- Craig Crosson … Cast, a servant, Singer
- Harry Jones … Cast, a servant, Singer
- Robert Goodloe … Cast, a Mandarin, Singer
- David Milnes … Cast, the Prince of Persia, Singer
- Howard Sayette … Cast, Executioner, Singer
- Donald Mahler … Cast, Executioner, Singer
- William Burdick … Cast, Executioner, Singer