Andrea Bocelli will be present at the opening ceremony of Euro 2020, tonight at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. The tenor, internationally famous and symbol of Italianity in the world, will sing the famous “Nessun dorma” from Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot. The exhibition will precede the debut match of Euro 2020, which will see Italy challenge Turkey. Inaugural ceremony
Symbolically accompanied by the 24 national teams, Andrea Bocelli will then open the European Championship, which sees the Italian national team among the protagonists, on the notes of the famous Giacomo Puccini aria. The scenography also includes an explosion of colored pyrotechnic effects to occupy the entire roof of the stadium and the passage of the Frecce Tricolori. A performance that also wants to be a good omen for the blues: the famous aria in the refrain is repeated: “Vincero”. Previous
It is not the first time that Andrea Bocelli with his voice enchants and inaugurates such an important sporting event. After having opened the Olympics in 2006 and the Expo both in Shanghai, in 2010, and in Milan, in 2015, at Euro 2020 the famous tenor will once again be the ambassador of Italy in the world. Bocelli was also the only artist to intervene twice at the National Prayer Breakfast in the presence of the President of the United States and numerous Heads of State of the world. No sleep
No dorma is a famous romance for tenor from Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, sung by the character of Calaf at the beginning of the third act. Immersed in the Beijing night, in total solitude, the “Unknown Prince” awaits the dawn, when he will finally be able to win the love of Turandot, the ice princess.
In the act preceding this aria, Calaf correctly answered the three puzzles made to all potential suitors of Princess Turandot. Nonetheless, the woman recoils at the thought of marrying him. Calaf offers her another chance by challenging her to guess her name at dawn.
As he kneels before her, the theme “No sleep” makes its first appearance, in her words, “My name you do not know!”. She can kill him if she guesses her name correctly; but if she doesn’t, she has to marry him. The cruel and emotionally cold princess then decrees that none of her subjects will sleep that night until her name is discovered. If they fail, everyone will be killed.
When the final act opens, it’s night. Calaf is alone in the palace gardens illuminated by the moon. In the distance, she hears Turandot’s heralds proclaiming her commands. Her aria begins with an echo of their tears and a reflection on Princess Turandot:
The Unknown Prince
No sleep! No sleep! You too, Princess,
in your cold room
look at the stars
that tremble with love and hope …
But my mystery is closed in me,
my name will not know!
No, no, I will say it on your mouth,
when the light shines!
And my kiss will dissolve the silence
that makes you mine.
Voices of women (the stars)
No one will know her name …
And we must, alas, die, die!
The Unknown Prince
Vanish, O night! Set, stars!
Set, stars! I’ll win at dawn! I will win! I will win!
