Jackie Chan makes his opera directing debut

From July 17 to Sept 5, the 72nd Festival Puccini will set the stage for a momentous celebration of opera, unveiling a spectacular new rendition of Turandot to mark the 100th anniversary of the opera's world premiere.

Hosted in the serene town of Torre del Lago, the Italian birthplace of the legendary Puccini, this year's festival will fuse East and West, tradition and innovation, with a special twist as kung fu icon Jackie Chan makes his opera directing debut.

Known worldwide for his martial arts mastery on screen, Chan is turning his talents to opera. This visionary Turandot production will break new ground, blending the soul of traditional Chinese culture with the timeless grandeur of Puccini's masterpiece. Under the baton of acclaimed conductor Marco Armiliato and with a star-studded cast led by tenor Roberto Alagna, Chan's interpretation will merge kung fu into the fabric of the opera.

For the first time ever, martial arts will be an integral part of the opera's storytelling — not just as visual spectacle, but as profound emotional expression. Through tai chi, ritualistic movements, and the rhythm of martial arts, Chan reimagines Turandot as a dynamic, physical dialogue that mirrors the inner desires and spiritual struggles of the characters. Every fight, every gesture, will carry deep emotional weight, transforming the stage into a battleground of the soul.

In this bold new version, each main character is given a "warrior incarnation" — a symbolic representation of their inner strength, desires and spiritual essence. These "embodiments" are more than just symbolic visuals. They will interact with the characters, emerging at key moments to manifest their hidden emotional worlds.

Princess Turandot's embodiment will be the Dragon — a fierce, untamable force representing the character's defiance and inner conflict. Calaf, the brave prince who falls madly in love with Turandot, will be symbolized by the Horse — a symbol of strength, perseverance and the relentless pursuit of love. These warrior figures will not merely stand in the background; they will weave seamlessly into the plot, responding to the characters' actions, illuminating their emotional journeys, and transforming the opera into a living, breathing entity. The combination of Chinese cultural symbols, such as the dragon and horse, infuses the opera with Eastern philosophical depth, creating a new form of dramatic storytelling that harmonizes Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The production's stage design is another striking feature, centered around one of the most iconic symbols in both Chinese and Western culture: water. In Chan's vision, water represents not only purification and fate but also the emotional currents that connect the characters to one another and to the audience. The stage's flowing, shimmering waters will serve as a living narrative device, guiding the transitions between scenes and reflecting the characters' emotional ebb and flow.

The stage will feature shallow canals and reflective pools. Through its fluidity, water will become both a visual element and a narrative language, weaving together the opera's themes of fate, love and conflict.

With the support of cutting-edge multimedia elements, such as video projections, LED images, cinematic lighting, and dynamic animations, the production will merge with traditional set designs, crafting an immersive, multisensory experience.

The combination of snow, rain, light, shadows, and moving water will create a rich, layered atmosphere, adding depth and resonance to the opera's sweeping emotional arcs.

Before its premiere at the Festival Puccini, the production will embark on a national tour in China. From May 8 to 10, the production will be staged in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, followed by two more cities — Xiamen, Fujian province, from May 14 to 16, and Chengdu, Sichuan province, from May 22 to 24.