19 September 2020

"Nessun Dorma"


A four-minute video from a June 2007 segment of the ITV program Britain's Got Talent.  This video has been viewed 19 million times.

Update May 2008 - the video has now been viewed 25 million times.
Update 2016 - now it's 157 million views...

Reposted from 2008 to add Pavarotti's rendition of the same piece:


And to add the lyrics (in English):
Nobody shall sleep!...
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, oh 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...
No!...No!...
On your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!...
(No one will know his name and we must, alas, die.)
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!
And an excerpt from the story:
"At the start of the opera, Calaf sees Princess Turandot for the first time and instantly falls in love with her. However, any man who wishes to marry her must correctly answer three riddles. Those who fail are killed. Despite protests from his father and his servant, Calaf accepts the challenge and is determined to marry the princess. 

Much to the delight of the princess's father as well as the entire kingdom, Calaf answers all three riddles correctly. Turandot realizes she must now marry a stranger and becomes upset. Calaf makes a deal with her that if she can correctly answer his own riddle before dawn, he will die. If she does not answer correctly, he will marry her. Turandot agrees and the countdown begins. 

Late that night, the princess declares that no one will sleep until she learns the name of her suitor. In fact, she cries out that everyone in the kingdom will be killed if no one steps forward to reveal Calaf's identity. Meanwhile, Calaf confidently sings "Nessun Dorma" (Nobody shall sleep). "

Reposted from 2017 to add this cover from this young Dutch singer who won the Holland's Got Talent competition at age 9:

4 comments:

  1. You should see Brian Boitano skate to that - it's brilliant: https://youtu.be/JIk0H437YqQ

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  2. Aretha Franklin is still the gold standard.

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    Replies
    1. Aretha Franklin is certainly not the gold standard. It's an operatic aria meant to be sung by a male singer. Aretha was not an operatic singer. One can argue as to whose rendition is the gold standard. Many believe it's Pavarotti but there are others. It certainly is not Paul Potts.

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