Turandot at Nationaltheater Mannheim

Princess Turandot never wants to belong to a man. All her suitors are therefore given a mystery. Those, who do not find the answer, will be executed. When the prince Calaf manages to solve her riddle, Turandot is dismayed. Consequently she should now redeem her promise and marry Calaf. Unexpectedly, he makes her an offer: He will choose to commit suicide if Turandot finds out his name before the sun rises.

The story of Turandot comes from a story from Häzâr jak-Ruz (Thousand and one day), the Persian equivalent of the Arabian tale from Arabian Nights. Carlo Gozzi wrote a drama which had inspired Schiller, and later inspired Brecht, to create their own stage versions. Puccini actually saw Gozzi’s drama produced by Max Reinhardt.

Turandot was Puccini's last opera. The exotic tale fabric inspired him to write a score with an unusual wealth of tonal colors. Puccini died at a time when he was confronted with a stumble in his composition due to unresolved dramaturgical problems.