Posted: 4 years ago

I clicked on CNN this morning and read that Luciano Pavoratti died today of cancer at the age of 71. What a loss to the world. On the way to class this morning and back home, I played him singing and was once again moved deeply. The man is dead. It is a loss to the world and Italy, but greatness never dies. His voice and his interpretation of the classics will never be lost. I plan to play his music this weekend to be again uplifted, then I will move on. Greatness like his is a joy that lives in each of us everyday if we allow it.

Joe

Posted: 4 years ago

When a great tenor dies, how does an individual celebrate the pleasure that he has given (and will give with recordings) for years. I watched the burial of Luciano Pavarotti, attended by the best of Italy, and the tribute on Sunday Morning by featuring his signature piece, just that magnificent voice with no commentary. Both were spectacular! But I come back to my beginning question, how does one person give back years of pleasure? I did two things: 1) I listened to Tenors on Tour for two full days (playing it over and over), featuring Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and of course Luciano Pavarotti and 2) we attended The Merry Widow by the Houston Ballet Company (a piece of fluff that was done with the same professionalsim and greatness that Pavarotti brought to his work in opera). In both, I remembered and honored Pavarotti.

Joe

Posted: 4 years ago

Nessun dorma is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot.

It was the signature of the italian tenor LUCIANO PAVAROTTI.

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 scoglierà
il silenzio che ti fa mia!

Il nome suo nessun saprà…
E noi dovrem ahimè, morir, morir!

Tramontate, stelle!  All’alba vincerò!
Vincerò!  Vincerò!

"Fatti non foste per viver come bruti ma per seguir virtute e canoscienza" - Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia.

Posted: 4 years ago

"Nessun dorma" was, as Federico mentioned, the signature aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot (by Luciano Pavarotti.) It has an interesting history: 1) the story: the Princess Turandot proclaims that "No one shall sleep (meaning "nessun dorma)" since everyone must stay awake attempting to find out the name of the unknown prince, Calif, who has set the challenge that if his name cannot be found out, the cold Princess Turandot will marry him; 2) Nessun Dorma was sung by Pavarotti at the ending of the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. After the largest curtain ever built was opened revealing Pavarotti in a black cape embroidered with the silver Olympic rings, he sang this aria and when finished received the loudest, longest and hugest standing ovation, causing the NBC Olympic commentator Brian Williams to proclaim, "And the master brings the house down;" and 3) the aria acheived pop status after it was used by BBC for their TV coverage of the 1999 Football World Cup. Pavarotti performance  reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart, the highest placing ever by a classical recording. The aria ends with the line, "At dawn, I will win."

Here is the English translation of the aria:

The Prince           No one shall sleep!....No one shall sleep!  Even you, O Princess, in your cold room, which the stars, that tremble with love and hope. But my secret is hidden within me, my name no one shall know....No!....No!...On your mouth I shall tell it when the light shines. And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!

The Chorus of women    No one will know his name and we must, also, die.

The Prince      Vanish, O night! Set, stars! Set, stars!  At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

At the last note of the word "win" ("I will win" "Vincero!"), one cannot help but be lifted with an inner surge of something special. It is Pavarotti's final gift to the world. It is magnificent. You may not know the meaning of "Vincero" (which I did not for years) but you are moved to respond.

Joe 

Posted: 4 years ago

Thanks great Joe!

 Vincerò!!!

"Fatti non foste per viver come bruti ma per seguir virtute e canoscienza" - Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia.