1. The libretto of Puccini's opera was based on a story from a collection of fables by which celebrated Italian author? Giuseppe Lampedusa Carlo Gozzi Carlo Goldoni Gabriele D'Annunzio

2. Puccini's "Turandot" was actually the second operatic treatment of this subject; an earlier version had premiered in 1917. Which of these celebrated Italian composers wrote this version? Ferruccio Busoni Ricardo Zandonai Italo Montemezzi Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

3. The tragic character of Liu, the selfless, devoted servant girl in love with Calaf, is an invention of Puccini's librettist; she does not exist in either the original story or the first operatic version. Puccini's biographers generally agree that this role was created in honor of a similarly tragic woman in Puccini's life; who was she? His close friend Sybil Seligman His wife, Elvira His maid, Doria Manfredi His sister Iginia

4. The opera opens with the announcement of the impending execution of the Prince of Persia, who has failed to answer Turandot's three riddles. When will his execution take place? At high noon At the rising of the moon At dawn At midnight

5. Among the crowd is the prince Calaf, travelling in disguise since the violent overthrow of his father's kingdom. Calaf is overjoyed to discover his father Timur, now old and blind, in the crowd. Timur is accompanied by the servant girl Liu, who has been his faithful companion in exile. Calaf asks Liu why she has chosen to share such hardship when she could have escaped to her own country; what reason does she offer? Timur had adopted her as his daughter Calaf had once smiled at her Calaf had once saved her life Timur reminded her of her own father

6. Calaf, to the despair of Liu and Timur, catches a glimpse of the fatal princess Turandot when she appears before the execution of the Prince of Persia; he falls instantly in love with her. What caused the princess to appear? She always appears at the rising of the moon The prince of Persia asked to see her before he died Calaf asked her to show herself so he could curse her for her cruelty She wanted to present the sword to the executioner herself

7. Calaf, determined to win the princess for himself, rushes to sound the gong that will announce his willingness to undergo the test of the Three Riddles. To his great consternation, he finds his way barred by Turandot's three ministers, Ping, Pang, and Pong, who try their best to discourage him from seeking to be Turandot's husband. What does Ping urge him to do instead? Marry Liu instead Become a monk Take a hundred wives Go to a brothel

8. Despite the best efforts of Ping, Pang, and Pong, Calaf sounds the gong and offers to try to solve the three riddles. In the first scene of Act II, the three ministers prepare for what they are certain will be yet another execution. According to the three, how many have been executed thus far? 100 50 30 13

9. The Emperor Altoum of China, Turandot's father, appears and tries three times to dissuade Calaf from proceeding with the test. By what title does Calaf address the Emperor? Figlio del Sole (Son of the Sun) Figlio del Cielo (Son of Heaven) Figlio della Luna (Son of the Moon) Figlio delle Stelle (Son of the Stars)

10. Turandot then appears and, in the aria "In Questa Reggia", explains the reason for her hatred of men and her resolution never to belong to any man. What is her reason? The death in childbirth of her mother Her near-rape by an invading army The brutality of her brothers The brutal overthrow of one of her female ancestors

11. To the delight of everyone but the princess herself, Calaf successfully answers the dreaded Three Riddles and may rightfully claim Turandot as his wife. What were the answers to Turandot's three riddles? Hope, Fire, and Turandot Hope, Blood, and Love Hope, Blood, and Turandot Fire, Blood, and Death

12. Turandot begs her father not to force her to honor her vow and marry the victorious Calaf. Calaf then offers her a challenge of his own: he will forfeit his life if the princess can discover his name. What is his reason for doing this? Now that he has Turandot, he no longer wants her He realizes that death is better than life with Turandot would be He does not want to have Turandot against her will He actually plans to escape the kingdom

13. Calaf's celebrated aria "Nessun Dorma", possibly Puccini's best-known aria for the tenor voice, occurs soon after the beginning of Act III. However, the principal tune of the aria ("Ma'il mio mistero e' chiusa in me") is heard in the orchestra near the end of Act II. True False

14. Immediately after "Nessun Dorma", Ping, Pang, and Pong appear and try alternately to plead with and bribe Calaf to reveal his name to them and renounce Turandot, who has vowed widespread bloodshed and torture if the unknown prince's name is not discovered by dawn. Which of these do they NOT offer to the prince if he tells them his name? A position of power in a foreign kingdom Beautiful women Fine clothing Jewels and riches

15. It is discovered that Liu and Timur are associated with Calaf and therefore probably know his name. When they are brought before Turandot, the brave Liu insists that she alone knows the prince's name and refuses, even under threat of torture, to reveal it. Afraid that she may be unable to endure the torments that she is threatened with, Liu siezes a dagger from one of the guards and stabs herself. Upon discovering that Liu is dead, the grief-stricken Timur warns that the innocent girl's spirit may seek revenge on those responsible for her death. Tenderly, the crowd lifts Liu's body and bears it offstage, singing a moving funeral march. Timur follows alongside Liu's corpse, singing that he will join her "in the night which knows no dawn". This is, in fact, Timur's last appearance in the opera. Yes No

16. "Turandot" was originally planned as a two-act opera. Puccini's decision to add an extended scene for Liu, in which she is tortured and commits suicide, prompted the addition of the ultimately unfinished third act. True False

17. The third and final act of Turandot was left unfinished upon Puccini's death in 1924. Which composer was chosen to complete the score from the composer's extremely fragmentary sketches? Franco Alfano Ruggierio Leoncavallo Ricardo Zandonai Franco Faccio

18. Puccini incorporated actual Chinese melodies into the score of Turandot. True False

19. Although the opera was completed from Puccini's sketches, this completed version was not heard at the premiere, which ended with Liu's funeral march. True False

20. "Turandot" premiered at La Scala on April 25, 1926, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. What notable personage had announced his intention to attend the premiere but, ultimately, decided not to do so? King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy King George V of England Benito Mussolini U.S. President Calvin Coolidge