Nessun Dorma

Calaf is alone in the moonlit palace gardens. In the distance he hears Turandot's heralds proclaiming her command. His aria begins with an echo of their cry and a reflection on Princess Turandot:
"Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza, guardi le stelle che tremano d'amore, e di speranza!"
(English translation: "None shall sleep! None shall sleep! Even you, o Princess, in your cold room 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!"
(English translation: "But my secret is closed in me; none will know my name! No, no! On your mouth I will say it when the light shines!")
"Just before the climactic end of the aria, a chorus of women is heard singing in the distance: "Il nome suo nessun saprà... E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!"
(English translation: "No one will know his name... and we must, alas, die, die!")
Calaf, now certain of victory, sings: "Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!" (English translation: "Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At daybreak I shall win! I shall win! I shall win!")

I never learned the words until just now. Two performances, touching for different reasons. Two performers, opposite in all regards. And one amazing piece of music, from an incredible, romantic (in the original sense) opera.

Riddled with Cancer. Hobbled. His face courageous, passionate, even pained at the autumn of his life and skill. His last performance. The emotion in his face is marvelous.



And, one of my favorite triumphant moments. A great story. Also, courageous, but timid and frightened too. His first performance. A different face, certainly.

Amazing. And even more so, now that I understand all the words. Add seeing Turandot near the top of my life's goals.



It also illustrates nicely, compared with American Idol, the difference between the British Hero and the American Hero. Hmm. . . where's my copy of High Fidelity.