Puccini's last opera, Turandot, in which he sought a new challenge, was unfinished at the time of his death in 1924, but enough had been written for the work to be completed by Franco Alfano and staged in 1926. It was based on the eighteenth-century play by Carlo Gozzi, a counterblast to the latter's contemporary Goldoni in its fantasy and its partial use of figures from the commedia dell'arte. Gozzi's play had already brought a translation by Schiller and incidental music by Weber, with a more recent and idiosyncratic operatic version of the play by Ferruccio Busoni. It was the librettist Giacosa's successor as editor of the periodical La lettura, Renato Simoni, who suggested the subject of Turandot to Puccini, and the libretto was written by Simoni in collaboration with the playwright Giuseppe Adami.

In Madama Butterfly, Puccini had drawn on Japan and America for thematic material. In Turandot, he turned to the few Chinese sources apparently available to him, Chinese Music by J.A. van Aalst, and a musical box belonging to Baron Fassini, a sinophil who had spent some years at the Italian embassy in Beijing. These sources are fully discussed in the study of the opera by William Ashbrook and Harold Powers (Princeton Studies in Opera, 1991). Puccini worked on the opera from 1921 and by early 1924 had completed much of the work. At his death on 29th November that year he left sketches for the continuation of the opera, which was completed eventually by Franco Alfano, at Toscanini's suggestion, for a first performance at La Scala on 25th April 1926. In the completed version of Turandot, Alfano is credited with the last duet and finale, further modified at the insistence of Toscanini and the publisher, Ricordi. Recent years have brought other reworkings of Puccini's original draft.

Synopsis

Act I

The opera opens by the walls of the great city of Peking. To the right is a portico decorated with carved figures of monsters, unicorns and a phoenix, with pillars rising from the backs of huge tortoises. Below the portico a great gong is suspended, while on the ramparts the heads of victims are displayed. It is sunset and a crowd in the square listens to the words of a Mandarin announcing that Turandot will marry the man of royal lineage who can answer her three riddles; he who tries and fails will be beheaded. The Prince of Persia has failed the test and will die when the moon rises. The crowd disperses in excitement at the prospect of an execution, rushing towards the palace, only to be pushed roughly back by the Tartar guards. Among the people is the old man Timur, exiled King of Tartary, who falls, as his servant-girl Liù calls for help.

Prince Calaf runs up, recognizing his father and helping him to his feet. Twelve executioner's assistants make their way forward, as the crowd eagerly awaits the coming execution. Timur is delighted to have found his son again. He tells the Prince how Liù has remained loyal to him, persuaded by a smile Calaf had once bestowed on her in the palace. The crowd calls for the executioner's sword to be sharpened and all is excitement. Now they watch the sky, waiting for the moon, the sign of execution, as it rises. The voices of children are heard. The procession leading the young Prince of Persia to execution enters, now arousing pity in the people, who call on Turandot to grant pardon. She appears, and the people bow down, leaving only the Prince of Persia and Calaf standing. Turandot has no mercy and with a gesture rejects any appeal for clemency, and the procession moves off. Calaf, however, is dazzled by the sight of her beauty, as he and Timur, with Liù, are left alone. Timur asks his son what he is doing, but Calaf is resolved to take his chance as a suitor.

The sound of the execution is heard and Timur continues to try to dissuade his son from this enterprise. He is about to sound the gong to proclaim his intention, when he is prevented by three masked figures, Ping, Pang and Pong, who warn him of the cruel fate that will be his. A group of palace handmaidens lean down over the balustrade and call for silence, as Turandot sleeps. Ping, Pang and Pong continue to try to dissuade Calaf and the shadows of those who have died in pursuit of the Princess add their own urging. Calaf breaks away and is about to strike the gong, when the executioner appears above the rampart, holding the head of the Prince of Persia. Timur pleads further with his son. Now, Liù adds her own pleas, tearfully begging him to desist, for her sake and that of his father. She falls to the ground in tears.

Calaf urges her not to weep and tells her to take Timur away with her into the country. Timur begs him, for the last time, and is joined by Liù, Ping, Pang and Pong in his endeavour to save his son from certain death. Calaf is determined, and, breaking away, sounds the gong three times.

Act II

Scene 1

In a great pavilion, Ping, Pang and Pong are preparing for whatever may happen, either a wedding or a funeral. They lament the fate of China, now saddened by Turandot's behavior. They sit and examine the scrolls for the numbers of victims. Ping sings of his house in Honan, and all three would like to be away from the palace in their own parts of the countryside. They lament the state of the world and the madness of lovers, recalling those who have died, princes from Samarkand, from India, from Burma and other countries. They long for an end to their difficulties and those of the kingdom. Trumpets are heard, heralding the start of a new trial for the hand of Turandot.

