Completing Turandot Pt. 1 - the Ax Motif

Washington National Opera's production of 'Turandot', with the new ending by Christopher Tin and Susan Soon He Stanton, opens at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on May 11, 2024. Directed by Francesca Zambello and starring Ewa Plonka/Marjorie Owens (Turandot) and Yonghoon Lee/Jonathan Burton (Calaf), conducted by Speranza Scappucci.
Turandot was Giacomo Puccini's final opera, but he died before he could finish it, leaving scattered sketches. On the 100th-anniversary of his death, this newly commissioned ending seeks to resolve one of the biggest plot dilemmas in the opera canon: how to justify the love between the opera's two adversaries: the steely Princess Turandot, and the heroic Prince Calaf.
A special nod goes to Puccini scholar Deborah Burton, whose book 'Recondite Harmony: Essays on Puccini's Operas' first called my attention to the similarities between the Ax Motif and the Liebesruhe theme in Tristan und Isolde. For all you musicologists out there, I highly recommend reading her book.
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[@acmeannie]

As a major opera fan, I am SO glad you have been chosen to complete Turandot. You understand... it's as simple as that! Cannot wait to experience it!

[@wilhellmllw3608]

Thank you for the insight, Christopher Tin!

[@burge117]

That was awesome 😊 Thanks for sharing the cool thought process 😊

[@honusmom5144]

Thank you explaining your thought process for this undertaking. I hope it is filmed for later play on PBS. Love the bird prints you have along the back wall. 😊

[@kimlindseyOH]

This is going to be brilliant, Chris! Opera isn't usually my jam, but if our Cleveland Orchestra ever performs your version, I'll be there! 👏👏👏

[@WhirledPublishing]

I've written over 1,000 songs, over a dozen musicals and two operas - thank you for helping.

[@VallaMusic]

loving the whole love theme transformation - bravo

[@sam-dz4sj]

Can’t wait to hear the full scores soon

[@geoffreydigiorgio4878]

Maestro.Tin, As a singer in the opera at WNO, as a choral composer myself, also as a person who has sung Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde and who is now making the switch from Baritone to Heldentenor and learning the role of Tristan; I must say the whole experience of singing your music has been serendipitous for me. Most specifically because, as a gamer, my favorite game ever has always been Sid Meier's Civilization, when I found out I'd be performing your music I jumped out of my seat. At rehearsal the other night I purposely made sure to avert my eyes from Maestro for a split second so I could see the expression on your face when we started singing "Il Sole e sorto" I could not tell you how much it meant to me to have enjoyed your gorgeous music for all these years only to give you back the gift of hearing your own music sung by myself and my colleagues at WNO. Your face lit up like the sun! I had goosebumps. It was definitely a moment of cosmic irony that rarely one gets to experience. Truly a core memory for my musical/performing life.

[@christophertin]

You sounded amazing tonight!

[@ericboberg3998]

You know no bounds, Christopher. So excited for you! Looking forward to a special trip to DC to see the world premier.

[@iamsherrydavis]

Wonderful to learn about your process, thank you!

[@lakoneko]

Super excited to see it in person!

[@lindaarchinal9008]

Wow! Great - I get it, glad you are doing this.

[@lateblossom]

I didn't understand any of that, because I am no music major, but I am here for moral support!

[@stephenzhao5809]

❤👍