'Turandot' wraps up Hawaii Opera Theatre season

Advertiser Staff

Photos by Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser Sun Yu is Timur in Hawaii Opera Theatre's production of "Turandot," which opens tonight at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Karen Huffstodt is the cruel and cold Princess Turandot, who rules the ancient city of Peking. 'Turandot' 8 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday Blaisdell Concert Hall $29-$100 ($30 special rate for military/group night Thursday — military ID or minimum purchase of 10 tickets required) 596-7858, hawaiiopera.org

The setting: Old Peking. A cold, cruel and beautiful princess, Turandot, asks three riddles of any suitor who seeks her hand in marriage. Those who answer incorrectly are executed.

Enter a handsome stranger who is smitten by Turandot's beauty. Despite attempts to dissuade him, he pursues her, and, to her astonishment, answers her three questions correctly. He, in turn, poses his own riddle. Her bloody reign is over, but will her heart ever melt?

"Turandot" will be performed in Italian, with English titles above the stage. The cast includes Karen Huffstodt as Turandot, Laurence Paxton as Emperor Altoum, Sun Yu as Timur, Warren Mok as CalÃf, Lea Woods Friedman as Liÿ, Quinn Kelsey as Ping, James Price as Pang and Jeremy Blossey as Pong. Henry G. Akina directs; Peter Dean Beck is lighting/scenic director.

Looking ahead, the Hawaii Opera Theatre's summer production, Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance," takes the Blaisdell Concert Hall stage in July.