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Turandot in Beijing
北京《圖蘭朵》
by Jane Jones
Jane Jones著
Last night, I witnessed the first of only eight performances of Giacomo Puccini's world-famous opera, Turandot, being performed in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
昨天晚上，我觀看了喬柯摩·普契尼世界聞名的歌劇《圖蘭朵》八場公演中的首場，這次演出是在中國北京的紫禁城舉行的。
The performance was splendid.
這次演出非常棒。
Some of the world's greatest opera singers were cast in this production.
幾位世界頂級歌劇演唱家在其中擔(dān)當(dāng)主演。
and many great Chinese musicians also participated.
許多杰出的中國音樂家也參加了演出。
Puccini, an Italian, wrote Turandot towards the end of his life, between 1920 and 1924.
普契尼是意大利人，在1920年至1924年間，他在臨終之際創(chuàng)作出《圖蘭朵》。
He liked East Asia very much and also wrote Madam Butterfly, which is set in Japan.
他很喜歡東亞，他的另外一部作品《蝴蝶夫人》是以日本為背景的。
Just imagine performing such an opera in the Forbidden City -- there could not be a more awesome setting!
想象一下這樣一部歌劇在紫禁城里上演—沒有比這更令人難忘的地方了！
You could almost feel the history.
你幾乎可以感受到歷史。
The weather was also perfect for a performance outdoors.
當(dāng)時的天氣對戶外演出也是再適合不過了。
Instead of a stage curtain, there were decorated screens covered with red and gold,
刷成紅色和金色的隔板取代了屏幕，
and traditional Chinese drums were used to announce the start of the opera.
而且用傳統(tǒng)的中國鼓來宣布開場。
Turandot is the story of a stubborn and cruel Chinese princess, named Turandot, who lives in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
《圖蘭朵》講述的是一位固執(zhí)殘酷的中國公主的故事，她的名字叫圖蘭朵，住在北京的紫禁城中。
In the story, the emperor of China, Turandot's father, has promised to allow her to choose her own husband.
故事中，中國的皇帝，圖蘭朵的父親，向她承諾自己選擇丈夫。
In order to avoid marriage, she says that any potential husband must solve three riddles if he wants to marry her.
為了逃避婚姻，她提出任何來提親的人如果想要娶她，都必須猜出三個謎語。
Those who cannot answer all three riddles, however, will be condemned to death.
但是，那些無法回答所有三個問題的人，將被處死。
This means that few men would dare to ask for her hand in marriage.
這就意味著很少人敢向她求婚。
The story begins when a prince is killed for failing to solve her riddles.
故事一開始是一位王子由于猜不出她的謎語而被殺死。
The emperor finds the death disturbing.
皇帝發(fā)現(xiàn)死亡令人不安。
However, although he would like to, he cannot break his promise and must allow Turandot to do as she wishes.
但是，即使他想要，他也不能違背他的誓言，必須允許允許圖蘭朵按自己的意愿做事。
