Perhaps the most beautiful aria ever written, sung by Domingo, Carreras, and Pavarotti ...
Lyn wondered at the meaning of the words. Nessun Dorma is an aria from Puccini's last (and unfinished) opera, "Turandot". If I understand correctly it has, like much of opera, a ridiculous plot. Basically the prince wants the love of the princess but must hide his name from her until dawn - if he succeeds he wins her hand: if he fails he dies. Sort of an even more cruel version of Rumplestiltskin.
Il Principe:
Nessun dorma!... Nessun dorma!...
Tu pure, o Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza
guardi le stelle che tremano
d'amore e di speranza!
Ma il mio mistero
è chiuso in me,
il nome mio nessun saprà!
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò,
quando la luce splenderà!
Ed il mio bacio scoglierà
il silenzio che ti fa mia!
Coro donne:
Il nome suo nessun saprà...
E noi dovrem ahimè, morir, morir!...
Il Principe:
Dilegua, o notte! tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!
Vincerò! Vincerò!
And here's the English translation.
The Prince:
No one sleeps!... No one sleeps!... *)
Nor do you, o princess
in your cold room
Look the stars that tremble
with love and hope!
But my mystery
it is locked in me,
my name no one will know!
No, no, only on your mouth I will reveal it,
when dawn's light will shine!
My kiss will break the silence
and make you mine!
Female choir:
His name no one will know...
And we shall have, alas, to die, to die...!
The Prince:
Disperse, o night! Set, you stars!
Set, you stars! With the dawn I will win!
I'll win! I'll win!
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Previous Sunday Concerts:
Amazing Grace
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