Nessun Dorma

From Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

"Nessun dorma" (English: "None shall sleep")[1] is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot,[2] 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.

Source

Libretto

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!

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!