Lesson 2: Learning “Nessun Dorma”
Aim: How do opera singers use their voices to tell a story?
Summary: Students will explore the ways opera singers express emotion through dramatic musical storytelling.
Materials: Musical Explorers digital resources, Musical Explorers Student Guide; chart paper, markers
Standards: GA: ESGM2.PR.1, ESGM2.RE.1, ESGM2.CN.1, ESGM2.CN.2
Vocabulary: aria, dynamics, pitch, repetition
See Glossary →
Sing and Interpret “Nessun Dorma”
- One of an opera singer’s most important jobs is to act out the character and be a clear story teller.
- Explain that Timothy is singing the character of Calaf (Kahl- AHF), an unknown prince in the opera Turandot.
- Share what has happened in the opera before the aria, “Nessun Dorma.” An aria is a solo song in an opera.
Princess Turandot says she will only marry a man who can solve her three riddles. Prince Calaf succeeds, but Turandot goes back on her word and says she will not marry Calaf. He tells her he will let her out of her promise to marry only if she can find out his real name before sunrise. She doesn’t really want to marry anyone so she orders all of her subjects to not sleep until they can discover his real name.
Track 14 – “Nessun Dorma“
- Before sharing the translation of the aria, listen to Track 14 and ask:
What do you think this aria is about?
How do you think the character Calaf is feeling in this aria?
What in the music makes you think that?
Are there any words/parts of the aria that stand out to you? What makes you say that?
Track 15 – “Nessun Dorma” (final phrases)
- After prediction discussion, share the translation to “Nessun Dorma.” Read aloud and ask students to revisit their predictions.
- Share the music and have students sing the final phrases of “Nessun Dorma” (in the correct octave for healthy singing) Track 15
- Chart their answers reflecting how the music helps tell the meaning of the words. Things to draw out: repetition, dynamics (volume of the music), length of note, pitch (how high or low the voice sounds)
Nessun Dorma
Italian
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!
Il nome suo nessun saprà,
E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
All’alba vincerò!
Vincerò! Vincerò!
English
None shall sleep! None shall sleep!
Not even you, O Princess
In your cold bedroom,
Watch the stars that tremble with love and hope
But my secrets hidden within me;
None 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
No one will know his name
And we will have to alas, die!
Vanish oh, night
Fade you stars!
Fade you stars
At dawn I will win!
I win, I win!
Becoming an Operatic Storyteller
The Italian composer, Puccini wrote Turandot, and uses pitch (high & low), dynamics (volume) and repetition to help Calaf share with the audience his confidence in getting Turandot to marry him. Working in pairs, students will choose one of the below scenarios (either display scenario choices on board, work sheet, or aloud) and use musical elements to say or sing the words, either in Italian or English, to inform character choices and tell their story. If there is time encourage students to include body language and gestures. Have each pair perform their scenario. If necessary, teacher can model for clarity. Use the Track 15 for students to learn the final phrases of “Nessun Dorma”
Track 15 – “Nessun Dorma” (final phrases)
Scenario 1: You are very confident that you will win
Scenario 2: You know you are out matched and scared that you might not win
Scenario 3: You don’t care if you win
Scenario 4: You don’t want to win, but know you will let someone down if you lose
All’alba vincerò!
Vincerò! Vincerò!
At dawn I will win!
I win, I win!
Creative Extension: Write Your Own Riddles
In the opera Turandot, Calaf has to answer Princess Turandot’s three riddles.
- Turn to SG 16, have students read the riddle examples either in pairs or as a class.
- “What are two things that you can never eat at breakfast?”
- Answer: lunch & dinner
- “What has ears, but cannot hear?”
- Answer: Corn
- “What falls in winter, but never gets hurt?”
- Answer: Snow
- “What are two things that you can never eat at breakfast?”
- Ask students what they think makes a successful riddle. Using SG 16, have the students write their own riddle.
- Have them share with other classmates
Literacy Extension: When Marian Sang and Bravo! Brava!
Musical Word Wall
Add aria, dynamics, pitch, and repetition to the Musical Word Wall.
See Glossary →
PDF Downloads
Audio Tracks
Track 14 – “Nessun Dorma“
Track 15 – “Nessun Dorma” (final phrases)