Puccini died after composing all but the final scene, and the Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini had it completed by composer Franco Alfano from sketches left by Puccini. Instead, he ventured into an exploration of writing that has elements of atonality, Chinese pentatonic themes, echoes of Wagner and Stravinsky, and even jazz riffs of the early 1920s, when the opera was written. In composing, Puccini threw off the romantic and gritty verismo tradition of his earlier successes.
Now in his fifth year as the head of the Palo Alto-based company, Moscovich has a significant challenge as conductor of the rich, diverse score. As with the other two operas in the season, "Turandot" is a company premiere. This is the first time West Bay has presented "Turandot" in its 55 seasons. "An intimate opera on an epic scale" is the way West Bay Opera's charismatic general director, Jose Luis Moscovich, characterizes the monumental Puccini creation "Turandot." His company will tackle the opera for two weekends beginning Friday, Feb.
Photo by Veronica Weber/Palo Alto Online. David Gustafson playing the heroic Timur.
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