'Nessun dorma' ('None Shall Sleep') is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, and is one of the best known tenor arias.
The aria is sung by Calaf, Il principe ignoto (The unknown prince). In the preceding act, Calaf had challenged Princess Turandot to guess his name by dawn. If she did, she could execute him, but if she did not she would have to marry him. The cruel and emotionally cold princess then decreed that none of her subjects was to sleep that night until his name was discovered. If they failed, all would be killed.
'Nessun dorma' achieved pop status after Luciano Pavarotti's recording of it was used as the theme song of the BBC televison coverage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. It subsequently reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart, the highest placing ever by a classical recording.
It went on to become both Pavarotti's signature aria and a sporting anthem in its own right, especially for soccer. Pavarotti sang 'Nessun dorma' at his final performance, the finale of the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. His Decca recording of the aria was played at his funeral during the flypast by the Italian Air Force, exactly one year ago.
This is one performance you want to begin your day with....
