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ACT I

China, in ancient times. Outside the Imperial Palace a mandarin reads an edict to the crowd: any prince seeking to marry Princess Turandot must answer three riddles. If he fails, he will die. The most recent suitor, the Prince of Persia, is to be executed at the moon鈥檚 rising. Among the onlookers are the slave girl Liu虁, her aged master, and the young Cala虁f, who recognizes the old man as his long-lost father, Timur, vanquished King of Tartary. Only Liu虁 has remained faithful to him, and when Cala虁f asks her why she replies that once, long ago, Cala虁f smiled at her. The mob cries for blood but greets the rising moon with a sudden fearful silence. When the Prince of Persia is led to his execution, the crowd calls upon the princess to spare him. Turandot appears and wordlessly orders the execution to proceed. Transfixed by the beauty of the unattainable princess, Cal脿f decides to win her, to the horror of Li霉 and Timur. Turandot鈥檚 three ministers, Ping, Pang, and Pong, also try to discourage him, but Cala虁f is unmoved. He comforts Li霉, then strikes the gong that announces a new suitor.

听

ACT II

Inside the palace, Ping, Pang, and Pong lament Turandot鈥檚 bloody reign, hoping that love will conquer her and restore peace. Their thoughts wander to their peaceful country homes, but the noise of the crowd gathering to witness the riddle challenge calls them back to reality.

Before the assembled court, the old emperor asks Cala虁f to reconsider, but he will not be dissuaded. Turandot appears. She recounts the story of her beautiful ancestor, Princess Lou-Ling, who was abducted and killed by a conquering prince. In revenge, she has turned against men and determined that none shall ever possess her. She poses her first question to Cal脿f: What is born each night and dies each dawn? 鈥淗ope,鈥� Cala虁f answers, correctly. Turandot continues: What flickers red and warm like a flame, yet is not a flame? 鈥淏lood,鈥� Cala虁f replies after a moment鈥檚 thought. Shaken, Turandot delivers the third riddle: What is like ice but burns? Tense silence prevails until Cala虁f triumphantly cries, 鈥淭urandot!鈥� The crowd erupts in joy, and the princess vainly begs her father not to give her to the stranger. Hoping to win her love, Cala虁f offers Turandot a challenge of his own: if she can learn his name by dawn, he will forfeit his life.

听

ACT III

At night in the Imperial Gardens, Cala虁f hears a proclamation: on pain of death no one in Peking shall sleep until Turandot learns the stranger鈥檚 name. Cala虁f is certain of his victory, but Ping, Pang, and Pong try to bribe him to leave the city. As the fearful mob threatens him to learn his name, soldiers drag in Liu虁 and Timur. Cala虁f tries to convince the crowd that neither of them knows his secret. When Turandot appears, commanding Timur to speak, Liu虁 replies that she alone knows the stranger鈥檚 identity and will never reveal it. She is tortured but remains silent. Impressed by her fortitude, Turandot asks Liu虁鈥檚 secret. It is love, she replies. When the soldiers intensify the torture, Liu虁 tells Turandot that she, too, will know the joys of love. Then she snatches a dagger and kills herself. The crowd forms a funeral procession and the body is taken away. Turandot remains alone to confront Cala虁f, who impetuously kisses her. Knowing emotion for the first time, Turandot weeps. Cala虁f, now sure of winning her, reveals his identity.

Once again before the emperor鈥檚 throne, Turandot declares she knows the stranger鈥檚 name: it is Love.

- With thanks to the Metropolitan Opera, New York