from Act III of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami

Role: Calaf, the "Unknown Prince", son of Timur

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: The gardens before the walls of Peking

Synopsis: A herald has just announced that no one will sleep in the city of Peking until the Calaf's name is known to the Princess. Calaf, who knows that he has agreed to be killed if Turandot learns his name before the morning, is not worried. He is sure that he will be the only one to reveal his name to the Princess and he will only do that once morning has come and the Princess has consented to be his wife.

from Act I of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami

Role: Calaf, the "Unknown Prince", son of Timur

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: The streets of Peking

Synopsis: After Liú begs him tearfully not to risk his life by playing a deadly game to win the Princess Turandot, Calaf responds to her gently, asking her not to weep.

from Act I of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami

Role: Liú, a slave girl

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: The streets of Peking

Synopsis: Liú, Calaf, and Timur are in the midst of a processional to the execution of the Prince of Persia who attempted to win the Princess Turandot by answering three riddles. If he had given the correct answers, he would have married the Princess, but the price for incorrectly answering them was death. During the processional, Calaf catches a glimpse of Turandot, falls in love with her immediately, and decides to attempt to answer the three riddles. Liú sings this aria to beg him not to risk his life for the Princess.

from Act III of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami

Role: Liú, a slave girl

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: The gardens before the walls of Peking

Synopsis: Liù, secretly in love with Prince Calaf, is threatened with horrible torture if she does not reveal his name. She courageously refuses to do so, scorning her torturers. She soon finds a way to stab herself rather than give away Calaf’s secret, sacrificing herself so that he may win Turandot.

from Act III of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami

Role: Liú, a slave girl

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: The gardens before the walls of Peking

Synopsis: After being captured and tortured because she knows Calaf's name, Liú is asked by Turandot why she resists the torture so well. She replies that her love for the "Unknown Prince" keeps her from telling his name. She sings that Turandot's icy heart will one day be melted by Calaf and that Turandot will love him as Liú does now.

from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Giuseppe Adami

Role: Turandot, Princess of China

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic soprano

Setting: The square in front of the palace

Synopsis: Turandot warns Calaf of the danger of the deadly game of riddles he proposes to win her hand in marriage. She explains to him that the game is designed to avenge her ancestress, who was killed when a warlord conquered her country. Now, Turandot's self-devised game has settled the score.