The three subsequently sang together, in concerts produced by Hungarian Tibor Rudas and others, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for the 1994 World Cup finals, at the Champs de Mars, below the Eiffel Tower in Paris during France '98 and in Yokohama during the 2002 tournament. They have also played in other cities around the world, usually performing in stadiums or other large outdoor venues.
Nessun Dorma
The Three Tenors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Questa notte nessun dorma in Pekino!
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o Principessa
Nella tua fredda stanza
Guardi le stelle che tremano
Dall'amore e di speranza!
Ma il mio mistero e 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!
ll nome suo nessun saprà
E noi dovrem, ahimè! Morir! Morir!
Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!
Vincerà! Vincerò!
The lyrics to Nessun Dorma! are from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera, Turandot. In this scene, Calaf, a prince who is in love with Turandot, has successfully answered her three riddles and won the right to marry her. However, Turandot refuses to honor the agreement and challenges Calaf to discover her name by dawn or face death. The opening lines of the lyrics translate to "Thus commands Turandot, tonight nobody shall sleep in Beijing! Nobody shall sleep! Nobody shall sleep!" The line is a decree from Turandot, who is announcing that the entire city of Beijing must stay awake until Calaf reveals her name.
The following lines of the lyrics are sung by Calaf, who is in Turandot's presence. He addresses Turandot, calling her a princess and wondering if she too is unable to sleep. He then sings of his own mystery and how he will reveal his name to Turandot only when the morning light arrives. The final lines of the lyrics are a declaration of Calaf's triumph, as he vows to win Turandot's heart and ultimately conquer the night.
Overall, the lyrics to Nessun Dorma! are a dramatic expression of the tension between Calaf and Turandot, as well as Calaf's determination to win her love. They convey the sense of urgency and passion that characterize the final moments of the opera.
Line by Line Meaning
Così comanda Turandot
This is Turandot's command
Questa notte nessun dorma in Pekino!
Tonight, no one sleeps in Beijing!
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
No one sleeps! No one sleeps!
Tu pure, o Principessa
You too, oh Princess
Nella tua fredda stanza
In your cold room
Guardi le stelle che tremano
You gaze at the trembling stars
Dall'amore e di speranza!
Full of love and hope!
Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me
But my mystery is locked inside me
Il nome mio nessun saprà!
No one will know my name!
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò
No, no, I will tell you my name
Quando la luce splenderà!
When the light will shine!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà
And my kiss will break
Il silenzio che ti fa mia!
The silence that makes you mine!
Il nome suo nessun saprà
No one will know his name
E noi dovrem, ahimè! Morir! Morir!
And we will have to, alas! Die! Die!
Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle!
Disappear, oh night! Set, stars!
Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!
Set, stars! I will win at dawn!
Vincerà! Vincerò!
I will win! I will win!
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Melodie Der Welt GmbH
Written by: GIACOMO PUCCINI, GIUSEPPE ADAMI, RENATO SIMONI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lonestar6709
Domingo the most soulful.
Carreras the most elegant.
Pavarotti the most forceful.
All three, legends.
@briangannaway2876
Lone Star, great comment. They are all fantastic singers and I was struggling to distinguish their different qualities......you clarified it for me perfectly. Thanks.
@paulz8703
I like this opinion, very much.
@TheWareek
you hit it right on the head. Each wonderful in there own way. Not as powerful as the other two but there is something about Carrera that also makes him special and deserving of being there.
@murozman
Very insightful comment 👏 👏👏
@jakomioftherose2434
Nah, Pavarotti was the only good one.
@saulthompson2692
Never cared too much for this as a kid, but it was my gran's favourite. She died this morning, maybe Covid, don't know yet, so I came here for a listen, to remember her. It's glorious.
@saulthompson2692
@Kamaal Jones thank you very much.
@techsysengineer5135
Terribly sorry for your loss
@fredferd965
They sing for her - and they sing for us all!!