Mystery, power, and relentless tests of love: Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" is one of the most monumental operas in the repertoire. At the Stuttgart State Opera, this fairy tale from ancient China unfolds as dramatic musical theater between cruelty, longing, and redemption.
At the heart of Puccini's opera is the Chinese princess Turandot, who sets three riddles for every suitor. Those who cannot solve them must die – a cruel ritual that keeps her kingdom in fear. When the unknown Prince Calaf nevertheless asks for her hand, he faces the deadly challenge and actually achieves the impossible: he solves all the riddles and thus wins Turandot's hand.
But Calaf sets a condition: if Turandot discovers his name by dawn, she may have him executed. Thus begins a feverish search throughout the empire, while Turandot vacillates between pride, fear, and a new, unfamiliar emotion. The story unfolds as a dramatic conflict between power, vulnerability, and the possibility of change.
With monumental choral scenes, colorful orchestration, and famous arias—above all "Nessun dorma"—Puccini created a work full of musical intensity. The Stuttgart State Opera presents "Turandot" as the grand opera event of the season, in which fairy-tale material, psychodrama, and tonal opulence come together in an impressive way.
Premiere June 7,
Further performances: June 13, 26, and 29, July 5, 8, and 18, 2026
