Song of the Week

This week I decided to go with something a little more classical for the song of the week. One thing about me is that I've got a very eclectic collection of music. I like just about anything and everything, and i'm willing to try it at least once.

This week's song is an aria from the unfinished opera Turandot by Puccini, Nessun Dorma!

I don't remember the first time i heard this. I just remember crying. It was so beautiful. The string instruments playing and the sound of the male voice singing this song to his princess. At the time I didn't know that was what he was singing about. It was just pretty.

I play this song all the time, along with other arias on a cd i have called 40 Most Beautiful Arias. The last time I played this cd Ian was over and came into my room and asked me what that noise was. I told him that it was Opera, music. He told me it was annoying and to turn it off. He's 8. I'll get him with it one of these days. He will love Opera and not just Metallica.

Just a little infomation about the song:
History of "Nessun Dorma" and the opera, Turandot: Puccini began working on the opera Turandot in 1920. The next year, he started composing the music. Two years later, in 1924, Puccini had all but finished the opera's final duet. Puccini disliked the text of the duet and postponed composing it until he was able to correct the text. When he finally chose the words for it, two days later he was was diagnosed with throat cancer. Having decided to travel to Belgium for treatment and surgery the last week of November 1924, Puccini died as a result of the surgery on November 29. Therefore, the opera itself was never finished by Puccini.

Nessun Dorma!
Giacomo Puccini (1920-1924)

Italian Text
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o, Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza,
guardi le stelle
che tremano d'amore
e di speranza.
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!
(Il nome suo nessun saprà!...
e noi dovrem, ahime, morir!)
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba vincerò!
vincerò, vincerò!

English Translation of "Nessun Dorma"
Nobody shall sleep!...
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, o 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!