Turandot Opera Poster
This project was created in my sophomore level graphic design class. The goal was to create a poster advertising a show at the Opera Philadelphia. I chose to illustrate Puccini’s Italian opera Turandot. Set in China, this opera follows Prince Calaf, who falls in love with a harsh and cold Princess named Turandot. In order to win her hand in marriage he must solve three riddles. If he fails, he must die. Calaf ends up passing her tests, however cold and determined Turandot refuses to marry him. The poster pulls inspiration from pivotal moments in the Opera, the Opera’s history, and Chinese culture.
Moodboard and Concept
The final poster draws inspiration from previous Turandot posters dating back decades to its creation. The three ladies depicted represent the three riddles within the Opera and are illustrated to look like Wong Liu Tsong, known professionally as Anna May Wong. Tsong played Princess Turandot in the 1937 adaptation of the opera at the Westport Country Playhouse.
The three ladies are floating in a sea of hope, revenge, and blood to represent the answers of the three riddles in the Opera:
1. What is born each night and dies at dawn? Hope.
2. What flickers red and warm like a flame, but is not fire? Blood.
3. What is ice which gives you fire and which your fire freezes still more? It is Turandot! Turandot!
The word ‘Turandot’ at the top of the poster was illustrated by me to replicate Chinese patterns and characters. Pictured to the right is the mood board created at the start of the project
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Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
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Graphic Design 2001
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Jenny Kowalski