(from Puccini's "Turandot")



[Only the man who answers her riddles can marry the icy princess Turandot; those who fail die. Calaf, a prince from another land, has fallen in love with the beautiful Turandot and answered the riddles. Though by law she must marry him, Turandot pleads to be spared: only if she answers his riddle - his name.]

Nessum dorma! Nessum dorma!
Tu pure, o Princepessa
Nella tua fredda stanza
Guardi le stelle chi tremano
D'amore e di speranza!
Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me,
Il nome mio nessun sapra!
No,no sulla bocca lo diro,
Quando la luce splendera!
Ed il mio baccio sciogliera!
Il silenzio che ti fa mia!
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
Al alba vincero!

[Translation:]

No One's Sleeping!

No one's sleeping! No one's sleeping!
This evening, icy princess,
perhaps in your cold chambers,
watch all the bright stars
that tremble both with loving and with desire.
I keep my secret locked inside.
No one shall ever know my name!
No, no ! When our two mouths touch, she'll learn it,
when the morning light shines forth!
And then my kisses will dissolve
her silence and she will be mine!
May this night end!
May all the stars set!
And may all the stars set!
When dawn breaks, I shall win!