PUCCINI'S Turandot, one of the great blockbusters of romantic opera, is being staged by Dorset Opera this week.

And the ensemble will also be performing the British première of the opera's new controversial ending.

The dramatic musical masterpiece tells a nightmarish tale that teeters on a knife edge between cruelty and love, terror and passion.

But love wins the day when Prince Calaf, the hero, conquers the icy heart of the Princess Turandot.

The opera includes the world's favourite aria, Nessun Dorma, which was famously sung by Luciano Pavarotti for the BBC's theme to the 1990 World Cup.

As well as being a maelstrom of drama and emotion, Turandot has also had a rather turbulent history.

Puccini died before he finished the opera and it was completed by one of his colleagues, Franco Alfano.

However, the ending has its dramatic limitations and in 2001, under the auspices of the Puccini estate and the publisher Ricordi, Luciano Berio composed a new ending which many believe serves the opera better.

Dorset Opera will give the British stage première of this version.

Roderick Kennedy, Dorset Opera's artistic director, explains: "Alfano's versions are rather formulaic in their approach and he simply gathers all Puccini's ideas and turns them into a flashy Hollywood ending, without developing the characters of the two main protagonists.

"Berio, as you would expect, uses far more contemporary harmonies, at the same time permitting the stage action to develop more naturally. He wants us to believe that this is where Puccini might have gone musically, had he lived longer."

In a stroke of genius, Dorset Opera offers a rare opportunity for operagoers to choose their own ending.

The traditional Alfano ending of Turandot will be performed on Friday, July 20, at 7pm and on Sunday, July 22, at 4pm.

The new Berio ending will be performed on Thursday and Saturday, July 19 and 21, at 7pm.

The cast includes an impressive line-up of internationally-acclaimed soloists including American soprano Lisa Livingston, Dutch newcomer Christine Groeneveld, Mexican heartthrob, Luis Rodriguez, and Chinese-American tenor Wei-long Tao.

Director William Relton rejoins Dorset Opera for the third year running and designer Cordelia Chisholm promises the most spectacular set ever to grace the stage of Bryanston's theatre.

You can see Turandot at the Coade Hall, Bryanston School, Blandford. Ticket prices range from £20 to £55 and are available from 01935 816332. For further details visit www.dorsetopera.com