1000 Recordings and Puccini’s Turandot

I have a fascination with opera.  I don’t really know why, it tends to be insanely tragic…but one cannot argue that it is amazing what people can get their voices to do, and certainly if you are going to express some kind of deep emotion, opera seems to complement that quite well.

I remember first reading the story of Turandot in a children’s book, believe it or not, and the illustrations were what really captured my attention.

Now, the music is still absolutely captivating…especially “Nessun Dorma,” probably my favorite from the opera.  And quite common, you have probably heard it if you’ve eaten at an Italian restaurant at some point in your life.  Of course, if you listen to the recording mentioned in the book, with Luciano Pavarotti, you will certainly be even more impressed because he has an incredible voice.

I think the most tragic part of Turandot was that Pucinni was unable to finish it, he couldn’t come up with an ending that satisfied him.  The ending I remember is more of a fairy-tale (thank you, children’s book!) than an opera, and I feel like a happily ever after ending might be a little bit of a stretch. But who knows? If the composer himself couldn’t even finish it, does anyone else really have the right? I wonder.