Looks like the classic opera piece "Nessun Dorme" will be played tonight at the RNC - the night of Trump's speech. Nessun Dorme translates as "none shall sleep."
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
The piece was being rehearsed in the convention center a short time ago. Martha McCallum on FoxNews mentioned the title.
For anyone not familiar with the aria, here are the lyrics. Draw your own conclusions:
None shall sleep,
None shall sleep!
Even you, oh Princess,
In your cold room,
Watch the stars,
That tremble with love
And with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me,
My name no one shall know,
No... no...
On your mouth, I will tell it,
When the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve
the silence that makes you mine!
(No one will know his name
and we must, alas, die.)
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win!
I will win!
I will win!
That song ALWAYS gives me goosebumps.
Even when I read the English lyrics I get 'em. Truth.
Also, what a nice surprise for us clandestine Opera-buffs (And yes, it is weird in regular society - I was even accused of listening to Imperialist music by an activist - but WYpepo have no culture, I am sure. I was blasting it in the supermarket carpark, because the stereo in the car is chef's kiss. So i guess I offended the hairdye merchant).
Thank You Mr President.
And the Italians are so the best at lyrical Opera. So to celebrate, here is Pavarotti - in arguably his swan-song masterpiece - Nessun Dorma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWc7vYjgnTs - Just so we can prime ourselves on the song.
Regarding the NAzi take: Arguably Puccini was part of the old order before the Fascists took over in that part of the world, he lived a life of hunting from his formidable country-lodge and fast cars - which would have painted a target on his back by the Fascists, who loved money. So I spose we can talk about his car-accident in which he nearly died, and it contributed to his early demise? He was raised by Catholic nuns and polished in a Conservatory. So what you hear is Catholic opera that is exploring the excesses of dark humanity.
So, I guess we can argue the difference between Hitler and Mussolini, but I like to point out that this music pre-dates all that nonsense. And on that score (heh), Wagner has been tarred with that brush too. Just because Hitler liked to listen to it. But that Germanic opera genre also pre-dates Nazis.