Home > Turandot Puccini, G. (1858-1924) Turandot Composed 1920-1924; completed by Franco Alfano 1925-1926. First performed April 25, 1926. Libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni (in Itarian), after Gozzi. A Summary of “Turandot” Act 1 In a legendary time, at the square in front of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, the Princess, Turandot, is a woman of great beauty, but has a cold heart that is as cold as ice. She said, “Any prince seeking to marry me must answer three riddles. But if he fails, he will have to die.” At the square, a failed prince’s fate, who is going to the guillotine, excites a lot of the audience’s blood. In the crowd, a vanquished king of Tartary, Timur, meets his long-lost son, Prince Calaf, again. Calaf falls in love with Turandot at first sight. He proclaims to try to answer her three riddles. One of Timur’s slave girls, Liu, attempts to stop his reckless resolve, but his determination strengthens. Act 2 Turandot appears, and begins to ask Calaf her three riddles. Q1. What thing is reborn every night? ...A. ‘Hope’ Q2. What burns hot, but is not fire? ...A. ‘Blood’ Q3. What ice can make fire? ...A. ‘Turandot’ Calaf successfully answers her three riddles. Turandot is upset, and refuses to marry him. Calaf says to her, “If you can learn my name by dawn, I will forfeit my life.” Act 3 Turandot gives the crowd in Beijing an order not to sleep until someone learns his name. The people of Beijing frantically find out his name. They catch Liu. Turandot asks Liu why she never says his name. Liu answers that it is because of her love to him, and kills herself. After the crowd goes home, Turandot remains alone to confront Calaf. Then, Calaf gives away his name to her. At the break of dawn, Turandot proclaims the victory to learn his name in front of the crowd. She says to the crowd, “His name is …Love”, and she then concedes defeat and marries him. A Comment on “Turandot” This opera is the last opera by Giacomo Puccini. When Puccini died, he hadn’t finished composing this opera. But, Puccini left some rough notes. Using Puccini’s notes Franco Alfano, who is one of Puccini’s private pupils, took over the writing of the opera from the duet of Turandot and Calaf in act 3. In the first performance of “Turandot,” it was conducted by Arturo Toscanini, who is a famous Italian conductor, Toscanini finished conducting this opera before the duet in act 3, and he told the audience that this point was the death of Puccini. On the next day, “Turandot” was completely performed. “Turandot” is a large scale opera which is set in Beijing. The features of this opera are powerful chorus, having some Chinese melodies, and the solution of three riddles. You will find a lot of highlights in this opera. The most famous aria is especially Calaf’s aria, “Nessun dorma! (Let No One Sleep)” in act 3. The Tenor who plays Calaf, dramatically sings this aria with his pride of victory and his affection to Turandot. Luciano Pavarotti, one of the three tenors, sang this aria at the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Torino (Turin). Shizuka Arakawa, who won the gold medal in women’s figure skating in this Olympics, used this aria in her free program. This aria is perfect for a victory! Of course, Turandot just cannot be ignored. In addition, a slave girl, Liu, is also an important role. Liu is not described in the original of this opera’s libretto, but is added by Puccini. Liu sings two arias, “Signore, ascolta! (My lord, listen!)” in act 1 and “Tu che di gel sei cinta (You who are begirdled by ice)” in act 3. She kills herself because of her love for Calaf. She leaves us with a strong impression. Gluck, C. W. (1714-1787) 　- Orpheus and Eurydice Mozart, W. A. (1756-1791) 　- The Marriage of Figaro 　- Don Giovanni 　- Cosi fan tutte 　- The Magic Flute Beethoven, L. v. (1770-1827) 　- Fidelio Weber, C. M. v. (1786-1826) 　- The Magic Bullets Rossini, G. (1792-1868) 　- The Barber of Seville Donizetti, G. (1797-1848) 　- The Elixir of Love Verdi, G. (1813-1901) 　- Macbeth 　- Rigoletto 　- Il trovatore 　- La Traviata 　- Un ballo in maschera 　- Don Carlo 　- Aida 　- Otello 　- Falstaff Wagner, R. (1813-1883) 　- The Flying Dutchman 　- Tannhauser 　- Lohengrin 　- Tristan und Isolde 　- Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg 　- The Rhinegold 　- Die Walkure 　- Siegfried 　- Twilight of the Gods 　- Parsifal Offenbach, J. (1819-1880) 　- The Tales of Hoffmann Strauss, J. (1825-1899) 　- Die Fledermaus (The Bat) Bizet, G. (1838-1875) 　- Carmen Tchaikovsky, P. J. (1840-1893) 　- Eugene Onegin Massenet, J. (1842-1912) 　- Werther Humperdinck, E. (1854-1921) 　- Hansel and Gretel Puccini, G. (1858-1924) 　- La Boheme 　- Tosca 　- Madama Butterfly 　- Turandot Leoncavallo, R. (1858-1919) 　- Pagliacci Mascagni, P. (1863-1945) 　- Cavalleria Rusticana Debussy, C. (1862-1918) 　- Pelleas et Melisande Strauss, R. (1864-1949) 　- Salome 　- The Cavalier of the Rose Copyright (C) 2005-2011 Yusuke Kamiki. All Rights Reserved.