The centrepiece of this year’s set, designed by Dan Potra, has been installed ahead of next week’s opening night.
There’s just one week left before the 2016 Handa Opera on the Harbour production of Turandot brings the majesty of ancient China to the heart of Sydney, and ahead of next week’s opening night, Opera Australia has offered a sneak peek at the centrepiece of this year’s floating set. Designer Dan Potra has brought his experience working on major arena spectaculars to bear in conjuring a set worthy of the epic drama of Puccini’s operatic masterpiece, featuring a colossal fire-breathing dragon.
Working with director Chen Shi-Zheng, Potra has designed both the set and costumes for the production, fusing historical authenticity with a healthy amount of dramatic licence. More than 150 technicians are now engaged in completing the set’s installation, which also features a towering, 18 metre-high, translucent Pagoda, weighing 12 tonnes. It takes this huge team 23 days to finish installing the set at its final home overlooking Farm Cove, across the water from the Sydney Opera House.
The dragon sculpture, which is also partially lit using projection mapping technology, is one of the most ambitious set elements ever created for Opera Australia. At 60 metres in length and weighing approximately 4 tonnes, it took over 1000 man-hours to sculpt and finish. A specially imported Kuka 7 Axis Robot CNC was used to carve the intricate head out of special foam before set artists finished the design by hand.
During the next week, the rest of the set will be erected, as well as the five food and drink venues, merchandising outlets, bathroom facilities and grandstands required to cater for the 3000 patrons due to attend each night. In total, 136 performers, including the musicians of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, will come together to bring Puccini’s tale of forbidden love to the stage.
Handa Opera on the Harbour presents Turandot, March 24-April 24.
Limelight is giving away a double pass to Turandot, plus a HOSH DVD collection.
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