I considered going to this performance until I saw the price tag. Seeing the DVD, I wonder if I would have enjoyed it in person. The audience looked uncomfortable, there were tourists taking flash photography during the performance, etc. The performance was great and the staging was superb. The ninja executioner was brilliant, especially for DVD audiences who may not fully appreciate the static elements of the staging. The DVD I am not so happy with. I have a San Francisco Opera's laserdisc performance that aired on PBS that is still a better experience than this DVD. Why no Dolby Digital? The PCM audio track is a joke. I also happen to own a Placido Domingo, London Philarmonic, CD performance of Turandot which sounds much better than this PCM track. For instance, the beginning of the second scene on the second act (after the Ping, Pang, Pong trio) when the imperial court assembles should sound thunderous and full of pomp - in the PCM track it is as flat as a radio broadcast. I still love Turandot, as you might have guessed. I think Zubin Metha is a living treasure. I also applaud the producers for the courage to bring this performance to the Forbidden City. Perhaps the next time I can afford to go in person.