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

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!

 

 

“Nessun dorma” (Italian: [nesˈsun ˈdɔrma]; English: “None shall sleep”)is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s frequently performed opera Turandot and is 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. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded. In the aria, Calaf expresses his triumphant assurance that he will win the princess.

(Blogger’s note: This contest is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice heroine Portia and her suitors having to choose the correct casket of three to win her hand.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessun_dorma

Text and translation:

http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/qt/nessundormatext.htm