Which composer wrote the opera Turandot, completed after his death by Franco Alfano?

Giacomo Puccini wrote the opera Turandot, which was completed after his death by Franco Alfano.

Puccini based the opera on Carlo Gozzi’s 18th-century theatrical fable about Princess Turandot, who challenges suitors with three riddles. The opera combines an imagined imperial China with Puccini’s late Romantic musical language.

Puccini died in Brussels in 1924 while composing Turandot. He left the final duet unfinished, so Alfano completed it using Puccini’s sketches. The premiere took place at La Scala in Milan on 25 April 1926, conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

A common mix-up is to credit Alfano as the opera’s composer. Alfano completed the ending, but Turandot is fundamentally Puccini’s opera. Toscanini reportedly stopped the premiere at the point where Puccini had ceased composing, before a later performance included Alfano’s conclusion.