Turandot:

The Chinese fairy tale about the victory of love in the Forbidden City

Following their sensational "Turandot" production in Italy in 1997, two of the world's leading artists, world-famous conductor Maestro Zubin Mehta and China's best-known and internationally recognized film director Zhang Yimou, will bring the classical opera to its original setting, the Forbidden City of Beijing, in September.

Several times in history, famous personalities have tried to realize an opera production of Puccini's "Turandot" in its original environment, the Forbidden City of Beijing. Even Herbert von Karajan, however, did not succeed in fulfilling this dream, a wish he had expressed in the early 1980s.

The "Turandot" in Beijing will reveal a drama of historic dimensions, a drama full of archaic force and power: the love story of Calaf for the beautiful yet cruel Princess Turandot.

The venue, formerly the ancestral temple of emperor as part of the Forbidden City and today's Working People's Cultural Palace, has been the stage of several renowned concerts recently, including Yanni's concert in 1997. But the eight performances of "Turandot" between September 5 and 13 definitely comprise a once-in-a-century project.

The artistic direction lies in the hands of conductor Maestro Mehta and director Zhang, who has earned three Oscar nominations for his films "Red Sorghum," "Ju Dou" and "Shanghai Serenade."

"Turandot" is Zhang's first venture into the world of opera. His production of the work at the Teatro Comunale in Florence in 1997 (also with Mehta) caused a sensation. This production forms the basis for the unique "Turandot" in Beijing, though sets, costumes and staging will be adapted for the outdoor performances at the Forbidden City.

The production is by the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino of Florence, Italy. Over 1,000 participants -- 350 alone from Florence -- are involved in this production. The chorus and extras will be greatly augmented by Chinese artists.

The staging is Zhang's undertaking. He sees himself less an interpreter of Puccini's intentions and more as responsible for depicting the emotional language and antique traditions of his native country.

Zhang also places great emphasis on the authenticity and artistic handicraft employed in the production of costumes and decor -- of the connection between power and splendor.

Chinese royal custom plays an important role in this production. For example, authentic drums from the emperor's era will announce the start of the opera, and large-scale hand-decorated panels covered with red and gold-leaf will take the place of a stage curtain.

The acoustic quality is of particular importance to Maestro Mehta, and the finest sound engineers have been engaged to provide the necessary amplification for the enormous open-air space.

The same producers who were successful with "The Three Tenors" concerts are undertaking this project. The team has proven its ability through annual seasons at the Arena di Verona and the unique production of "Aida" at Luxor to realize large-scale open-air productions of the highest possible standard.

This project, widely considered the largest international cultural exchange event that China will undertake as the end of the century nears, is made possible through close cooperation among all sides concerned. It operates with the support of the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA), the most ancient and capable in China in the field, and the organization Opera on Original Site Inc. (OOS). CPAA will function as presenters of the production and OOS as executive producers. The total budget amounts to almost US$15 million.

Besides "Turandot," the troupe will present two daytime concerts of "Requiem" by Verdi, directed by Zubin Mehta, on September 8 and 13 at the Century Theater.

Excerpts from his long list of awards:

1988 -- "Red Sorghum" wins the Hundred Flowers Prize for Best Film in China; Golden

Bear Prize at the 38th International Film Festival of Berlin; Prize for Best Film, Best Director, Originality and Artistic Achievements at the 5th International Film Festival of Sydney, Australia.

1990 -- "Ju Dou" wins Special Prize at the 43rd Cannes International Film Festival; Golden Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival; Nominated for the

63rd American Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Film.

1992 -- "Raise the Red Lantern" wins the "Silver Lion" Prize and Grand Prize of the World Film Critics Association at the 44th Venice International Film Festival in Italy; Nomination for the 64th American Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Film; British Oscar Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

1994 -- "Living" wins Prize for the best foreign film by the American Film Critics Society; British Oscar Award for Best Foreign Film; Nominated for the American Golden Globe Award for Best Non-English Film; Grand Prize of the Jury, the Prize for Best Actor (Ge You) and the Prize of Humanitarianism at the 47th Cannes International Film Festival in France.

1996 -- "Shanghai Serenade" wins Oscar Nomination for Best Cinematographer (Lu Le); Prize for Best Non-English Film of the All American Film Critics Association; No.1 of the Top Ten Films of the World in 1995 chosen by the Film Magazine of New York.