top of page
Sing Along To Italian Opera
(Scroll to the bottom of the page for the words.)
Nessun Dorma! Nobody go to sleep!
Sung by the tenor, Luciano Pavarotti
This is an aria from the opera Turandot, composed by Giacomo Puccini. The aria was used as the theme music for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, hosted in Italy. The great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, was the singer.
The opera Turandot was first performed at Il Teatro alla Scala a Milano in 1926. Turandot is the name of a princess. She lives in Peking, China.
The aria is sung by the character Prince Calaf. He has passed the test of solving three riddles in order to win the right to marry the princess. But she is not happy. She does not want to marry anyone! She doesn't even know the Prince's name!
Prince Calaf gives the princess an opportunity not to marry him! If she discovers his name before dawn then he will agree to let her go free. So, the princess Turandot declares that nobody should go to sleep that night. She announces Nessun dorma! She orders everyone to seek information about the mysterious prince's name.
The Prince sings this aria in order to state how certain he is that nobody will be able to find out his name before dawn, and that therefore he will win the game.
Cantiamo! Let's Sing!
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza,
guardi le stelle che tremano d' amore e di speranza!
No one shall sleep! No one shall sleep!
Even you, oh Princess, in your cold bedroom,
watch the stars that tremble with love and with hope!
Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me.
Il nome mio nessun saprà! No! No!
Sulla tua bocca lo dirò quando la luce splenderà!
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!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia!
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!
A chorus sings:-
Il nome suo nessun saprà...
E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!
No one will know his name... and we will have to, alas, die, die!
Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!
Vanish, oh night! Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!
Campione! Vincitore!
L'Opinione di Claudia:
Claudia's Opinion:
The prince sounds very strong and powerful. He is so loud at the end of the aria that I even have to cover my ears. I have a feeling that he just might win.
Go to Claudia's Opera Zone
Go to the Football Zone
bottom of page