Nessun dorma

"Nessun dorma" (Italian: [nesˌsun ˈdɔrma]; English: "Let no one sleep")[1] is an aria from the final act of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot (text by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni) and one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera.

It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto (the unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot.

[5] The Three Tenors, which includes José Carreras, performed the aria at three subsequent FIFA World Cup Finals, in 1994 in Los Angeles, 1998 in Paris, and 2002 in Yokohama.

In the act before this aria, Calaf has correctly answered the three riddles put to all of Princess Turandot's prospective suitors.

As he kneels before her, the "Nessun dorma" theme makes a first appearance, to his words, "Il mio nome non sai!"

The cruel and emotionally cold princess then decrees that none of her subjects shall sleep that night until his name is discovered.

Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza, guardi le stelle che tremano d'amore, e di speranza!

Sulla tua bocca, lo dirò quando la luce splenderà!

In Alfano's completion of act 3, the "Nessun dorma" theme makes a final triumphal appearance at the end of the opera.

The theme also makes a concluding reappearance in Luciano Berio's later completion (this having been an expressed intention of Puccini), but in a more subdued orchestration.

[8] Although Pavarotti rarely sang the role of Calaf on stage, "Nessun dorma" became his signature aria and a sporting anthem in its own right, especially for football.

[7][8] Pavarotti notably sang the aria during the first Three Tenors concert on the eve of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final in Rome.

The image of three tenors in full formal dress singing in a World Cup concert captivated the global audience.

[13] "Nessun dorma" (often in adapted versions of the score) has been performed by many pop and crossover singers and instrumentalists.

Films in which the aria plays a significant role in the soundtrack include The Killing Fields,[26] New York Stories,[27] The Sea Inside,[28] The Sum of All Fears,[29] The Mirror Has Two Faces,[30] Bend It Like Beckham,[25] Chasing Liberty,[31] No Reservations,[32] Goon,[33] The Upside,[34] and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation[35] (with the scene set within a performance of Turandot itself).

[41] In July of 2024, shortly after the assassination attempt of President Trump, Nessun Dorma was played at the finale of the RNC inauguration.