"Nessun Dorma" - What's He Really Saying?!

"Nessun Dorma" - What's He Really Saying?! - Aria Breakdown

Рет қаралды 7,470

Күн бұрын

In today’s video, Cassandra breaks down the über popular aria, Nessun Dorma, from the opera Turandot, composed by Giacomo Puccini. Turandot was the last opera Puccini wrote and holds a special place in the standard operatic repertoire.
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Instagram: / cassandra_douglas_
Opera for Black Folks is an enriching channel led by a classically trained soprano and content creator, Cassandra Douglas. Through her unique lens as a performing artist and Jamaican woman, she offers a captivating exploration of navigating a career in the classical arts.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Opening Intro
0:32 - Opera For Black Folks ¬
0:45 - Why is it so popular?
2:31 - Nessun Dorma Translated
5:20 - Turandot - Operatic Story Breakdown
13:27 - Thanks for Watching!
Music credits:
• Daydream
• Luciano Pavarotti, Legendary Tenor
• Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul
• Noah Stewart, Tenor Check out where Noah Stewart is performing next! www.noahstewart.com
Equipment:
• Camera: Sony ZV-1 - a.co/fRY8TmQ
• Microphone: Rode Microphone
o a.co/gIP9181
• Lighting: Neewer Ring Light
o a.co/hyWhcJw
• Tripod: Manfrotto

Пікірлер: 67

@cristobalvalladares973 2 ай бұрын

Thank you yard woman, from a grateful Brooklyn Honduran. This song must be considered a gift to humanity.

@RKupyr 2 ай бұрын

And thank you again Cassandra for making opera more accessible and compelling!

@glenjames100 7 күн бұрын

Thank you so much...I learned so much from this engagement...Grateful for your passion...

@anthonyfoden9382 16 күн бұрын

An excellent and clear explanation of Puccini's story of revenge, self-sacrifice and redemption in the name of love.

@joycetownsend3438 2 ай бұрын

THANK you for explaining this! I LOVE Nessun Dorma!♥️

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching!

@dianamatthews5965 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the vivid but concise summary. What a great performance by Noah Stewart, too. Wow.

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Isn’t Noah Stewart wonderful! 😍✨

@angief1330 4 ай бұрын

Yes, I agree, Noah was fantastic!

@TrueWalker88 2 ай бұрын

@@OperaForBlackFolks His smile after, he just beamed!

@user-ty7di1bo9q 2 күн бұрын

What a great explanation! Love it.

@ballrmgirl Ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing this! I love your voice, your enthusiasm, and your concise explanations.

@philsfilm 4 ай бұрын

Excellent work, Cassandra.

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for listening! You are appreciated!

@greenskittles8627 Ай бұрын

I just saw a production of Turandot at the Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera. Since the copyright just expired Christopher Tin and Susan Soon He Stanton wrote an ending and it was performed. They recontextualized it to be more modern, around Communist Era China and took out some of the overtly Orientalist stuff, like Ping, Pang, Pho became the Chancellor, Majordomo and Head Chef. And Turandot says that it's not just about her ancestor, but that she too experienced the same abuse. Calaf agrees to tell her his name, but she chooses to spare him at and dawn she tells the chorus/citizens that his name is love and she will marry him and bring peace to the kingdom

@claudiadouglas6352 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing, thoroughly enjoyed this post. I loved this young man

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

Isn’t he wonderful! His voice is incredible!

@MrTimodon Ай бұрын

This is humanity at the highest level! Regards from Sweden!

@juneveronicaellis123 Ай бұрын

I love love classical music and the opera. I do not know what they are singing but it soothes me immensely. Glad that by understanding the words makes it even better to listen. Thank you so much ❤

@jennifernutting2896 Ай бұрын

Amazing. Thank you!

@jamesremey2017 3 күн бұрын

Thank you

@ValyTraveler Ай бұрын

When I heard Sarah Brightman sing this song - I couldn't stop being filled with such emotions... Thanks to her - I really enjoy opera...

@rahabmitchell8435 6 күн бұрын

I absolutely loved this! Yes, Aretha added her signature voice to this song, so much for it being a song for a male performer! Never more!!

@Renzuken3 4 ай бұрын

Love your videos! Thank you so much for sharing

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

You are so welcome! Glad you liked this week's video!

@johnaarons2527 2 ай бұрын

Very good summary of Opera. Thanks

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

You are welcome!

@angief1330 4 ай бұрын

OMG Thank you for this wonderful breakdown of the Aria. You had me crying my eyes out...lol My beautiful husband introduced me to Opera a little after we married, almost 24 years ago now. He is big fan of Opera and has a wonderful collection. His favourite is Puccini. We would listen to Opera for hours and he would patiently explain to me what was goin on and answer my quesstions. My husband is absolutely amazing, I am 14 years younger than him and he has opened up my world to so much beautiful music and films. I just love the whole experience, I hope that others give Opera a chance like I did. Thank you again Cassandra. ♥

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your story! I loved reading it and so grateful you’re on the journey with me as I share about opera. Thanks again for watching!

