"A Mandarin announces the law of the land ("Popolo di Pekino: La legge e questa ...)": Any man who desires to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles. If he fails, he will be beheaded. The Prince of Persia has failed and is to be beheaded at moonrise. As the crowd surges towards the gates of the palace, crying for blood, a blind old man is pushed to the ground while his slave-girl, Li?, cries for help. A young man hears her cry and recognizes...