I have always been fascinated by the Opera. Recently I rented a video from Netflix on the making of Puccini's Turandot and its subsequent staging in Beijing. Turandot, for the uninformed, is a legendary story of a Chinese princess who posed a dare to whoever wanted her hand in marriage - answer three riddles, or die. Most probably people would recognize the famous song "Nessun Dorma" as popularized by the late great Pavarotti, more than they would the opera.
The documentary features the collaboration between renowned conductor Zubin Mehta and Zhang Yimou, and one can really see how much attention they pay to the details -- from blocking, emphasis on the songs, and the intricacy of the costumes they wear. Mehta emphasized on the Beijing performance as very critical, costume-wise, as most Asian performances/celebrations are always celebrated colorfully--you never see an Asian celebration with people dressed in black/white or grey.
I am a beginner in operatic appreciation, and with this documentary it has opened my eyes to a totally different mode of entertainment -- one that is raw, poetic, and in tune with a world that has long since gone.
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