Feb 23rd
Feb 26th
Opera Turandot, at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo (Photo: teamLab, Courtesy: Daniel Kramer, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation)
Opera Turandot, at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo (Photo: teamLab, Courtesy: Daniel Kramer, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation) (Photo: Turandot – Julian Kloby / CC BY 2.0)

teamLab and Turandot

A spectacular showcase of art and creativity

Julian Kloby   - 3 min read
When : Feb 23rd - Feb 26th 2023

teamLab has collaborated with Stage Director Daniel Kramer (former Artistic Director of the English National Opera and previously a Creative Associate at the Royal Shakespeare Company) to bring us a new production of the unfinished opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. Together they have created new forms of artistic expression in the opera scene by creating a stunning performance that tickled the imagination. Over the course of five years, ideas went back and forth to create the artistic masterpiece that debuted in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2022.

Opera Turandot, at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo (Photo: teamLab, Courtesy: Daniel Kramer, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation)
Opera Turandot, at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo (Photo: teamLab, Courtesy: Daniel Kramer, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation)

Light sculptures and digital art enhanced the performance, elements many would never dare to put in an opera house. The stage featured two rotating sides providing futuristic and dystopian vibes. teamLab Architects worked hard to build it of acrylic and glass, reflective surfaces, and combinations of soft white and stretchy black materials, allowing its geometric shape to produce stunning reflections.

Opera Turandot, at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo (Photo: teamLab, Courtesy: Daniel Kramer, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation)
Opera Turandot, at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo (Photo: teamLab, Courtesy: Daniel Kramer, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation)

These elements help further immerse the cast and break down boundaries between the audience and the performance. The story of this opera is one of dramatic love accompanied by three-dimensional light structures that add to the intensity and calmness of each scene. Along with this was a live orchestra performing music that set the tone for each part. Versatility in its design created a show that captured your attention and never grew tiresome.

teamLab is all about doing the unthinkable, and this opera embodied what you will find in its other experiences across Japan.

More Info

Find out more about teamLab

Julian Kloby

Julian Kloby @u46568

Eastern Washington University student majoring in Journalism/Public Relations. Stating in Tokyo for the time being and look forward to all it has to offer.