Puccini’s Turandot

Nessun dorma, as signature music for the 1990 football World Cup, brought Turandot (is it pronounced dot or doh?), Puccini’s final opera, to the forefront. Conducted by Zubin Mehta, it was sung by Pavarotti who with Domingo and Carreras comprised the legendary Three Tenors.

Any Prince foolish enough to want to marry the beautiful Chinese Princess Turandot, had first to solve three riddles. He would be beheaded if he did not answer correctly. This was in revenge for the rape and murder of her ancestor of which she believes that she is the reincarnation.

An unknown prince succeeds. Yet he gives her a second chance: if, before dawn, she can state his name, he will die. The servant girl who refuses to reveal the name under torture commits suicide for true love of this fool. Why? Because she loves him ─ a notion beyond Turandot’s comprehension, until a kiss from the Prince transforms her too into a loving woman. Ping, Pang and Pong, three comical court officials, virtually commedia dell’arte characters, provide some necessary light relief.

Puccini’s very popular opera was unfinished at his death. The première, conducted by Arturo Toscanini, was at La Scala Milan on 25 April, 1926.

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