The casino always wins. Soprano Julia Vasilyev’s Turandota Mainz State Theater premiere is a volcano / day of emotions

On Saturday, May 17, when European viewers followed the excessive extravagans of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, the audience in the Mainca State Theater was pulled by Jacomo Puccini’s last opera Turandota New production premieres in the glamorous dramatic world.

Place of activity – a seemingly semi -legal casino set up in abandoned Chainataun industrial rooms somewhere in the US in the 1980s. Hieroglyphs have still survived on the walls. Chinese lanterns and décor elements have remained inherited from the previous owners of the building, but there are no other exotic Beijing symbols, but rather the imprint of American cultural imperialism and a collapsed American dream. Now there is Turandota – Gambling Business Primadonna. Her shoe heels are so obscene that the lady is forced to move with a cane. This casino turandota becomes an unattainable jackpot and Kalaf’s obsession with him – a existential game with his own life.

To the whole bank!

Why can this show interesting for the Latvian audience? Because the title role is portrayed by the soloist of the Latvian National Opera (LNO) Julia Vasilyev. We know her turandot in a classically static, luxurious LNO production, but Julia Vasilyev’s dynamic actor transformations she shows on stage in the German city of Mainz deserves recognition and loud ovation. This amazing job can be called radical Turandotas Interpretation, but everything is justified in music and text. This is the result of an intense eight -week attempts. The show ends where, shortly before death, the Puccini put multiple points – so there is no Turandota and Kalaf final duo.

Turandota is the first role of the soloist of the Latvian National Opera Julia Vasilyev, which she performs outside Latvia. Photo – Andreas eter

The show has been staged by Italian conductor Francesco Chillufo and Italian director, stage designer and costume artist Jeanluk Falaski. They have worked close interaction with Julia Vasilyev, and in this Turandot The singer’s stamp is felt – this is her turandota vocal and actor. The bets are high, and the Latvian artist boldly plays on the whole bank.

Puccini’s opera with Julia Vasilyev will be heard at the Mainca State Theater in May and June, as well as from September to December.

Incarnation

« Turandota is life in its entirety, which means that it also includes death. Turandota is not just an image – she is a metaphor, the existence itself. A complicated, fragmented being, afflicted, wounded, destroyed in many struggles. Director Jeanluk Falaski. « The casino is a casino host in Turandota, but it is clear that it is not just a gambling space. It is a hallway, a transition between two worlds, between hell and paradise. It is a pure weave on Earth.

Turandota Father Altoum is portrayed by German tenor Patrick Herner (wheelchair). Photo – Andreas eter

Jeanluk Falaski has succeeded in the world of music theater as a costume artist. He has worked with directors David Livermori, Lydia Steier, Berry Koski and others. In recent years, Jeanluk Falaski himself has been directed. In Mainz he has already staged Francesco Chilea’s opera Adrian and Nicholas Antonio Ports Angelic.

Jeanluk Falaski is very happy about cooperation with Julia Vasilyev. In a conversation with KDI, the director admits: « Julia is a fantastic artist who works wisely and sensitive. People have tormented, beaten, raped and brutally used, as evidenced by scars on her body. She is a being that has no age.

The director explains that the choice of casino as a place of action is not accidental. « Humanity plays and puts bets every day in the hope of getting more and more. We try to get more money, a better car, an ever bigger house and a brighter garden. This is an endless game, and Kalaf is involved in it. In our show he is not a hero but rather an anti -hero. He is a loser. Kalaf is playing with Turand, which is always the owner of the casino. Reminds Jeanluk Falaski.

Kalafu sings the experienced Italian tenor Antonello Palombi. The slave Liu is portrayed by Armenian soprano Juliet Alexanjan, Kalaf’s father Timur – German bass Stephen Bocs, Turandota’s father Altoum – German tenor Pator Patrick Herner.

Gas and American baritone Gabriel Rolinson, Koritian tenor Mjungin Lee and American tenor Mark Woolia-Villam, are painting ministers Ping, Pang, Pong and Pong with original comic colors-they are casino chefs in this production. Gamers are served with dishes made from Turandota victims (such as the Prince of Persia). The color of the casino toad is mandarin in the portrayal of German bassbaritone Tim Luke Reiter. The gaming hall is among the ladies (choir artists) similar to the 80s American series Dallas and Dynasty Heroes.

Kalafu sings the experienced Italian tenor Antonello Palombi. Photo – Andreas eter

Volcano

Julia Vasilyev’s Turandota retains its mystical, premature at the crossroads of aggression, tenderness and vulnerability throughout the show. This image is expressive and theatrical – she is not the typical mental iceberg, which happens to collect in other productions, but a volcano of emotions. In Mainz, the singing of Julia Vasilyev becomes an element of the actor, her voice sounds natural and unforgetted. This work is an important achievement in an artist’s career. She gets freely and convincingly, enjoying every moment on the stage.

« I would be surprised if someone told me some time ago that Turandota would be the role I would debut outside Latvia, » Julia Vasilyev reveals in a conversation with KDI after the premiere. « I started my career as a lyrical coloratur soprano, singing the night queen The magic flute and the Olympia In the stories of Hofmann. I didn’t even realize that I have potential for dramatic roles – and not only vocal, but also internally, personally and actor. Then at some point this door just opened. « 

In October 2024, Julia Vasilyev sang Turandota at the Rovereto, Italian city of Rovereto. « It was my first role outside the Latvian National Opera, but the contract with the Mainca State Theater was signed before. I was looking forward to this show in Germany, it is a big event in my creative life, » says Julia Vasilyev.

« Already in the very first telephone conversation with director Jeanluk Falaski, I was fascinated by his ideas and the deep philosophical subtext of the production. I worked a lot with myself to expand my personality. What the director told me at the time. Archetype. Fatum. It offers many interesting options for interpreting the image, and you can add something new every time, « the singer adds.

Singer Julia Vasilyev with conductor Francesco Chillufo (from left) and director Jeanluk Falaski after Turandotas Premiere in Mainz on May 17th. Photo – Jegor Jerohomovich

In the coming seasons, Julia Vasilyev has other performances in Europe. « As long as I was here in Mainz, I was able to go to a listening to Nuremberg. I will sing Abigail next year Nabuko. Maybe i will be Mackerel and Turandota two more places. It turns out that the dramatic repertoire is really mine! « Says Julia Vasilyev. In February 2026, she will debut in Aida in Zagreb.

« In Mainca, we talked to conductor Francesco Chillufo and director Jean -Luk Falaski on Puccini A girl from the west and Richard Strauss Salomi. We dream of these operas! I know that life happens – if you want something, you have to start going in this direction and it will come true, « says Julia Vasilyev.

The PS Mainca State Theater takes care that the visit is truly enjoyable – the ticket price includes a program, refreshing drinks, wine and snacks (the exception is children’s shows). The mood improves immediately.

Turandota

Mainca State Theater May 28, June 8, 19, September 7, 19, 28, October 5, 19, November 3, December 7, 27
staattheater-mainz.com