Turandot

The story

Formidable and unattainable, Princess Turandot sets a deadly test for her suitors: solve three riddles or perish. Prince Calaf, captivated by her icy beauty, accepts the challenge and triumphs. But Turandot refuses to submit. Calaf then proposes a new challenge: if she discovers his name before dawn, he will die. As the night falls, destinies become intertwined. Liù, a young slave girl in love with Calaf, holds the secret that could change everything.

Libretto

Giuseppe Adami & Renato Simoni

New ending — music and Libretto

Andrea Battistoni

Turandot would be Puccini's last opera, remaining unfinished at his death in 1924. The composer had embarked on this ambitious work, fascinated by the oriental world and its mysterious atmospheres. The work, propelled by the aria "Nessun dorma," has become one of the most famous in the operatic repertoire.

The orchestration of Turandot marks a turning point in Puccini's writing. More massive and modern than his previous works, it incorporates exotic instruments and percussive sounds that evoke a fantastical Orient. The riddles, sung by Turandot with implacable coldness, contrast sharply with the heart-rending laments of Liù, the quintessential Puccini character, fragile and self-sacrificing.

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