Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Popoli di Pekino! - Sabin Markov, Luciano Pavarotti, Nicolai Ghiaurov, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
2. Gira la cote! - Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
3. O giovinetto! Grazia, grazia! - Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
4. Figlio, che fai? - Nicolai Ghiaurov, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, Pier Francesco Poli, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
5. Fermo! Che fai? T'arresta - Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, Luciano Pavarotti, Nicolai Ghiaurov, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
6. Signore, ascolta - Montserrat Caballé, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
7. Non piangere Liù - Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
8. Olà, Pang! Olà, Pong! - Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
9. Ho una casa nell'Honan - Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
10. O mondo, O mondo - Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
11. Introduzione (Scene 2) - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
12. Gravi, enormi ed impotenti - The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
13. Un giuramento atroce mi costringe - Peter Pears, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
14. Popolo di Pekino - Sabin Markov, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta

Disc 2:

1. In questa reggia - Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
2. Straniero, ascolta - Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Peter Pears, Montserrat Caballé, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
3. Gloria, gloria, o vincitore - Joan Sutherland, Peter Pears, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
4. Tre enigmi m'hai proposto - Luciano Pavarotti, Peter Pears, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
5. Introduzione - Così comanda Turandot - The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
6. Nessun dorma! - Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
7. Principessa divina! - Tom Krause, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, Nicolai Ghiaurov, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
8. Tu che di gel sei cinta - Montserrat Caballé, Luciano Pavarotti, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
9. Liù! Liù! Sorgi! Sorgi! - Nicolai Ghiaurov, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli, Piero de Palma, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
10. Principessa di morte! - Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
11. Che è mai di me? - Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
12. "Del primo pianto" - "Più grande vittoria non voler" - Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
13. So il tuo nome! - Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
14. "Diecimile anni al nostro Imperatore"-"Padre augusto" augusto" - Joan Sutherland, The John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20656 in Music
• Released on: 1985-02-07
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .69 pounds
• Running time: 117 minutes

Customer Reviews

Fabulous- the perfect Turandot
This is simply a great recording by some of the world's best singers. The fact that Sir Peter Pears, a world-famous tenor, plays only a minor part is indicative of an excellent overall quality.

The supporting cast, including Pears and Krause are of the highest quality as is the John Aldis choir and the boys choir. There are no weak links here!

Where the recording really shines, however, is in the three most important roles. Sutherland is simply fantastic. Despite being considered by many not to have the dramatic power she soars above the choir and orchestra and even out-shines and out-sings Luciano Pavarotti, who is surprisingly restrained and sweet-toned throughout (speaking as one who usually dislikes his singing).

Monserat Caballe provides an excellent Liu, singing well with Pavarotti and Sutherland and adding her own touches of inspiration and lyric beauty.

All in all this is a fantastic buy. Don't be tempted by cheaper versions with the likes of Nilsson or Caballe in the title role or Domingo as Calaf- I've heard both of the two above and this exceeds them by far.

A Landmark Recording
Gramaphone Magazine said, "Dame Joan Sutherland's assumption if the title role is statuesque, combining regal poise with a more human warmth, whilst Montserrat Caballe is a touchingly sympathetic Liu, skillfully steering the character...Pavarotti's Calaf is a heroic figure in splendid voices and the chorus is handled with great power, baying for blood one minute, enraptured with liu's noability the next."

This is a truly essential recording for Puccini lovers and is perfect for anyone starting an Opera collection. Superb.

The best recording of Turandot in my experience
The first time that I heard "Turandot" was at a performance in the Arena de Verona some years ago and it was a life-changing event for me: the opera and its performance was simply sublime, indescribable in its intensity to convey a host of emotions. At the end of the first act, less than half an hour's worth, I turned to my wife and said "I'm happy to die now!" or words to that effect: extreme it may sound, but I still hold it true. The beauty of the music and the splendour of the performance in that fantastic arena, in front of nearly 20,000 people that, like me, went wild with excitement at the end of the act, delivered sensations and emotions that can only be expressed as divine.

Since that introduction some seven years ago I have seen live and heard on CD and DVD a large number of different productions of the opera.

On CD, my favourite version is Decca's 1972 recording with a young Luciano Pavarotti as Calaf. This is a studio recording, which I prefer for opera if listening on CD - if you can't have the theatre then you have to make up by having the best sound possible and studio wins over live recordings every time. For instance, I much prefer this recording over the Carreras/Marton/Maazel recording recorded live at the Vienna State Opera that some hold as the finest recording of the opera: Carreras neither has the power nor beauty of the young Pavarotti and Maazel's conducting is ponderous.

Pavarotti's is a brilliant performance - in 1972 he still had the power to go with the gorgeous silky timbre of his voice. Calaf's role needs the power to make the end of Act 1 the thrilling piece of music and theatre that it can be - it works wonderfully well here. The first act of Turandot really is a stunning piece of music: enjoyed best if you have seen at least one production and can replay it in your mind's eye but I suspect that it could nevertheless be very appealing to any listener.

Joan Sutherland does well in the very tricky role of Turandot: this part is pitched so high that the wrong singer can sound too shrill but Sutherland's timbre is easy to listen to even when reaching the highest notes.

The remainder of the cast is also top class. Montserrat Caballe as Liu ekes out all the sympathy the role has to offer and Nicolai Ghiaurov as Timur also delivers a fine performance; the singing at Liu's death in particular is achingly beautiful. The trio of difficult roles, particularly so in the theatre, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco Poli and Piero de Palma as Ping, Pang and Pong deliver a gorgeous rendition of Act 2 Scene 1, so much so that not only can you hear the fabulous musicality of the score, but the comedy in the scene also shines through from their vocal rendition alone - a real plus for this recording.

After all of these superlatives, it should be no surprise for you to learn that I think that Zubin Mehta's conducting of the London Philharmonic orchestra is first class: the tempo is up and he manages to deliver every subtle nuance of colour from the orchestra throughout the recording.

It's a stunning recording of a brilliant opera that I have enjoyed listening to many times over and hope to again and again...if you are going to own only one recording of Turandot then make it this one!