TV REVIEWS : Hockney Designs Brighten ‘Turandot’

David Hockney’s lavish sets for Puccini’s “Turandot” by all reports made a dominant impact when seen at the San Francisco Opera in October. They look a little less impressive squeezed onto the little screen, but television director Brian Large still allows sufficient appreciation of them by judiciously balancing long shots with close-up views of the cast.

The zig-zag angles and vistas of the palace walls still meander with insouciance into the distance. The witty imitations of traditional hanging scroll-art can still be properly apprehended. The final scene continues to evolve mysteriously from blue grotto to symbolic cut-out heart, glowing incandescent with opulent golds and reds as love finally triumphs.

Despite the visual interest, however, the musical values are not always happy ones.

Eva Marton sings the title role with squally attack and unsteady support, especially when singing under pressure in the heights, as the role so often requires. Apart from some awkwardly stiff cross-armed cliches, however, she acts with sensitive detail, signaling the icy princess’ potential capitulation as early as the riddle scene and rendering Alfano’s completion of the score uncommonly involving. Michael Sylvester brings bright, big and warm vocalism to the role of Calaf, and acts with a sympathetic, wide-eyed naivete.

Lucia Mazzaria makes a coppery-toned, small-voiced Liu. Kevin J. Langan brings authority and detailed characterization to Timur.

Theodore Baerg, Dennis Petersen and Craig Estep make a hoarsely-blended trio of court ministers. Joseph Frank enacts a compassionate Emperor and sings with gentle clarity.

Donald Runnicles projects propulsive energy in the pit, even in the lyrical passages, sometimes overwhelming the singers.

Director Peter McClintock makes sure the principals attend to realistic details, but his lock-step postures for the proletarian-style chorus tend to disappear at the boundaries of the television screen. Ian Falconer created the heavy, elaborate court costumes. Thomas J. Munn’s moody lighting helped focus the action and the transitions.

* “Turandot” airs at 3 p.m. Sunday on KCET-TV Channel 28.