Turandot

by Puccini

[This synopsis, like my others, is very, very brief. The reason is that I find the normal programme note much too long, and needlessly detailed and complicated. What I want is more of an overview. If I’ve read an overview – a sort of synopsis of a synopsis – I find that, particularly with the help of surtitles, there is then absolutely no need for a blow-by-blow description of the plot.]

Turandot is the story (based on an ancient Chinese legend) of the cruel princess Turandot. One of her ancestors was killed by a man and, in revenge, she has worked out a bizarre strategy for ensuring that any man who wants to marry her is executed. He is set three, seemingly insoluble, riddles. If he fails to get them all right, he is executed.

The latest victim is the Prince of Persia. Despite watching him being marched off to be executed, the Prince of Tartary, Calaf, is so transfixed by the beauty of Turandot that he declares himself to be the next suitor. Calaf is the son of the deposed King of Tartary, Timur. He tells his father and the latter’s slave-girl, Liù, not to disclose his name.

Calaf submits himself to Turandot’s riddles. Everyone tries to dissuade him, including Ping, Pong and Pang, the splendidly named Imperial ministers.

Amazingly, Calaf gets the riddles right. Turandot appeals to her father the Emperor, but he replies that a deal’s a deal; she must marry him. Then Calaf selflessly steps in and promises that he will die if, before dawn, she finds out his name.

Turandot orders that no one can sleep until the name is discovered. Nessun dorma, as Calaf sings in the opera’s most famous aria.

Turandot has Timur and Liù tortured to get them to reveal the name. But Liù declares that she alone knows it and kills herself. (At this point, the music composed by Puccini is over as he died before finishing the opera. The rest was written and composed by Franco Alfano, although to some extent based on notes left by Puccini.)

Calaf confronts Turandot and (bravely) kisses her. She weeps. He tells her his name. She says that she already knew it: it is Love . . .