None Shall Sleep

Spark Version here - https://spark.adobe.com/page/mP4ap6RUgHHTm/

Warning: Violence, Scenes of a sexual nature and Slavery.

Ever wonder what is the story behind a song? I was listening to “Nessun dorma” and wondered just that. It comes Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot. ‘Nessun dorma’ means ‘None shall sleep’ but the story gets better. Transpires there was a particularly beautiful and nasty Princess in a fairy tale land, who seemed to take delight in killing off people if she does not get her way. Most people would just give them a good telling off but not Princess Turandot, yep same as the opera. Not sure who put her up to it but she announced one day that anyone wanting to marry her would have to answer 3 riddles and if they answered wrongly then, you guessed it, they would be killed.

This is the violent part.

Moving on swiftly, one gallant Prince steps forward and announces he knows the answers but he is wrong and you guessed it, he dies. In steps Prince Calaf, after meeting his destitute father, King Timur, his title and lands were taken away by the powers that be, he sees Princess Turandot and falls instantly in love with her. He declares he knows the answers.

Q1. What thing is reborn every night? ...A. ‘Hope’

Q2. What burns hot, but is not fire? ...A. ‘Blood’

Q3. What ice can make a fire? ...A. ‘Turandot’

He is correct but the evil, beautiful Princess does not want to marry him and this is where he gets clever. He says to the Princess; “If you can guess what my name is by the morning, I will gladly die but if not then you will marry me.”

The Princess declares that her whole country must find out his name or die. No one can sleep that night. She is a little like Donald Trump. This is where the song Nessus Dorma come from. None shall sleep. 

Prince Calaf sings the song Nessus Dorma.

None shall sleep! None shall sleep! Not even you, oh Princess, in your cold bedroom, watching the stars that tremble with love, and with hope!

But my secret is hidden within me; no one will know my name! No, no! On your mouth, I will say it when the light shines! And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine.

Vanish, o night! Fade, you stars! Fade, you stars! At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

These are scenes of a sexual nature.

Interestingly she does not discover his name but does go on to marry him and have 8 wonderful children.

That is the story behind that amazing song Nessus Dorma.