What is the opera Turandot about.?

Answer 1

the libretto or story is based on a fairy tale by Carlo Goldoni ( he also wrote Pinocchio). Turandot, daughter of the Emperor of China, has taken an oath to exact revenge for a former ancestress who was raped. to that extent, whoever woos her must answer three questions. If he doesn't get them right ( one or all three, it doesn't matter) off with his head.
At the beginning of the opera, the people of Peking ( yes, it's the old spelling, but that's how they did it nearly 100 years ago)are blue, they've has enough of senseless bloodshed of otherwise handsome princes. And tonight, at the rising of the moon, there's to be yet another execution, the Prince of Persia. Along comes a weary wanderer, ragged in clothing, princely in bearing. He notices the unrest in the town square, and hangs around to see what is going on. As the moon rises, the Princess Turandot appears on a high balcony, and it's love at first sight. At least on his part.
The poor Prince of Persia gets to sing one word in this opera "Turandot" before his head is chopped off. That doesn't bother Our Hero, however, it spurs him on. Onto the scene comes an old blind man, a bit pushed around by the crowd, attended by a slave girl. It's Our Hero's father, formerly the famous king Tamerlane, (known as Timur in this rendition), who was deposed by the Mongols. He fled his palace, and Liu the slave girl has waited on him ever since, for the sake of the prince who happened to have smiled at her one day. ( She sings a lovely aria about it at this point) Under other circumstances, he might have made it up to her, but he's so smitten with the thought of Turandot, that this example of selfless love doesn't move him at all. Three of the Emperoro's ministers, with the unfortuante names of Ping, Pang, and Pong come bustling in, notice the strangers, and try to warn them off. At this last warning, the stubborn Prince gives in to his (worst) feelings, grabs the mallet, and strikes the gong, announcing his intention to woo the Princess. End of Act I
Act II gives us more of P, P and P, all lamenting this turn of events, and wishing for the good old days, or at least, sticking it out until they can retire to the quiet peaceful countryside. They act as comic relief, and it's a blessing, because then we get the heavy duty show down of hte Princess and the Stranger. First she gives us her story ( the people of Peking are heard to moan, "we've heard it all before") about her desire for revenge on all men for the sake of her many times removed ancestress, Looling, before turning to the unknown man and confronting him.
The Mandarin reads out the questions one by one, and the crowd urges the unknown stranger in his answers. I'm not going to give them to you here, you'll have to listen to them yourself! Of course, there's a couple moments of hesitation, talk about pacing!, but Our Hero gets them all right in the end.
Turandot, not only thwarted, but also humiliated by this seeming beggar man appeals to her father, who basically tells her " You made the rules, hon, you gotta stick to them, and good luck to the guy". The Hero ( we know he's a prince, but the opera people don't) generously gives her an out:" You set me three riddles, Princess, and I answered them all. If you answer my one riddle, I'll let you go. You don't know my name. If you can tell me my name by the rising of the sun, I'll pay the penalty and die."
the crowd rejoices, sort of, proclaims long life to the Emperor once more. End of Act II

Act III opens with all the people of Peking milling around anxiously, muttering " the Princess has declared that no one is to sleep tonight, that all must search out the name of the Unknown Stranger" Our Hero picks up on their lament, and turns their phrase "Nessun dorma" into an aria. The ministers come rushing on, offering him wealth, concubines, power, if he'll just pack up and leave, but he turns them all down. The crowd seizes on old Timur and Liu, recognizing them as having spoken with the prince is the first Act. Liu begs off for the old man, pointing out "he's old, he's blind, he doesn't know anything." The Princess is called upon to appear and witness the torture of the two. Despite being tortured, Liu remains steadfast about not answering, and has a short confrontation with the Princess, who asks, what is it that gives you the strength to hold out? Liu's answer about love turns into a wonderful aria. But at the end of it, she grabs a knife off the nearest guard, exclaims she can't hold out any longer, and stabs herself. Timur laments " don't leave me yet, little Liu, there's one last journey to take together". The crowd laments " Oh Liu don't punish us from the afterlife, we didn't mean it" in wonderful 8 part harmony, and everyone drifts off, leaving the Princess and the Stranger alone together.
(At this point, Puccini's music ends. He died without finishing the opera, but left behind numerous sketches. His version would have led to an unhappy end. His student Alfano, who finished the opera, gave us the happy end that is generally always played) A big duet follows, where the Princess, cold as ice, begins to melt under the fiery ardor of the Unknown Stranger. He finally proclaims his name to her, and she calls out in triumph " I know his name!" whereupon everyone comes rushing back on stage again. She repeats " I know his name!"
We hold our breath. " His name is Love!" sigh.....
Happy end.

Two wonderful recordings to listen to.
On EMI from the 50s with the legendary Bigit NIlsson as Turandot
On Decca from the 70s when Pavarotti turned Calaf's aria into his signature tune.
Have fun, it's a wonderful opera, with musical effects that were new in their day, with some funny attempts at Chinese folk music and the pentatonic scale, and good old fashioned opera
kitsch.