Uniquely great! William Wu (吳文修)：Nessun dorma (今夜無人入睡) fm Turandot 杜蘭朵公主 by Puccini. Beijing, 1992.

Maestro William Wu (吳文修教授, 1935-2009) was a primo dramatic tenor of the National Opera House in Berlin during 1973-79. His biography has been included in Who’s Who in Opera, The New York Times, since 1976, where he was further selected as one of the 50 leading classical singers in the world. His outstanding performance as Radames in Verdi’s Aida in Tokyo won him the 1984 Vienna World Opera Award. His faultless vocalization is mainly based upon anatomic physiology and modern sound science fascinating with uniquely perfect high notes and solid middle register. It is the profound feelings in the every note he sings that is particularly touching. Among his numerous students in Taiwan and Japan, baritone Te-Tsung Hsu (許徳崇) is one of the best and tenor Yun-Seng Giang (姜雲生) used to receive the most care.

[Synopsis of “Nessun dorma” from “Turandot” by Puccini]

This aria is sung in the final (third) act of the opera by Calaf (the unknown prince) who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. Any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded. In the aria, Calaf expresses his triumphant assurance that he will win the princess.

[歌劇《杜蘭朵公主》的男高音詠嘆調「今夜無人入睡」的劇情概要]

〈今夜無人入睡(直譯：誰都不許睡覺〉是普契尼最後一部歌劇《杜蘭朵公主》終(第三)幕的詠嘆調，由男主角卡拉夫王子演唱。訴說杜蘭朵公主要全城徹夜不睡，在天亮前替她查出卡拉夫王子的名字(因他是以「無名太子」的名義參加猜謎)；若無法如期查出，則全城百姓都須受死。

[Italian lyrics of “Nessun dorma” from “Turandot” by Puccini]

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.

(Just before the climactic end of the aria, a chorus of women is heard singing in the distance)

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

(Calaf, now certain of victory, sings)

Dilegua, o notte！Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba, vincerò！

[English translation of the lyrics of “Nessun dorma (Let no one sleep)” from “Turandot” by Puccini]

None shall sleep! None shall sleep!
Not even you, oh Princess,
in your cold bedroom,
watching the stars
that tremble with love, and with hope!
But my secret is hidden within me;
no one will know my name!
No, no! On your mouth,
I will say it when the light shines!
And my kiss will dissolve
the silence that makes you mine!

(Just before the climactic end of the aria, a chorus of women is heard singing in the distance)

No one will know his name,
and we will have to, alas, die, die!

(Calaf, now certain of victory, sings)

Vanish, o night! Fade, you stars!
At dawn, I will win!

[歌劇《杜蘭朵公主》的男高音詠嘆調「今夜無人入睡」的歌詞中譯]

無人得以入睡！無人得以入睡！
妳也一樣，公主殿下！
只能困守在妳冰冷的寢宮，
仰望那些因為愛與希望而閃爍的繁星。
我的秘密深藏我心，
無人知曉我的姓名！
不，不！當晨光照耀時，我會在妳的嘴唇上揭曉謎底！
我的吻將打破妳的沉默，使妳成為我的人。

（此時遠方傳來婦女的合唱：）

無人能夠得知他的姓名，
我們都將難逃一死！

（卡拉夫胸有成竹地唱著：）

消失吧，黑夜！下沉吧，群星!
黎明破曉時，我將贏得勝利！