Turandot

G. Puccini

Turandot

Opera in 3 acts
Libretto by G. Adami and R. Simoni
At the Abay Opera House, the premiere took place on 11.11.2006

Production Team:
Stage Conductor – Renat Salavatov, People’s Artist of Tatarstan, Honored Artist of Russia, Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Stage Director – Yuri Alexandrov, People’s Artist of Russia, Laureate of State Prizes (St. Petersburg)
Set Designer – Vyacheslav Okunev, People’s Artist of Russia, Laureate of State Prizes of Russia and Kazakhstan (St. Petersburg)
Choreographer – Gali Abaidulov (St. Petersburg)
Chief Choirmaster – Aliya Temirbekova, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan

Characters

• Princess Turandot
• Altoum, her father, Emperor of China
• Timur, the deposed King of Tartary
• The Unknown Prince (Calaf), his son
• Liu, Timur’s slave girl
• Ping, the Great Minister
• Pang, the Head Chef
• Pong, the Lord Chancellor
• A Mandarin
• The imperial guard, courtiers, the chief executioner and his men, children, wise men, the three Deaths, the people

The events take place in Peking.

Act One

Noisy crowds surround the ancient walls of the Imperial Palace in Peking. The people are agitated as they once again hear the mandarin proclaim the decree of the Celestial Emperor Altoum: any man wishing to win the hand of Princess Turandot must answer her three riddles. Failure means death, and his severed head will join those already displayed upon the palace walls.

Many brave suitors have already perished because of the Princess’s cruelty, yet the поток of new challengers never ceases. At dawn, another victim — a young Persian Prince — is to be executed. The crowd awaits Turandot’s appearance.

Amid the chaos, a blind old man is knocked to the ground. His companion, a young girl, calls for help. Calaf recognizes the old man as his father, Timur, once a king, now exiled. Only the faithful Liu has remained by his side. She greets Calaf with devotion, her love for him unchanged.

When Calaf sees Turandot, her beauty overwhelms him. Despite the pleas of Timur, Liu, and the ministers Ping, Pang, and Pong, he strikes the gong three times, declaring himself a suitor.

Act Two

Scene One

Ping, Pang, and Pong lament their fate, longing for peace away from the cruelty of the court. They are weary of witnessing Turandot’s deadly trials. The people, too, are exhausted by endless bloodshed and await a hero who will solve the riddles and bring peace.

Scene Two

In the imperial court, Emperor Altoum urges Calaf to withdraw, but he refuses. Turandot, driven by hatred rooted in an ancient injustice, presents her riddles.

Calaf answers each one correctly. The final answer reveals Turandot herself. He declares that his love will melt the ice in her heart.

Terrified, Turandot begs her father to release her from the promise, but the Emperor remains firm. Calaf then sets his own challenge: if Turandot can discover his name by dawn, he will surrender his life.

Act Three

Scene One

Turandot orders that no one in Peking may sleep until the stranger’s name is revealed. The entire city is forced to search for the answer.

Liu alone knows the truth but refuses to speak, even under torture. Unable to endure the suffering, she takes her own life, revealing that love gave her strength.

Timur dies soon after, and their funeral procession departs. Left alone, Calaf and Turandot confront their feelings. He kisses her, awakening love in her heart. In a moment of triumph, he reveals his name.

Scene Two

Before the assembled crowd, Turandot must announce his name. But love prevents her from betraying him. Instead, she declares that his name is Love — sealing their shared victory.