Story time, a story as old as time but still a
favourite with anyone who has heard "Nessun
dorma" one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf (the
unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold
Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first
answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded.
In the act before this aria, Calaf has
correctly answered the three riddles put to all of Princess Turandot's
prospective suitors. Nonetheless, she recoils at the thought of marriage to
him. Calaf offers her another chance by challenging her to guess his name by
dawn. If she does so, she can execute him; but if she does not, she must marry
him. The cruel and emotionally cold princess then decrees that none of her
subjects shall sleep that night until his name is discovered. If they fail, all
will be killed.
Prince Calaf sings the aria...
Nobody
shall sleep! Even you, o Princess, in your cold room, watch the stars, that tremble with
love and with hope.
But
my secret is hidden within me, my name no one shall know...
On
your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And
my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!…
Just before the climactic end of the aria,
a chorus of women is heard singing in the distance:
No
one will know his name and we must, alas, die.
Now early morning, Calaf,
certain of victory, sings:
Vanish,
o night!
Fade
stars! Fade stars!
At
dawn, I will win!
Nessun dorma roughly translated means " Nobody
shall sleep "
He finally woes her and they live happily ever after.
Hopefully all her subjects are spared death.
You can listen here Nessun Dorma
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