Skopje, 27 May 2025 (MIA) — As part of the 53rd May Opera Evenings, the National Opera and Ballet will present Giacomo Puccini's last opera, "Turandot," featuring Russian soprano Veronika Dzhioeva as Princess Turandot. 

According to organizers, the cast includes Chinese tenor Zi-Zhao Guo as Calaf, Macedonian soprano Biljana Josifov as Liu and Macedonian bass Vladimir Sazdovski as Timur. 

Also, Dragan Ampov will play Ping, Jane Dunimagloski will play Pang, Dejan Stoev will play Pong, Dime Petrov will play the Mandarin and Marjan Nikolovski will play Emperor Altoum, accompanied by the NOB orchestra, choir and ballet dancers.

"'Turandot' abounds with moments of awe-inspiring melodic beauty, which really comes to the fore in the unforgettable tenor aria 'Nesun dorma,' one of the most beautiful in opera literature," organizers said.

The opera is conducted by Italian conductor Gianluca Martinenghi and directed by Italian stage director Giancarlo del Monaco. It was choreographed by Sasha Evtimova. The concertmaster is Jane Bakevski and the choirmaster is Gjurgjica Dashikj and Jasmina Gjorgjeska.

Puccini wrote "Turandot" to a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. At the time of his death from throat cancer in 1924, he had composed the first two of the three acts and the third up to the final duet. The music was posthumously completed by Franco Alfano and the opera premiered in 1926. mr/