A
CHINESE FAIRYTALE
ABOUT THE VICTORY OF LOVE
The call says:
Turandot, woman of purity,
bride of he of Royal blood
who solves the three riddles
of her challenge"
Act
One
A Persian
Prince who has attempted to solve Princess Turandot's three riddles
and has failed, is executed.
By
chance, Prince Calaf meets his father, Timur, (who is the dethroned
King of the Tartars) in this enemy country. Timur's servant, the slave
Liù, expresses her secret love for Calaf.
Upon seeing Turandot for the first time, Calaf is blinded by her beauty. In his fascination he announces that he too, will attempt to solve the riddles.
Act
Two
Even the
Emperor of China considers the ruthless executions ordered by his daughter
to be too severe - but he is bound by his word.
Turandot
challenges the stranger with her three questions. He answers them correctly.
The populace rejoices.
The Princess' pride is hurt - she abhors the idea of belonging to a stranger. Calaf risks everything to prove his love: If she can find out his name (which has not been mentioned up to now) by dawn the following morning, she will be released from her promise and he will die.
Act
Three
Turandot uses all her power and cruelty to find out Calaf's identity.
Timur and Liù, who have been seen together with the Prince are
bound and tortured.
Turandot
witnesses Liù's determination not to betray Calaf even under
torture - after proclaiming that only she knows Calaf's name but will
not say it out of love for him, she stabs herself. Her death shocks
all, including the Princess.
Turandot
still fights her feelings of love. The stranger kisses her passionately
and she realizes that, in fact,she loved him from their first encounter.
Calaf
tells her his name, placing his fate in her hands. She announces that
she has the answer she has been looking for "His name is Love".
Liù's death was not in vain - the people of China celebrate!
