Operas -
Turandot
By G. Puccini (Final scene completed by F. Alfano)
Setting: City of Peking; Ancient China
Act I: The great Violet City: Peking, the City of the Celestial Empire.
It is sunset as a crowd gathers at the Palace walls to hear a Mandarin, official spokesman of the Emperor, read an Imperial decree. He proclaims that the hand of the beautiful Princess Turandot will be offered in marriage to any man of royal blood who can solve three riddles. However, any man who answers incorrectly will face execution. A former suitor who failed the test is the Prince of Persia who is scheduled to die at moonrise. The bloodthirsty crowd surges forward, calling for the Executioner as Imperial Guards beat them back.
Amid the crowd, old, blind Timur, exiled King of the Tartars, is happily reunited with his long-lost son, Prince Calaf, who had also been forced to flee his homeland. Timur has fallen in the crowd and is assisted by his slave-girl Liu, who is also happy to see Calaf.
 The Executioner's men arrive to sharpen the ceremonial axe as the mob encourages them, chanting for blood and warning that death awaits those who strike the gong attempting to answer Turandot's riddles. The impatient crowd waits in anticipation for the moon to rise, calling for the court executioner to advance and begin the ritual. Finally the condemned prisoner is led in and the shouts of the mob turn to pleas for mercy for one so young and pale.
The Princess appears and the crowd falls to its knees, except for Calaf who gazes enraptured by her beauty. As she departs, the crowd follows the procession to the place of execution. Timur urges Calaf to come away, but the Prince is totally captivated by the vision of Turandot.
 From afar the voice of the young Prince of Persia is heard as the Executioner's axe falls. Ignoring his father's pleas, Calaf rushes to ring the gong and claim the hand of Turandot, but is prevented by Ping, Pang, and Pong, the Emperor's ministers, who advise him to flee before he is killed also. Calaf struggles with them insistent upon reaching the gong. Turandot's handmaidens appear and demand silence as the ensuing commotion threatens to disturb the Princess.
The maidens retire and again the ministers warn Calaf, but he will not heed their advice. Even when spirits of former suitors speak from the grave, Calf refuses to listen. Timur pleads and Liu weeps saying she can bear no more, but Calaf is insistent and against all entreaties, breaks free and strikes the gong three times sealing his fate.
Act II, scene 1: The Pavilion of the Ministers, the following day
Ping, Pang, and Pong make official plans for the upcoming riddle ceremony. They prepare for both a wedding and a funeral, hoping for the former, and lamenting the bloody state of affairs in which they find themselves. They recall Turandot's victims who have been beheaded and long for the day that the Princess will find love so that China can be at peace. Sadly, they realize it is only a dream for Turandot will never accept a man's advances. Trumpets call them from their work and they prepare themselves for the next execution.
Act II, scene 2: The Square at the Imperial Palace, immediately following
Wise Men appear with scrolls containing the answers to Turandot's riddles and a crowd assembles to watch as the Emperor Altoum arrives and address Calaf. Three times the Emperor pleads with Calaf to depart and not attempt the riddles, however, the Prince refuses to leave. The Mandarin proclaims the official rules of the contest and the crowd falls silent as Turandot appears in splendor. She warns Calaf of impending death, but he stands firm.
Turnadot states the first riddle: a phantom, born in every heart, each night born again and each day dies. Calaf correctly states that it is "hope". The crowd buzzes with excitement.
 Turandot recites the second riddle: like a flame, but not a flame, it grows cold in death, but conquest makes it flare. Calaf thinks intently urged on by the crowd. For the second time, he guesses correctly that it is "blood". The crowd applauds his courage.
Turandot silences the people and proposes the third riddle: ice like fire which fire freezes further. She taunts Calaf who is silent. Finally, he speaks confidently that he has won. The answer to the final riddle is: "Turandot".
The people shout for joy, but Turandot begs her father to void the stranger's victory stating that no man shall ever possess her. The Emperor argues that the sacred ritual is binding and the Prince has won her hand fairly. She refuses to accept the outcome and so Calaf proposes his own riddle: if she can discover his name before morning, he will submit to the executioner's axe at dawn. Turandot accepts his challenge and departs with the Emperor as the people bow in reverence.
Act III, scene 1: The Palace Gardens, later that night
Throughout the City, heralds proclaim Turandot's decree that no one shall sleep on penalty of death until the unknown prince's name is discovered. Calaf contemplates victory over the Princess as Ping, Pong, and Pang tempt him to reveal his name with beautiful women and vast riches. Even when they offer to help him escape from the City, Calaf refuses to give his name or to yield in his quest to claim the Princess' hand.
Suddenly, guards drag Timur and Liu before him with threats of torture for hiding the truth. A crowd has gathered as Turandot appears and orders Timur to be tortured until he speaks the name, but Liu interrupts, insisting that she alone knows the name of the Prince which she will never tell. She is roughly seized as Calaf tries to aid her, but is restrained by the soldiers. Forced to her knees, her torture begins, but she refuses to speak the name, revealing that she secretly loves the Prince and has chosen to die for him rather than betray him. She predicts that he will win Turandot's love even as he has won hers. Without warning, she steals a dagger from the guard and stabs herself with a soft cry, falling dead at the feet of Calaf.
Heartbroken, Timur weeps over Liu's body as the people look on subdued and ashamed. Liu is borne away with reverence as the crowd follows.
Alone with Turandot, Calaf rips the veil from her face and condemns her coldness and cruelty. He vows to melt her heart of ice with the fire of his love and moves to embrace her. She struggles against his embrace, but finally allows his lips to touch hers for a passionate kiss. She is swept away by the strength of his love and succumbs to his advances. Realizing she has been conquered, her heart melts and she weeps in his arms, ashamed of her weakness.
As dawn breaks, the Prince decides to surrender his victory to Turandot. He shares that his name is Calaf, son of Timur and places his life in the Princess' hands. Elated, she summons the court and announces that she has discovered the stranger's name at last.
Act III, scene 2: The Square of the Imperial Palace at dawn
The Emperor and the people gather to witness Turandot's ultimate victory. To her father and all her subjects, she proclaims the Prince's name as "Love" and embraces her future husband and King. A great celebration ensures as all the people rejoice in praise of love and peace.
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