Turandot - 'Nessun dorma' (Marco Berti, The Royal Opera)

Marco Berti (Prince Calaf) sings 'Nessun Dorma' from Puccini's Turandot. One of the most famous of all arias, 'Nessun Dorma' reached number 2 in the British charts in 1990, and was performed at the Fifa World Cup.

'I will win' exclaims Prince Calaf as he boldly sets out to thaw the heart of the ice princess Turandot. In the final months of his life Puccini struggled to depict Calaf's triumph: he died before finishing the final act. Turandot was completed by Franco Alfano two years later and given its premiere in 1926 at La Scala, Milan. During this initial performance the conductor Arturo Toscanini famously laid down his baton in Act III, declaring 'at this point, the Maestro died'. Turandot has gone on to have great worldwide success.

Puccini creates a rich soundworld for this dark and erotic fairytale. The opera contains many memorable arias, from 'Signore, ascolta', as Liù appeals to Calaf not to attempt Turandot's deadly riddles, to Turandot's defiant 'In questa reggia', as well as 'Nessun dorma', sung as Calaf anticipates winning the Princess's hand. Andrei Serban's staging -- one of the most spectacular in The Royal Opera's repertory -- transports an audience to a beautiful but savage world. Sally Jacobs's colourful sets and costumes are inspired by ancient Chinese culture, reflecting the traditional Chinese melodies woven into the score.

Kate Flatt (Choreographer), Sally Jacobs (Designs), Henrik Nánási (Conductor), Lise Lindstrom (Lise Lindstrom) Eri Nakamura (Liù) in Puccini's final opera.

[RoyalBalletAndOpera]

With our incredible ballets and operas, behind-the-scenes, Insights and exclusive series, Stream subscribers can watch the world’s greatest performers, emerging stars, leading choreographers and trailblazing creative teams from the comfort of their own home.

[lostmoon]

"He sang with solid technique and ringing high notes but lacked expressive vocal or physical nuance. “Nessun dorma, ” usually a showstopping aria, unfolded with all the grandeur of the background music at a shopping mall." - New York Times, January 14, 2016


After watching this, I would somewhat agree. Very mean spirited review, in my opinion to compare his interpretation with a shopping mall music. I would say the interpretation is like a warm beer.

[MarkRuddy-ey]

Saw this today at Royal Opera house one of the best days of my life ❤

[crashstitches]

Look. Nobody is saying the guy sucks as a singer. He's obviously a talented guy who worked hard at his craft. The problem is that this is opera, and the bar must stay high. The best composers in the history of music did this. The best singers. The best musicians. When someone goes onstage at an opera and performs a classic role, they have a lot to measure up to, and "pretty good" does not cut it in opera.

Opera has the highest standards in music, and its critics intend to keep it that way. If you can't hack it, then grab a microphone and go sing arias to playback at a talent show.

Opera isn't there for the sake of the performers; the performers are there for the sake of hopefully performing at a level that will bring out the genius in the composition. This guy is struggling and i don't believe he will be victorious when the sun comes up. He is going to get his head sawn off slowly with a butterknife by Turandot. Get it?

[Sabininho]

and I thought I don't have a chance getting picked for the 'youth opera program' of the Royal Opera House



Well, now my hopes are very high

[isabellajones]

Its a tough follow for any tenor after Pavarotti. . He said he found it the hardest to sing well, because you have to be very very strong in the high register. He did that, better than one before and so far no one has succeeded him.

[nowonderiluvu]

I’m a new opera fan who fell madly in love with this world...until reading all these mean comments. This was so beautiful...you people are a bunch of snobs :(

[sergiopastorino]

He sings well and has a nice timbre of voice.

[donquixote]

Wow! (But not in a good way). So glad to see so many comments saying how bad this was. Listened b/c he's doing this at the MET this season! Are all the great tenors dead?

[Baileya]

For me it’s Pavarotti, Bjorling, Corelli… this rendition left me totally unmoved. Workmanlike… no more

[samspera]

Anyone who has the audacity to criticize Domingo, one of the greatest tenors of all time, knows as much about voice as a crab's

[samspera]

Even though Mario Lanza was strictly a movie tenor, except for  his La Boheme in Boston, I believe, his rendition of Nessun Dorma, according to music critics, was one of the best.  I guess you never heard of Domingo's praise for Lanza's voice as possibly one of the greatest of all time.

[Johnnysaintrizz]

Is this is what opera has come to? Very sad indeed...

[ssaann]

Iam no expert, but what was that???!!. I came here hoping to get my mind blow, yet nothing. No expression, absolute lack of feeling and passion in his voice. This is Nessun Dorma, This is Without passion there is no point in singing this wonderful aria.

[samspera]

Marco Berti has a long way to go to be an equal to Lanza, Pavarotti, Domingo, Bjoerling and so on and so

[rogerlljacob]

The detractions say more about the detractors than they do about the singer. Opera performed is not simply about the sound it is about the physical performance on stage. His small forlorn gestures, pained expression add the right amount of pathos and fear of the task he must face.

[wickiebowman]

He's flat a good deal of the time.  Too bad.  Don't want to see him in the Met Turandot with Stemme.

[jayala]

this from the royal opera? it is just hard to watch! the voice is so heavy. not a fan of this.

[mohamedahmed-spkj]

he is not comfortable while singing, i was like when i was listening to him, that defecation feeling when u have a constipation :D :D 

[ariettaop]

Unfortunately I saw him live with Stemme in Turandot from MET. I wanted to escape the moment he opened his mouth. Where is