Nessun Dorma was popularised by the late great Luciano Pavarotti in 1972 and it went on to be his signature aria.  Nessun Dorma, translated to None shall Sleep, is an aria from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot.  It is sang by Calaf the unknown prince who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot.  To avoid wedding, she poses three riddles to any suitor and if they fail they are beheaded.  Calaf answers the riddles but the princess still does not want to wed.  Calaf gives the princess an option out.  If she discovers his name by dawn she wins and he will be beheaded.  This aria is sung at this point where she has all searching for her to find his name.

What we like

• The final “vincero” – I will win. Featuring a sustained B4, followed by the final note, an A4 sustained even longer.  If you don’t know what we are saying here, you will know when you hear it!
• The mind games that are played are finally overcome with love

Mind experience

• The first performance of Turandot was held at the La Scala Theatre in Milan on 25 April 1926 and conducted by Arturo Toscanini.  Our grandmother frequented the Opera house in Milan when she was a young lady by saving every lira to get there.  In 2012 we visited La Scala and experienced an Opera there.  With the atmosphere and grandeur of the theatre you could imagine the history and famous people that had attended and performed.  But most of all the thrill of imagining our grandmother there was priceless.  As an extra bonus we had the honour and privilege of being present at an Andrea Bocelli performance in Sydney, Australia in 2014.  The last song Andrea performed was Nessun Dorma and the last notes seem to lift the roof!

To think about

• Calaf: 
  Even you, O Princess, in your cold bedroom,
  watch the stars that tremble with love and with hope.

Map the mind musician’s birthplace
Map the photograph location