“Turandot” returns to the Baku stage after 98 years: Puccini's opera premieres at the Heydar Aliyev Palace

Giacomo Puccini's “Turandot” is back on an Azerbaijani stage after a 98-year absence. A new production created especially for Baku premiered at the Heydar Aliyev Palace on 24 October.

The production is directed by Mikayil Mikayilov, with sets by Mustafa Mustafayev. On opening night People's Artist Yusif Eyvazov, director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, sang Prince Calaf for the first time on an Azerbaijani stage. Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio made her Baku debut as Turandot, and Beatrice Venezi conducted.

The audience greeted the performance with long applause. Leyla Aliyeva, vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, attended the premiere and met the performers backstage afterwards.

The production has three casts, with different soloists and a different conductor on each of the evenings of 24, 25 and 27 October.