Turandot
Icy Peking princess
Turandot is an opera by Giacomo Puccini, left unfinished at his death in 1924 and completed by Franco Alfano.
Set in legendary China, it tells of a cruel princess who executes suitors who fail her riddles.
The opera contains the famous tenor aria "Nessun dorma." Turandot is also the name of the princess herself, pronounced roughly too-rahn-DOHT.
Italian operatic composer
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- tenorEssential meaning or import
libretto · premiere · Covent Garden · La Scala · riddles · ice princess · death penalty · suitors
Puzzling questions or teasers
- PekingChina's capital, old spelling
- ChinaEast Asian superpower
- suitorsThose pursuing marriage
- executionCompleting a planned task
moonrise · dawn · gong · emperor · slave girl · sacrifice · name · secret
- stagingPreparing for presentation
- spectacleVisually striking event
- chorusSingers performing together
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
Luciano Pavarotti · costumes · chinoiserie · orientalism · production · broadcast · arena · outdoor
Puccini
Italian operatic composer
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- sopranoHighest female voice range
tenor · libretto · premiere · Covent Garden · La Scala · riddles · ice princess · death penalty · suitors · execution
riddles
Puzzling questions or teasers
execution · moonrise · dawn · gong · emperor · slave girl · sacrifice · name · secret · kiss
Maria Callas
Luciano Pavarotti · orchestra · costumes · chinoiserie · orientalism · production · broadcast · arena · outdoor · Forbidden City
princess
Monarch's daughter or heir
beautiful · vengeful · proud · imperious · enigmatic · transformation · love · redemption · revenge · hatred