This 3-act opera is based on a 5-act allegory of the same name by the Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi (1720-1806), with a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, and was written in 1921-1924. The play was written by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni in 1921-1924, and only the first half of the third act was completed before his death, the second half being continued by Alfano. The source material seems to have been taken from the Persian "Box of Nymphs", which was introduced to Europe at the end of the 17th century. The play premiered at La Scala Opera House on April 5, 1926, with Toscanini as conductor, and on opening night, when the play reaches the point where Willow kills herself in Act III, Toscanini puts down his baton and says to the audience, "It was here that Puccini put down his pen." The full opera premiere was the following day. The 3 acts of this opera are: act 1, in front of the Forbidden City in Beijing. A sustained line of panels indicating Turandot's motives. At dusk, assorted people in the square listen to an official reading a bulletin which states that Princess Turandot will be married to the person who guesses 3 riddles, and will be beheaded if he or she fails to do so. The Prince of Persia was executed when the moon came out because he failed to guess correctly. People are in an uproar, heading for the palace. In the crowd, Liu, a maid, supports Timur, the Tatar Sun King, and when Liu begs for help to lift Timur, who has been pushed down, Timur's son, Karafu, meets his father. As the people are dispersed and the executioner screams that the executioner is going to be carried out, Timur claims that Liu'er has taken good care of him, and Liu'er expresses her heartfelt love by saying, "I've never been able to forget the prince's smile". The executioner sharpens his axe and sings "Oil the axe, sharpen the axe", and the suitor who is about to be executed shouts "Turandot, the cold beauty". The execution is described in an oriental atmosphere, and after the chorus ends, the executioner exits, and the crowd looks up at the night sky in the square and sings "Why doesn't the moon come out yet". After the moon comes out, the crowd sings "The moon is out", and in the distance comes the children's chorus "On the top of the eastern mountain there are storks singing", the melody of which is taken from the Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower". In the moonlight, the Prince of Persia, who is being sent to the execution ground, looks pale, and the public chorus "Poor young man, please forgive the Princess", while Karafu curses the cold-hearted Princess. In the moonlight, Turandot comes on stage, the crowd kneels, and she silently refuses the pleas of the crowd. Karafu is overwhelmed by the princess's beauty and forgets to say to himself, "Beautiful as heaven, like a dream." After all the people have left the stage, only Pamur, Liu'er and Karafu are left, Karafu reads Turandot and wants to run to the city wall to ring the gong, determined to participate in the riddle. 3 ministers Ping, Pong and Pang come out with masks, advising, "What do you want to do, turn around or your life will be hard to protect." The 3 say, "A beautiful princess is just a woman with one face, two hands and two feet." The maid asked everyone to be quiet because the princess was resting, and the 3 ministers told Karafu that the 3 riddles could not be solved and that it would be better to go back quickly. Karafu states, "Only I am her lover." Pamur sadly says to him, "Do you want to abandon your aged father?" The weeping Willow then sings the aria Signore, ascolta (Hear Me, Prince), begging the prince not to take the risk. Karafu, touched, sings the aria "Non Piangere, Liu" (Don't Cry, Liu), comforting Liu while expressing his firm resolve. Karafu runs under the wall and shouts Turandot's name three times despite everyone's discouragement, and strikes the gong three times to signify his proposal despite Liu's shouts of "death" and others. The orchestra plays the Turandot theme, the high official says it's all over, and Pamur and Liu'er cry over it.
