Turandot Vienna

Giacomo Puccini's Turandot is the composer's final and most monumental opera, left unfinished at his death in 1924 and completed by Franco Alfano for its 1926 premiere at La Scala under Arturo Toscanini. Set in a legendary Peking, it tells of the icy Princess Turandot, who poses three deadly riddles to any suitor who seeks her hand — a wrong answer means execution. When the unknown prince Calaf solves all three, the drama rises to Nessun dorma ("None shall sleep"), one of the most beloved arias in all of opera.

The Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) is one of the world's foremost opera houses. Opened in 1869 on Vienna's grand Ringstrasse, its Renaissance Revival halls have hosted the greatest voices and conductors for more than 150 years, and its orchestra shares its musicians with the Vienna Philharmonic. Rebuilt after wartime destruction and reopened in 1955, the house presents an exceptional repertoire each season, standing today as a cultural landmark at the very heart of the city.

What to expect

• "Nessun dorma," one of the most famous tenor arias ever written, sung live in Act III
• The mounting tension of Turandot's three riddles — a life-or-death test of wits and courage
• Puccini's lush, exotic orchestration and sweeping choral scenes that conjure a legendary Peking
• The heartbreaking devotion of the slave girl Liù, the opera's tender emotional core
• The grandeur of a full-scale staging in one of Europe's most storied opera houses

Getting there

The Wiener Staatsoper stands at Opernring 2, on the Ringstrasse in Vienna's historic first district, a short walk from Stephansplatz and Kärntner Straße. By public transport, take the U-Bahn (U1, U2 or U4) to Karlsplatz, or trams 1, 2, 71, D or 62 to the Oper/Karlsplatz stop. From Vienna International Airport (VIE), the City Airport Train (CAT) or the S7 line reaches Wien Mitte, where the U4 connects directly to Karlsplatz.