Turandot, Giacomo Puccini’s final opera, centres on love and the fear it provokes in the Princess Turandot, who has vowed never to marry, and its ultimate power.

Any prince seeking her hand must answer three riddles. If he fails, he must die – a fate which leaves Turandot unmoved. Prince Calàf, travelling incognito as he is fleeing enemies who have deposed his father, Timur, falls in love with Turandot at first sight and is determined to seek her hand in marriage. In the crowd witnessing the execution of the previous unsuccessful candidate are a blind man and his loyal companion, Liù.  The old man is Calàf's father, and Liù has followed him into exile because Calàf once smiled at her. Timur and Liù beg him not to court Turandot, but he insists he will do so, telling Liù  not to cry for him and to continue caring for his father.

Calàf successfully answers Turandot's three riddles. She pleads with her father, the emperor, not to be given to this unknown man, so Calàf gives her a riddle of his own. If she answers correctly, he will agree to die; if not, she must marry him. He gives her until dawn to discover his name.
Turandot decrees that no one will sleep until she learns the name of her suitor; otherwise, everyone in the city will be killed . In her attempts to avoid her fate, Turandot captures Calàf’s father and Liu, who, out of love, refuses to reveal his secret and kills herself to protect him.

Calàf claims his bride and kisses his “Princess of Death” who now realises the stranger's name is "Love".