Andrei Serban's Celebrated Production Returns

Sworn against love by the death of her mother, proud Princess Turandot prefers watching her suitors meet a grisly end and having their heads placed on spikes at the palace gates, yet they still vie to win her hand. When Calaf takes up the challenge, the unattainable beauty may have met her match. Discover anew or for the first time as the Royal Opera presents Andrei Serban's thrilling production of Puccini's final work.

The Final Opera By Puccini

Puccini's final masterpiece features the iconic tenor aria Nessun Dorma, translated as "None Shall Sleep"; appropriately sung before the rising of the sun in the final act thanks to its soaring finale. However, few know that during Puccini's final month he had struggled to depict Calaf's triumph in song, and thus died before completing the opera. Completed by Franco Alfano two years later, it was given its premiere in 1926 at La Scala, Milan where the unfinished opera was performed. Famously, conductor Arturo Toscanini laid down his baton before the final duet after declaring that "at this point, the Maestro died", referring to Puccini.

Nowadays it is common for both versions to be performed, with critics divided on whether Franco Alfano's completion makes the better performance; it was up until relatively recently that China had banned it due to the unfavorable depictions of Chinese culture. However,it was lifted when first performed at the Forbidden City for eight nights in 1998.