The CPO staged a thrilling concert version of "Turandot" on Friday night as strong voices stood out in high relief amidst a simple but symbolic setting.

Although there wasn't a splendid Forbidden City backdrop, nor the gorgeous princess gowns draping the stars as were used five years ago for the Three Tenors director Li Wei guided a magnificent cast and raised the roof of the Poly Theatre.

Sopranos Wang Xia (as Turandot) and Sun Xiuwei (Liu), tenor Dai Yuqiang (Calaf) and baritone Tian Haojiang (Timur) were all brilliant.

Under the baton of Yu Long, artistic director of CPO, the orchestra gave full play to the transformative power of Puccini's music, such as Turandot's chilling "In questa reggia," Liu's moving aria "Signora, ascolta" and the memorable "Nessun dorma." The renditions could have melted even the hardest heart.

Standing on the left front of the stage, the four-leaf screen changed its graphics to suggest different scenes.

The costumes combined the Western and Chinese, old fashioned and new.

Calaf was dressed in a long windcheater while Timur sporting long white hair wore a dark blue suit. Liu was dressed Qing Dynasty style while Turandot wore an orange satin evening dress with glittering shoulder straps that matched her sparkling voice.

The choir stood on the back stage dressed in tangzhuang contemporary version of traditional Chinese attire with a fan in each member's hand to give some pose while singing.

Wang was perfect as the icy but seductive Princess Turandot. The soprano has a commanding, versatile and authoritative voice.

As Calaf, tenor Dai was at home with the style and the Puccinian melodic lines. He gave a bright, firm performance, which was driven by a sense of excitement.

(China Daily September 4, 2006)