Puccini's great work, Turandot, is set during the Yuan Dynasty. [Provided to China Daily]

Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was thinking of China when he wrote his masterpiece Turandot.

The legendary story is set in China during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and is an opera about the power of love.

Prince Calaf falls in love with Princess Turandot, who is filled with thoughts of revenge after invaders raped her grandmother a hundred years ago.

She vows that no man will marry her until a suitor solves three riddles; any false answer results in death. Calaf passes the test but Turandot hesitates to marry him. Calaf then agrees to die if she is able to guess his real name. Turandot is performed by the Hungarian State Opera and replete with choruses and pageantry.

Date: Nov 27-Dec 8

Venue: Hungarian State Opera House, Budapest

Website: www.opera.hu

China Daily