Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy into a family with a long history of music. After the death of his father when he was only five years old, he was sent to study with his uncle Fortunato Magi, who considered him to be a poor and undisciplined student. Later, he took the position of church organist and choir master, but it was not until he saw a performance of Verdi's Aida that he became inspired to be an opera composer. He and a friend walked an entire 18.5 miles (30 Kilometers) to see the performance in Pisa. In 1880, Puccini travelled to the Conservatory of Music in Milan to begin his career by studying composition with Amilcare Ponchielli.
In 1880, the Messa composed at the age of 21, marked the end of Puccini's apprenticeship as a composer and the culmination of his family's long association with church music in his native Lucca. (Note: This name normally applies only to a "Gloria" mass, setting the opening two prayers of the Catholic Mass, the Kyrie and the Gloria. However, the Messa is a setting of the full Catholic Mass.) The work offers fascinating glimpses of the dramatic power that Puccini was soon to unleash on Milan's stages; the powerful arias for tenor and bass soloists are certainly more operatic in feel than is usually encountered in church music. The orchestration and the overall feeling of drama conveyed by his music establish a dialogue with Verdi's Requiem and perhaps already constitute a prediction of the future operatic career Puccini would embrace for life.
From 1880 to 1883 he studied at the Milan Conservatory under Ponchielli and Antonio Bazzini. In 1882, Puccini entered a competition for a one-act opera. Although he did not win, Le Villi was later staged in 1884 at the Teatro dal Verme; it also caught the attention of Giulio Ricordi, head of G. Ricordi & Co. music publishers, who commissioned a second opera, Edgar (1889).
From 1891 on, Puccini passed more and more of his time at Torre del Lago, in the Tuscan countryside. In this place on the border of the Massaciuccoli lake, where he passed lots of time hunting, he found refuge from the crowded city. Later he built a villa and moved there definitively in 1900. It was to remain his home and workplace until the very last years of his life. He is buried in the villa's chapel.
Nessun dorma
Giacomo Puccini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o, principessa,
Nella tua fredda stanza,
Guardi le stelle
Che tremano d'amore
E di speranza.
Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me,
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diró
Quando la luce splenderá!
Ed il mio bacio sciogliera il silenzio
Che ti fa mia!
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
cll'alba vinceró!
Vinceró, vinceró!
These lyrics are from Giacomo Puccini's opera, Turandot. The aria "Nessun dorma" is sung by Calaf, the prince who is determined to win the heart of the cold-hearted and distant Princess Turandot. Calaf sings about his love for Turandot, even though he knows that she will not love him back. He sings that while she is alone in her cold chamber, looking at the trembling stars, he keeps his name a secret. He promises to reveal it only when the dawn appears and the light shines. He hopes that with his kiss, he will break the silence that makes her his.
The chorus "Nessun dorma" means "None shall sleep," and it represents the urgency and passion of Calaf's love for Turandot. The phrase "Vincerò" means "I will win," and it represents the triumph of love and passion over fear and intimidation. Calaf wants to break the curse that Turandot puts on her suitors, where they must answer three riddles correctly, or they will face execution. He is determined to win her hand, even though it may cost him his life. This aria is one of the most famous in opera history and is often sung at events such as the Olympics, World Cup, and Super Bowl.
Line by Line Meaning
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Let no one sleep! Let no one sleep!
Tu pure, o, Principessa
You too, oh Princess
Nella tua fredda stanza
In your cold room
Guardi le stelle
You gaze at the stars
Che tremano d'amore
That tremble with love
E di speranza
And with hope
Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me
But my mystery is locked within me
Il nome mio nessun saprá
No one will know my name
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diró
No, no, I will say it on your mouth
Quando la luce splenderá
When the light shines
Ed il mio bacio sciogliera il silenzio
And my kiss will break the silence
Che ti fa mia
That makes you mine
(Il nome suo nessun saprá!
(No one will know his name!
E noi dovrem, ahimé, morir!)
And we will have to die, alas!)
Dilegua, o notte!
Vanish, oh night!
Tramontate, stelle!
Fade away, stars!
Tramontate, stelle!
Fade away, stars!
All'alba vinceró!
At dawn, I will win!
Vinceró, vinceró!
I will win, I will win!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Untarnished
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, oh 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
Dilegua, oh notte
Tramontate, stelle
Tramontate, stelle
All'alba vincerò
Vincerò
Vincerò
Upeka Dissanayake
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!
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This is probably the most powerful song ever written
luis nascimento
Yes 😁.
Sonia Alboresi
Agreed
John Lacroix
Yes it is and it’s a great storyline.
Richard Anderson
It is a great piece of music but this is opinion. I tend to drift towards Don Giovani.
Marinko
No. Have you heard of 6ix9ine
Esme Xie
This is such an inspirational and emotional song...He sings it the best. He puts so much emotion into his voice and music. I'm in love.
Esme Xie
When you sing your own song, it's always special. <3
kalei02
The lyrics are actually sad
Jakub Banaś
@Esme Xie This is the Carreras recording. Puccini was a composer, not a singer