Operatic Heroines
Turandot. The story of Turandot - a haughty Chinese princess who declares that she will marry only the man who can solve her three riddles - has been the inspiration for many composers. Weber wrote incidental music for a play by Schiller, and there are operas by Busoni and - most famously - Puccini. Puccini's version of Turandot's world is a violently cruel and murderous one, where the crowd both adore their icy princess and are moved by the sight of yet another young man being put to death. But why does Turandot wage such an elaborate war against men. and how does she react when someone eventually solves her riddles?
