Turandot

Turandot is an unfinished work in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, based on a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. The title draws inspiration from the name of Turandot, a princess of medieval and imaginary China. The young woman poses a challenge to the noblemen of her county: she will give her hand and her kingdom to the one who solves three riddles of her own invention. The losers? Off with their heads! Everything changes when an unknown prince, Calaf, puts Turandot to the test… Slowly, the princess’ frozen heart begins to thaw and burn with love for Calaf, and they sing a tender and romantic duo, the highlight of their passion. Puccini talks about it in these terms: “The duo! The duo! Everything that is decisive, beautiful, lively, and theatrical takes place in it! [...] Their love should arrive like a fireball bursting into the midst of the people, taken by ecstasy and beginning to harmonize, just like the strings of the cellos.”