Turandot in Beijing

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Turandot in Beijing
http//v.youku.com/v_show/id_ch00XMTE2MzY2MTY.htm
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Fast reading

• What is Turandot?
• It is an opera that tells the story of a
  cold-hearted Chinese princess, named Turandot,
  who lives in the Forbidden City. To avoid
  marriage, she says that any potential husband
  must answer three riddles correctly or die.
• Who wrote Turandot?
• Giacomo Puccini wrote the opera. The final
  scene was completed by Franco Alfano, one of his
  students, based on Puccinis notes after he died.
• Was the performance indoors or outdoors?
• It was performed outdoors.

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Reading strategy reading a review of an opera

• What should we pay attention to while reading a
  review of an opera?
• A review of opera usually starts with some
  background information.
• The review can give some important information
  such as the actors names and finally an
  evaluation.
• The review may include lots of very descriptive
  words that reflect feelings.

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The structure of the passage
para(1)
Part I
Some background information
para(2,4-7)
Part II
The summary of the story
Part III
para(8)
Some other information
Part IV
para(3,9)
The writers evaluation
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Detailed reading
1.How many performances of Turandot were
performed in the Forbidden City in Beijing? 2.Who
wrote Turandot?
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Giacomo Puccini wrote the opera. The final scene
was completed by Franco Alfano, one of his
students, based on Puccinis notes after he died.
Part I
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Main characters Setting Plot Climax
Turandot---- a Chinese princess Calaf----a
prince Liu --- Calafs fathers young slave
Beijings Forbidden City
The story takes on the classic love triangle of
the three main characters Turandot, Calaf and
Liu. Liu loves Calaf, but Calaf has fallen in
love with Turandot.Turandot doesnt want to get
married, and she declares that whoever wants to
marry her must answer her three riddles. If the
one cant answer them correctly , he will be
killed.
Liu dies for Calaf. Calaf kisses Turandot and
wins her affection.
Part II
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Director Conductor Actors and actresses
Part III
Zhang Yimou
Zubin Metha, an internationally famous conductor
born in India
Sharon Sweet--- Turandot Barbara Hendricks ---
Liu Kristjan Johannson ---- Calaf
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What is the writers evaluation of the
performance? Why does the writer think that the
Forbidden City is a good setting for Turandot?
splendid, amazing
Because she felt that she could almost feel the
history.
Part IV
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Dear David, Last night, I went to the opera for
the first time. I was so excited. I went to see a
______________ of the opera Turandot. Music
_______ from many different countries were cast.
They were fantastic. The performance left me
breathless with excitement. The setting for the
story is _______ and the stage was decorated in
red and _____. It all looked really authentic.
All of the actors sang in fluent Italian, but I
dont know the language so I needed to read a
translation in order to follow the story. The
plot is about a Chinese ________ called Turandot,
who sets ________ that ____________ husbands have
to
performance
talents
China
gold
princess
riddles
potential
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guess the answers to correctly if they want to
________ her. If they guess wrong, they will be
condemned to death. People say that any opera
production has to have certain key components in
order to be successful. I think for the
production I saw, the key component was the
superb_______. Now I think Ill buy the DVD
because it was so wonderful! I think everyone
there _________ a very special event. Write and
tell me all of your news. Look forward to hearing
from you soon. Eleanor
marry
setting
witnessed
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1.a potential husband ??? 2.imagine doing
????? 3.fall in love (with sb.) ???? 4.in a
moving solo performance ??????????? 5.take
on ??(??) 6.a classic love triangle
???????? 7.be drunk with sth. ??? 8.exercise
control over sb. ????? 9.break ones promise
??
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10.by sunrise ??????? 11.be desperate to do
?????? 12.win sbs affection ???????? 13.leave
ones future in sbs hands
???????? 14.finish with sth. end with
sth. 15.fall silent ???? 16.stage the opera
??????? 17.be transformed into be changed into
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1.There could not be a better setting. 2.The
emperor finds the deaths of so many men
disturbing , and although he would like to, he
cant break his promise. 3.Seeing this, Calaf
says that if she can guess his name by sunrise,
she does not have to marry him. 4.Then Calaf says
his own name aloud, leaving his future in
Turandots hands.
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5.The opera finishes with a beautifully-sung
final duet, (which was so moving that the
audience fell silent). 6.Unfortunately, Puccini
died before he completed this final scene. 7.The
Forbidden City is an area (where once only the
emperor , his family and officials were
allowed.) 8.The bringing together of this group
of people from many countries, the music , and
the setting are clearly the key components of
this amazing production.
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Thank you!