Turandot, impassive as a golden statue, takes her place at the foot of the Imperial throne. She looks coldly at the Prince and recounts the reason for her vow, the fate of Princess Lou Ling, captured, tortured and put to death at the hands of a man. She will have her revenge on the suitors that come to woo her and never yield to a man. Calaf is defiant, ready to solve Turandot's riddles. The trumpets sound, and Turandot proceeds. Her first riddle is of something that in the night hovers, a shining phantom, soaring above the crowd, invoked by all, but vanishing at dawn to be reborn in every heart. Calaf declares that the answer is hope.

Her second riddle is of something that is a flame and yet then cold, which Calaf guesses is blood. Turandot descends further down the stairs to pose her third riddle of ice given by fire, and fire that produces ice, a force that would make you free, but yet enslaves and makes you king. Calaf sees that the answer to this is Turandot. The crowd applauds his success. In anguish, Turandot ascends the stairs again demanding that her father, the Emperor, prevent her marriage to this stranger, but the Emperor has given his oath and will not hear her pleading. Calaf, however, wants Turandot burning with love. He now offers his own riddle, his name, which she must find before morning; if she succeeds, he will die. Turandot assents and Calaf ascends the stairs towards the Emperor, whose praises the people now sing.

Scene 2

In the square in front of the palace, the crowd gradually gathers. In the center is a great marble staircase leading upwards, to end under a triple arch. Mandarins arrive, dressed in blue and gold, and finally the Emperor. He announces that he is bound by his oath to honour the compact he has made with Turandot. Calaf steps forward, ready to try his luck, in spite of the Emperor's obvious reluctance to see more bloodshed. The crowd honors the Emperor. A Mandarin steps forward and proclaims the royal decree. Turandot shall marry the one of royal lineage who can solve her three riddles; the unsuccessful will die. The voices of children are heard.

Act III

Scene 1

It is night in the palace gardens. To the right is a pavilion, with a richly embroidered curtain, the ante-chamber to Turandot's quarters in the palace. Heralds announce the decree that none shall sleep on pain of death, as a search is made for the stranger's name. Calaf echoes the words, singing of love and of his name that none shall discover; at daybreak Turandot shall be his. Ping, Pong and Pang emerge from the bushes, followed by other figures. They ask Calaf to say what he wants; if it is love, then one of them offers girls that he now leads forward; if it is riches, then they can offer gold and precious stones; if it is glory, he may escape to rule the Empire from afar. They fear for their own safety, since they face torture and death if the Prince's name is not revealed. They end by threatening Calaf with their daggers. Shouting is heard, as soldiers drag in Timur and Liù, two who must know the Prince's name. Turandot appears, and they bow down to the ground, except for Ping, who comes forward to tell her that they now have the means to discover the Prince's name. Calaf claims that Timur and Liù know nothing, but Liù steps forward and tells Turandot that she alone knows the stranger's name and will keep it secret. Calaf tries to protect her and on Turandot's orders is bound, while Liù is tortured, claiming love as the reason for her strength in resistance. She is happy to suffer for her beloved Prince, as the executioner is called for. Eventually she agrees to answer the icy-hearted Princess, telling her that, as she herself dies, so Turandot will be conquered by love. She seizes a dagger from a soldier and stabs herself, staggering forward to fall dead at Calaf's feet. Timur hobbles forward and kneels down by her, begging her to open her eyes, as dawn approaches. He prophesies divine vengeance, and Liù's body is carried away to the awe of the crowd, seeking pardon for this violence. Timur follows, as the people lament Liù's fate.

Calaf and Turandot are left alone, she rigid as a statue and veiled. Calaf calls on this Princess of death and of ice to descend to earth. He rushes forward and tears off her veil, to Turandot's anger; he may tear her veil but not touch her soul. The Prince takes Turandot in his arms, and draws her towards the pavilion, kissing her, but she draws away, now seeking his pity. Calaf declares his love for her, as dawn breaks; he has conquered and her heart has melted. For the first time now she sheds tears, telling him of her first fear of him. Finally Calaf reveals to her his name.

Scene 2

The scene is outside the palace. The Emperor sits enthroned at the head of a wide marble staircase. Around him are his courtiers, wise men and soldiers. The crowds gather below, singing praise to the Emperor. Turandot now tells her father that she knows the name of the stranger; his name is love. Calaf runs up to her, embracing her, while the crowd scatters flowers and rejoices at the happy outcome.

Writer: Keith Anderson