This Song Will Make ANYONE An Opera Fan

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[sarahbayla]

My high school concert band performed this and when we practiced our conductor would sometimes sing along. He was incredible and with great effort we convinced him to sing with us at our concert. It was one of the most amazing musical experiences I've ever had.

[resena]

As an Italian myself, seeing an American doing soo many spontaneous pizza hands at the right moment is a life goal

[melancholymelodies]

I was in college for music education when Pavarotti died. That entire day, the vocal department came to an absolute standstill. At the end of our Music History final that semester, the professor played this and there wasn't a dry eye in the entire room.

[MarcRebillet]

I’ve been crying my eyes out to this piece since I was a small child. It’s an absolute pleasure to watch you break it down so enthusiastically.

[tomd]

Not only was Pavarotti incredibly talented, he was also a genuinely nice guy. I met him with my mum as a kid, and saw him play a guitar behind his head whilst singing. Seems like a fever dream looking back. Truly one of a kind in lots of ways.

[jakehendriksen]

The first time I heard a recording of this performance, I burst into tears. I still do sometimes when I listen to it. I'm really excited to hear your take on *why* it has that effect on people.

[maryvallas]

If this song doesn't overcome you with emotion, there's something wrong! Not only is the music hauntingly beautiful, but good Lord... the emotion he evokes is as powerful as his vocal chords!

[rearadmpants]

It took me literally almost two decades of one-on-one voice lessons - the last six with a gentleman who conducted Pav while he was still with us and continues to coach Domingo and other world-famous opera stars internationally. How I managed to snag an opening in his studio remains a mystery to me, but I am forever grateful. When I finally made the connection (ha) as to how to get that head-chest blend to persist beyond the second passagio without forcing the larynx down or overblowing or cracking or etc., I was in tears. He took me up to a C# that day - prior to then I could sing a B-flat perhaps six times per year, if the moon were full, on a Tuesday, and I’d just eaten scallops (I joke). After that lesson a high C is child’s play. How strange the voice is, with all its training plateaus.

[secretforreddit]

As a lifelong opera fan, I loved your explanation of what makes Nessun Dorma so special. The song combined with Pavarotti's unimaginably perfect voice really makes this one of, if not the, best recordings of an opera piece of all time. Another incredible opera piece you might want to check out would be the sextet ("Chi mi frena in tal momento?") from Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor;" it has incredible melodies for all six singers and is one of the only other pieces that can make me cry with happiness just from listening to it. Highly recommend it!

[aidancampbell]

I saw the thumbnail and I already knew exactly which performance this was. Truly incredible.

[koalabandit]

I think that knowing the lyrics adds to the emotional intensity of the music (and go watch the whole opera, it's amazing):
None shall sleep!
None shall sleep!
Even you, oh Princess,
In your chilly chambers,
Watch the stars
That tremble with love
And with hope.
But my secret is locked within me:
No one shall know my name,
No! No!
Over your mouth I shall tell it,
At light's first shine.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine
(Choir: No one shall know his name and we must, alas, die)
Dissipate, o night!
Vanish, stars! Vanish, stars!
At dawn, I shall win!
I shall win!
I shall win!

[matteofailla]

As an opera coach, I'm always thrilled by this opera, and Puccini is on my tier S of opera composers. It's very exciting to know that even musicians who are outside this field can get fascinated by it ❤️

[HarryWincup]

The choruses of both Nessun Dorma and Con te partirò instantly bring me to tears every time, even after all these years. Just phenomenally beautiful music

[samhui]

This is my favorite of Luciano Pavarotti’s signature songs, a close second is O Sole Mio. I am not a musician, can’t even read music, but these 2 songs give me goosebumps every single time ! Just goes to show one doesn’t need to be an opera lover to love these songs.

[madisonholtze]

Pavarotti's rendition of this aria makes me weep every time I hear it. Just extraordinary. Thanks for analyzing some opera Charles. 💜

[alanal]

There is no bigger Big Finish than the Big Finish of “Nessun dorma” — on “vincerò”, “I will win!” The title means “no one sleeps” and no one who is listening to it does. There’s no more perfect apotheosis of intensity, anticipation, & climax in music. And the relationship he (“Calaf”) is singing about, is a virtually impossible mountain to climb, “Turandot”, the ice queen, has put every single one of her suitors to death up to the point “Calaf” shows up to try his luck at the great riddle she poses & he has to answer to win her hand or die. That’s the context and EVERYTHING in the words & music support that moment. That is greatness in music. And, oh yeah, no picnic for that category of tenor to sing, demanding, exposed, and encourages all of the things that undermine well-supported tone emission. Hard not to get excited and blow the B natural at the end! Pavarotti’s version is a triumph in itself as he sings of triumph. Also listen to Jussi Björling’s version, as well. Absolutely fearless.

[alexmummery]

Back when I was a college student, I was asked to be a fill in a trombone part for our school opera performance for the year. We were doing Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele and it was the most fun I had playing music. Definitely check out the epilogue/finale for that beautiful tension/release!

[TheSpaceHipster]

Professional Opera singer (Bass-Baritone) and casual composer here! So so happy you are delving into the Opera repertoire with this video, Charles! Made my day. Here is a quick list of suggestions!

Puccini is possibly the best way to get into Opera. It is some of the most "accessible" yet complex music in the rep. La Boheme is a GREAT place to start. From the get (Questo ma rosa) you are thrown into an adventure of sound, and then treated to some lovely delicate and sweeping melodies that provide a perfect foreground to the parisian Christmas Eve setting. I also LOVE Puccini's 'La Fanciulla Del West.' There is a fabulous motif that represents the female hero, and it blares as soon as she enters. Very romantic and bold, and I love that an italian opera exists about the American Wild West. Another well known tune is "vesti la giubba" from the Opera "Pagliacci." Very bombastic melody, and the epitome of operatic melodrama. "La Donna e Mobile" from La Traviata is a famous piece, but very musically simplistic to the modern ear. (I'm not a huge fan of Verdi Opera, I'm sorry. He just cranked out a bunch of the same basic stuff.) Mozart is obviously fabulous- many of his operas are commonly performed in English as well, so that can be a good gateway into Opera! The Magic Flute is a great example of this. It is classified as a 'Zingspiel, ' and was traditionally meant to be performed in the language of the audience. The Queen of the Night aria is the most famous and impressive piece from the opera. The Overture to Marriage of Figaro is also iconic and exciting. I would also suggest checking out Beethoven's one and ONLY opera, 'Fidelio.' The Overture and the tenor aria that opens act 2 are especially striking, and really cut deep, especially if you can find a translation to read. Hope this helps!

Ben

[xavier.m.pradotenor]

Now imagine appreciating & dissecting this aria within in the harmonic, dramatic, vocal, & poetic context of the whole opera. Truly heartbreaking & so beautiful because of it… and you start to hear hints of it long before, so by the time you get to it, your heart & mind have been completely ripped apart. That will make you an opera fan.

[OriginalWireman]

Superb breakdown. Of course, if you're a Brit of a certain vintage, Nessun Dorma – especially sung by Pavarotti –is achingly familiar. In an inspired decision, the BBC chose it as the theme for their coverage of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The opening broadcast had viewers asking: "What IS that tune?". By a few games in, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing it, from open apartment windows, from bars, from shops, anywhere there was a TV showing a game. Which was EVERYWHERE. By the end of that glorious summer of football, everyone in the street was whistling it. Even now, 32 years later, those opening chords don't evoke opera. They will forever stand for football, with all its agonies and ecstasies.