The Most Beautiful Aria Ever Written: Puccini's "Nessun Dorma"
Performed by Andrea Bocelli in Tuscany. While this is a Pavarotti standard, no one sings it like Bocelli in my opinion. I have never found a recording of it.
Nessun Dorma libretto from Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot."
English translation Anniina Jokinen.
| Principe Nessun dorma, nessun dorma, Tu pure, o Principessa, Nella tua fredda stanza, Guardi le stelle Che tremano d'amore E di speranza. | The Prince No one sleeps, no one sleeps... You either, O Princess, In your chilly room; Look at the stars That are trembling with love And 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, Ed il mio bacio scioglierà Il silenzio Che ti fa mia. | But my secret's locked within me; My name no one shall know, No, no, Onto your lips I'll tell it When the dawn grows splenderous And my kiss brushes away The silence That makes you mine. |
| Chorus | |
| Il nome suo nessun saprà E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir. | His name no one will know, And we must all, alas, all die. |
| Principe Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò! | Prince Dissolve, O Night! Set behind the mountains, Stars! Set behind the mountains, Stars! At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win! |
Nessun Dorma libretto from Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot."
English translation Anniina Jokinen.
posted by Anniina | 5:47 AM
7 Comments:
Try listening to Mario Del Monaco, same aria.
I like Pucccini very much, too.
Although I can't help thinking that most of his stories and characters are sort of sick. Like an unfortunate gesa who is on love with a man who has a wife in every port and neglects her and refuses her love.
Or a princess who beheads those who love her.
Or a faithful maid who chooses to be killed for the love of her life instead of letting him go after his stupid dreams.
Or...
You know what?
A few days ago I surfed YouTube for those hilarious X-factor and America's got talent crap auditions. You know, when the contestant thinks s/he can sing while the opposite is true.
So, I came accross Paul Potts's performance.
I liked it, than I surfed some more for the same aria by professional opera singers. I listened tonnes of versions of the same song.
I love Puccini, despite of what I've said above....
Bocelli is really GREAT!!!
sorry it's me again the gazillionth time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWQ-0QLCWwE&NR=1
Nessun Dorma, by Jussi Björling from 1944.
How abou this one, with English subtitles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWhBzqrgXJs&mode=related&search=
Hi SzélsőFa,
I've heard all of those before, but like I said, for me, only Boccelli sings it the way Puccini intended it. It's like all the other singers are "performing" it -- thinking about how they sound, whether they're pure, etc., where as Boccelli lives it -- it's like the difference between a real actor and a technician -- a real actor is the part. Boccelli convinces me he is absolutely dying of love for this woman, and it will be the consummation of his whole being to kiss this woman -- he'll just die if he doesn't. Puccini is all about love, about feeling, and it's not the purest note that makes the best performance, but the purest emotion, the conviction of love on the part of the singer. Boccelli for me. =)
I totally feel what you're talking about. Bocelli does it so humble - he does not 'do' it, he lives through the song I can feel that.
His performance is a remarkably good, an outstanding one in my book, too.
Voice-vise, Mario Del Monaco is my fav.
But as you said, singing an opera is not just about singing notes here and there. Singing notes correctly is just the thing to begin with.
I've never heard Boccelli's rendition, but I am a die-hard Pavarotti fan, and his performance of it always moves me. He's is amazing, I have to say.
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