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Washington National Opera Commissions Asian-American Artists to Revise Turandot's Ending

cultural-heritage · 2026-03-24

Washington National Opera has commissioned two Asian-American artists to create a new conclusion for Puccini's unfinished opera Turandot. The original ending by Franco Alfano has long been criticized as inadequate, and the opera itself is viewed as containing Orientalist themes. The project involves both completing the opera and revising the existing libretto. This initiative aims to address historical concerns about the work's representation and artistic completion.

Key facts

  • Puccini died before finishing Turandot
  • The standard completion by Franco Alfano is considered unsatisfactory
  • Washington National Opera commissioned a new ending
  • Two Asian-American artists are creating the new completion and revising the libretto
  • The opera has been criticized as an Orientalist fantasy

Entities

Artists

  • Asian-American artists

Institutions

  • Washington National Opera

Locations

  • Washington

Sources