Turandot (Busoni)

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For the opera by Giacomo Puccini, see Turandot.

Turandot is a 1917 opera by Ferruccio Busoni, based on an earlier (1904/5, op.41) orchestral suite (see below). Like Puccini's later and more frequently performed work it has its origins in the play by Carlo Gozzi. Busoni prepared his own libretto, in German.

Contents

[edit] Roles

[edit] Plot

The suite and opera are discussed by Ashbrook & Powers in ref. 1, as background to Puccini's work:-

Apparently Busoni prepared his own libretto, in German, from Gozzi's text. It had a simplified form with two Acts of two scenes each.

  • In the first scene Kalaf comes upon the picture discarded by an earlier executed suitor, and determines to win Turandot.
  • In the second scene Altoum the emperor complains of Turandot's intransigence. The Prince (Kalaf) says he would rather die than fail to win Turandot. Turandot enters with her maid Adelma who recognises the Prince, but remains silent The Prince correctly answers the three riddles, and challenges Turandot to discover his name and parentage; if she does so, he will depart.
  • Act 2 scene 1 begins with a version of Greensleeves (which Busoni thought had a Chinese sound!). Turandot confesses her mixed feelings for the Prince. Adelma says she knows the Prince's name, and will tell Turandot if she can have her freedom; Turandot agrees.
  • Act 2 scene 2. Turandot announces Kalaf's name to general consternation, and he makes ready to depart. But Turandot stops him, saying he has awakened her heart. The work closes with a final ensemble 'Was ist das alle Menschen bindet?' to which is the reply 'Die Liebe'.

Ashbrook & Powers note that several skillfull changes in the 'falling action' of the plot (Busoni's Act 2) enabled Busoni to avoid the pitfalls which plagued Puccini's attempt to set Act 3 of his version of the story.

[edit] Suite

The eight movements of the suite are:

1. The Execution, the City Gate and the Departure,
2. Truffaldino's March,
3. Altoum's March,
4. Turandot's March,
5. Turandot's Chamber,
6. Scene 5 / 6: Dance and Song,
7. Night Waltz,
8. Quasi - Funeral March and Finale alla Turca

and the suite as a whole (eg as recorded by Samuel Wong and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra on Naxos [1]) lasts some 40 minutes.

[edit] References

Ashbrook W & Powers H (1991) Puccini's Turandot: The End of the Great Tradition, Ch II, pp56-58, Princeton University Press

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