David Hockney's 'Turandot' Sets Debut at L.A. Opera
On Saturday evening, Los Angeles Opera will present its production of "Turandot," featuring stage sets designed by renowned British painter David Hockney. This marks the debut of these sets in Los Angeles. The sets were originally created in the early 1990s and are characterized by their vibrant colors and abstract design, reminiscent of German Expressionist films and Disney’s "Fantasia."
Vice president of artistic planning for L.A. Opera, Rupert Hemmings, noted that bringing Hockney’s sets to Los Angeles has been a long-term goal. The elaborate production involves 342 cast and crew members and an 86-piece orchestra. Due to the high production costs and limited performances, the opera is not expected to break even financially.
The production assets, including costumes by Ian Falconer, were rented from the San Francisco Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which originally commissioned the designs 34 years ago. Hockney's sets feature striking elements such as 30-foot facades and a 60-foot painted scrim, constructed using a unique method that allowed Hockney to explore the space interactively.
Technical director Jeff Kleeman and his team spent considerable time adapting these sets for the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage, in a detailed process involving months of analysis and physical labor.
The opera, composed by Giacomo Puccini and completed by Franco Alfano, will run for six performances, scheduled on various dates from May 17 to June 8.
Details: - When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with additional performances at various times through June 8. - Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. - Tickets: $34 and up - Info: (213) 972-8001, LAOpera.org - Running time: 2 hours and 55 minutes, including two intermissions.