Soul Music

Nessun Dorma


Listen Later

'None shall sleep'.

Jon Christos watched the Italia 90 World Cup with his Dad and says that the live performance of 'Nessun Dorma' by Pavarotti at the tournament was the only time he ever saw his Dad cry.

Beatrice Venezia conducted 'Nessun Dorma' at the 'Puccini day' she created in Lucca in 2018. She also conducted Andrea Bocelli's performance of the aria at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

Pavarotti's daughter Cristina talks about the impact this aria had on her father's life and how his 1990 performance of 'Nessun Dorma' inspired many people to become interested in opera.

Sir Bobby Robson's son Mark Robson was at Italia 90 and talks about the pride he felt seeing his Dad lining up with the England team for the semi-final against West Germany. It was also sung at Sir Bobby's memorial service in Durham Cathedral.

Broadcaster and author Alexandra Wilson explains that the opera Turandot is the story of Prince Calaf who falls in love with the titular Princess. In 'Nessun Dorma' Calaf expresses his determination to win her hand, ending with that extraordinary refrain "Vincerò!" or "I will win".

Paul Potts won 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2007 performing 'Nessun Dorma' and recalls singing it to over a million people at the Brandenburg Gate on New Year's Eve in 2010.

When Italy locked down in March 2020, hairdresser Piero d'Angelico played 'Nessun Dorma' from a five-story window above Cambridge railway station to show solidarity with his home country and the Italian community in his adopted city.

Voiceovers by Mike Ingham and Rebecca Braccialarghe.

Producer: Toby Field for BBC Audio in Bristol

Technical Producer: Michael Harrison
Editor: Emma Harding

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Soul MusicBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

275 ratings


More shows like Soul Music

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,442 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,828 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

132 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,803 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

499 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,761 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,067 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

150 Listeners

Books and Authors by BBC Radio 4

Books and Authors

370 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,049 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

268 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,957 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,054 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

48 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

46 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

805 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

769 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,025 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

76 Listeners

Add to Playlist by BBC Radio 4

Add to Playlist

25 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

87 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

26 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

149 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Productions / Keep It Light Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

288 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

67 Listeners