Turandot comes to the Capital via Sydney Harbour

Turandot at Sydney Harbour Pic: Contribited

Performing on a spectacular outdoor water-stage, Opera Handa’s unique perspective blossoms as the classic story of a beautiful and powerful princess who challenges her many suitors to answer three riddles on pain of death unfolds.

No one has ever succeeded in solving the riddles when Caláf, a brave prince from a foreign land, arrives and instantly falls in love with the princess.

Despite the wishes of his exiled father and the pleas of a slave-girl who loves him, he rings the gong and declares his love for the princess.

She presents her riddles, and in triumph, the unknown prince answers.

Turandot despairs and the prince takes pity - offering the ice-cold princess a riddle of his own.

But Caláf’s riddle risks more than his own life - everyone else’s hangs in the balance.

“Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour has now completed its fifth production, and it continues to go from strength to strength,” says Lyndon Terracini, Artistic Director of Opera Australia.

“Turandot is the biggest production we’ve ever done and it was an absolute thrill to experience.”

With a 78-strong cast, magnificent costumes, a shimmering pagoda and, a 60-metre tall fire-breathing dragon (with a tail that morphs into the Great Wall of China), this is the opera event of the year, and you can watch it too without travelling to the other side of the world, thanks to CinemaLive.

Performed in Italian with English translations, CinemaLive will broadcast Puccini’s opera to five Capital cinemas on Thursday - Vue Omni, Vue Ocean Terminal, Odeon, Lothian Road, Cineworld and The Cameo.

Times vary so check relevant website for details.

As one of the most important outdoor opera events in the world, expect bold, dramatic, bright shapes and a set that will take your breath away, not to mention Riccardo Massi’s rendition of the ever popular Nessun Dorma.

Turandot runs two hours and 15 minutes, including 15 minute interval.