Puccini's "Turandot"

"Turandot" is Puccini's final opera. In fact, the opera was left unfinished at the time of his death. Although started by Puccini in March 1920, "Turandot" didn't make its premiere until 1926, one year and five months after his death. Though Puccini left instructions for the opera to be completed by Riccardo Zandonai, Puccini's son objected and chose Franco Alfano to provide the ending using Puccini's sketches.
 
The first performance of "Turandot" did not include Alfano's additions. Rather, it included only the music written by Puccini.

"Turandot" Plot Summary: Act One

"Turandot" is an opera in three acts, the story of which was taken from a collection of Persian stories called "The Book of One Thousand and One Days." Here is a brief synopsis of "Turandot":

The story opens in Peking as a Mandarin reads the following edict: any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If he fails, he will be sentenced to die.

The last suitor to fail, the Prince of Persia, is scheduled to be executed when the moon rises. As the crowd calls for the prince's death, an elderly man is pushed to the ground. The man's slave, a girl name Liù calls out for help. In response to the girl's cries, a man named Prince Calàf recognizes the man as his long-lost father, Timur, vanquished king of Tartary.

Timur tells his son that only Liù has remained faithful to him. When Prince Calàf asks her why, she says that is because Prince Calàf once smiled at her.

As the mob continues to cry for the prince's execution, the moon rises and the crowd falls silent. On the way to his execution, the Prince of Persia calls on Turandot to spare his life. Turandot, however, wants the execution to proceed and a death cry is heard in the distance.

Calàf, who is smitten with Turandot, decides to win her as his bride and announces himself as the next suitor. Turandot's ministers, Ping, Pang and Pong, attempt to discourage Calàf, as do Timur and Liù. In spite of their pleas, Calàf strikes the gong that announces a new suitor.

"Turandot" Plot Summary: Act Two

In the next act, we seePing, Pang and Pong in their quarters lamenting Turandot's bloody reign. The three pray that she will find her love so that peace can return to the city. As the crowd gathers to hear Turandot question her new suitor, the ministers are brought back to reality.

Emperor Altoum, who is seated on a throne in the Imperial Palace, pleas, in vain, for Calàf to abandon his quest. It is at this point that Turandot enters and tells how her ancestor Princess Lou-Ling was slain by a conquering prince. To seek revenge, Turandot has turned against men and vows that none shall ever possess her. She then proceeds to ask Calàf a series of questions, all of which Calàf answers correctly. Stunned, Turandot begs her father not to turn her over to Calàf, but her father insists that she go to him.

Calàf, however, tells Turandot that if she can learn his name by dawn, he will forfeit his life.

"Turandot" Synopsis: Act Three

Act three opens ina palace garden and we hear the proclamation that, punishable by death, no one in Peking will be allowed to sleep until Turandot learns the name of her suitor. Ping, Pang and Pong try to bribe Calàf to withdraw as the crowd threatens Calàf with daggers as they attempt to learn his name.

At this point, Liù and Timur are brought to the scene by soldiers and are commanded to reveal Calàf's name. Even though Calàf says that neither know his name, when Turandot appears, Liù says that she alone knows the suitor's identity. Even though she is tortured, Liù doesn't reveal the name, which impresses Turandot. Turandot asks Liù the secret to her endurance, and Liù replies, "Love."

Turandot orders the soldiers to intensify the torture, at which point Liù grabs a dagger and kills herself. As the crowd and Timur follow Liù's body as it is carried away, Turandot and Calàf are left alone. Calàf take Turandot in his arms and forces her to kiss him. As the passion brings Turandot to tears, Calàf, assured of his victory, reveals his name.

As the crowd hails the emperor, Turandot announces to her father that her suitor's name is "Love."

Cast and Characters of "Turandot"
"Turandot" premiered on April 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy. The original characters and cast members are as follows:
  • Princess Turandot: Rosa Raisa
  • The Emperor Altoum, her father: Francesco Dominici
  • Timur, the deposed King of Tartary: Carlo Walter
  • The Unknown Prince (Calàf), his son: Miguel Fleta
  • Liù, a slave girl: Maria Zamboni
  • Ping, Lord Chancellor: Giacomo Rimini
  • Pang, Majordomo: Emilio Venturini
  • Pong, Chief of the Imperial Kitchen: Giuseppe Nessi
  • A Mandarin: Aristide Baracchi
  • The Prince of Persia: n.a.
  • The Executioner (Pu-Tin-Pao): n.a.

Resources

Freeman, John W. (n.d.) Stories of the Operas: Turandot. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from The Metropolitan Opera Web site: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/
stories/synopsis.aspx?id=26.