Act II, Scene 1, Curtain Play. The large curtain is decorated with various decorations, and Ping, Peng, and Pan each come on with an entourage; Ping sings "Fate's gong rings in the sanctuary," and the three sing a Chinese-flavored trio, who calculate that thirteen people have already been put to death for solving the riddle, and object to taking part in this cruel game. A chorus of "Sharpen the Axe" follows, and the three ministers celebrate the wedding with "Spread a Soft Quilt for Her," a melody said to have been taken from the music of Chinese emperors when they went to temples to pay homage to the Buddha. The clamor rises and the 3 men say that another person is going to be beheaded, changing the scene to the rhythm of a marching song. In the second scene, in the square in front of the palace, eight officials hold a scroll with the answers to Turandot's riddles, the crowd murmurs, and three ministers come on stage, with the elderly emperor sitting on the highest throne. Karafu stands at the bottom of the steps, while Pamur and Liu'er are among the onlookers, and the people fall to their knees in praise of the Emperor. The Emperor persuades Karafu to cancel his proposal, which Karafu refuses. During the march, the maids of honor scatter flowers on the steps, and a song of children's voices comes from behind the stage as Turandot makes her appearance. After a slight glance at Carafo, she sings the aria "In questa Reggia" in a dignified tone, describing the tragic death of her grandmother, who had been abused by invading Tartar captors, and saying that it was in order to avenge her grandmother's death that she had taken the idea of bringing about the death of the foreign suitor. She says that no one can possess her, and sings coldly, "Try the Gentiles, there are three puzzles, and death comes but once." Karafu also replies, "There are three riddles and only one death." The riddles began and the first one was "In the darkness, a phantom dances like a rainbow". The princess said, "This phantom, which everyone dreams of, is born every night and dies early in the morning in order to awaken in everyone's heart." Karafu replied, "Hope." The official opens the answer and indicates that it is correct. Turandot walks to the middle of the dais and utters the second riddle, "Like a flame not a flame, cools when it loses its life, rekindles when it dreams of conquest, is the color of a sunset bright red, and its voice is clearly audible." Karafu thought for a moment and answered, "As soon as you see the princess your eyes burn and agonize with fervor." The answer was correct and everyone cheered. The princess walked angrily down the steps, and the third question was, "Ice gives you flame, and from flame comes colder ice. If you hope for freedom you become a slave, if you want to be a slave you become a king." Karafu fell pale in contemplation, Turandot pressed the question, and a moment later Karafu jumped up and said, "And now the victory belongs to me, and my flame will melt the ice, and that is Turandot!" The crowd celebrates in chorus, rejoicing that the mystery has been completely solved. Turandot kneels before the Emperor and says, "Please do not give an innocent virgin to a stranger," and facing Karafu says, "I will not be yours!" The Emperor, however, says that the oath is sacred, and the crowd echoes. Karafu says, "O unruly princess, I love you with all my heart." He says to Turandot that the only way to break the engagement is to answer a question before dawn and say his name. The people sang the praises of the Emperor and sent him to the palace.
Act III, Scene 1, Inner Court of the Palace. At night, Karafu sings the famous aria "Nessun dorma" (No one sleeps), listening to the voice of "Who can forbid sleep" in the distance, convinced that at dawn, victory will be his. Ping, Pang and Pan came on the stage and pushed a beautiful woman to Karafu, who pandered to him. 3 officials tempted Karafu with money, but when neither the beautiful woman nor the bribe worked, they said to Karafu, "If we don't find out your name, we're all going to be killed, so please get out of here." Karafu insists, "My hope is Turandot," and everyone points their swords at him, trying to force him to give his name. At that moment, cries of "We know!" come from behind the stage, and the soldiers bring Pamuel and Liu Er up, and Turandot appears. Turandot orders Pamur to be tried first, but Liu'er comes forward and says, "I am the only one who knows his name." Karafu tries to save Liu'er, but is arrested instead, and Liu'er is tortured in front of Karafu. Turandot asks her why she doesn't want to tell his name, and she says, "It's the power of love". As she sings "Tanto amore segreto" (The love hidden in the heart is stronger than the pain), she says to Turandot, "I give you his love in silence, and even though I will lose everything, it is the most precious gift of the beloved. At this point the public screams "Kill the head, kill the head!" The executioner appears and Willow sings the aria "Tu che di gel sei cinta" (Your cold heart, Princess), in which she says that when you know love, Princess, your cold heart will be melted by the fire of passion. When the guards are not looking, she draws her sword and kills herself, and this is the end of Puccini's original work. The continuation finishes with a duet between Karafu and Turandot as Pamur leans over Willow's body and weeps bitterly and the funeral procession moves away. Karafu pulls away Turandot's veil and says Icy Princess, you should see the warm blood that has been shed for you. Turandot says even if the veil is taken away, my heart is still in heaven. Karafu forces a kiss and Turandot says to herself, "What is wrong with me? Have I lost?" Her heart finally melts and sheds tears. Beautiful singing comes from behind the stage as people celebrate the dawn and the birth of Karafu's love, and Turandot sings the aria, "Tears in the Rain". Karafu says, "Today the princess has belonged to me, I will give you my name and my life, I am Karafu, Prince of Tartary." Turandot takes his hand and walks towards the square where the public is waiting. Scene 2, Square in front of the Imperial Palace. Early in the morning, to a marching song, the Emperor sits on his throne, and the masses chant Hail. Turandot and Karafu come on, and Turandot says, "Father, I have learned the name of this young man, and his name is Love." Karafu and Turandot embrace, and the crowd congratulates them on their happiness by singing a chorus of "Sun, life, may everything be forever," and the play ends.