@cmcgalloway 17 күн бұрын

That was the best explanation I have heard and you explained this so well. I teach Theology and this has always been a part of my lesson on faith and music. True eros. How beautiful. Thank you so much Cassandra.

@tomhchappell Ай бұрын

I didn’t know any of this ! Thank you!

@MichaelMedici61W2 Ай бұрын

Noah gave me chills at the end. He was smiling right before because he knew he had ‘em

@RKupyr 2 ай бұрын

Oh my....., Noah Stewart is crazy good. I didn't know of him until now (and I've been following opera for some decades now). What a joy to discover a new singer of his amazing caliber! Can't wait to go check him out....

@der5343 4 ай бұрын

That was so amazing....thanks for you reaction.

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@DonaldMoreno 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, Cassandra! (North Carolina, USA) Opera can be so....complicated.....

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

I hope I made it more accessible. It’s not that complicated once you realize it’s just a story that has been set to music.

@clareselgin3208 4 ай бұрын

This video deserves a wide audience, including people who don't like opera

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

Thank you @clareselgin3208! I have faith that the audience is growing! I've been so inspired and hoping to share with more people. Thanks for watching!

@janetclark8139 4 ай бұрын

What a beautiful song. Thank you for putting it in English, it makes it that much more enjoyable

@OperaForBlackFolks 4 ай бұрын

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s such a great aria!

@shells500tutubo 2 ай бұрын

Most of the opera houses in the US have the English translation above the stage (supratitles) while they are performing. Even when the opera is in English.

@mr-century Ай бұрын

Wow I never understood the full context, I always assumed it was about a commoner in love with a princess with no hope of ever having a chance. I always thought “no one will know my name” was lamenting his lowly status compared to hers as princess. I guess I was projecting lmaoo

@dennisobrien2578 4 ай бұрын

You are lovely. Where have you been all my life!

@TrueWalker88 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for explaining it, it's just too beautiful. I always wonder how anyone gets into opera. Did your parents listen to it, or was it just from having an aptitude at a young age?

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

I always say opera found me. I didn't grow up with it, but my voice fit the music, so I leaned into learning more and more about opera. Sometimes, I still feel insecure about how little I know about the genre, but I learn more with each new opera I sing or share on my channel. Thanks for watching! I hope to see you in my next video! 🙏🏾💛✨

@TrueWalker88 2 ай бұрын

@@OperaForBlackFolks Well, we are always learning and that's the way it's supposed to be, keeps it interesting. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing!

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! See you in my next video! 🙏🏾💛✨

@annrae1597 Ай бұрын

Geez, i didn't know any of that..i remember seeing Pavoroti on a video years ago singing this and he was coming home from work in the dark and saw his wife fooling around, through a second floor window, with a man...why would he put that spin on it?

@FlyByNight1975 Ай бұрын

You said the ending was controversial. Is that simply because Puccini didn't finish it, or are there other reasons? I know some claim that winning her heart with a kiss is "ridiculous", but I see that as a kind of fairy tale ending, which is not a bad thing, especially in this story which has a lot of fairytale aspects. Take The Princess and the Pea, or The Twelve Dancing Princesses, or the original story of Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid. Taken literally fairytales actually are ridiculous. But that's not their point. They are teaching stories. Don't be vain, don't lie, don't be selfish. Be kind, be generous, help others. And so on. This opera has those elements. So at the end her heart is won by a kiss. How is that different from Sleeping Beauty or half of Shakespeare's plays?

@annrae1597 Ай бұрын

You should take the word black out of your title..I'm white, well with pink soles of my feet and dark skin in other places and brown eyes and hair...what has colour got to do with enjoying a song and really enjoying the explanation of it..

@OperaForBlackFolks Ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback, but I’m clear that I like my title and that it stops no one from appreciating the content. If you feel uncomfortable, then it’s clear this content is not for you. The purpose of my channel is to reach a marginalized group where classical music and especially opera is inaccessible, such as my own family, who have a hard time appreciating when I perform because they were never introduced to opera or taught how to enjoy it.

@annrae1597 Ай бұрын

I don't feel the least uncomfortable ,I just think it makes you look prejudice against anyone that isn't black..your video was A one.

@OperaForBlackFolks Ай бұрын

⁠ Thank you for your comment, and thank you for watching. The full title is Opera for Black Folks, Serving Culture to All Folks. If that offends you and you feel excluded, there is nothing I can do about how you choose to react.

@annrae1597 9 күн бұрын

I guess someone should start a page up called "Opera for White Folks, serving Culture to all Folks" and there'd be nothing they could do about how you chose to react.

@user-me8kr6mv5l 10 күн бұрын

😊 utube JOHN BAVAS BLACK COFFEE

@shells500tutubo 2 ай бұрын

Perhaps in the last fifty years Pavarotti could be said to have made it popular, but trust me, it has been ridiculously popular since the opera's debut in 1926.

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

Of course, it has, no doubt, but since Pavarotti made it his signature aria, I can’t even download and replay the entire aria with his voice because KZfaq, along with copyright laws, has decided that Nessun Dorma belongs to Pavarotti.

@The-Armed-Pacifist 2 ай бұрын

Not black, but thanks!

@The-Armed-Pacifist 2 ай бұрын

I did, however, attend a historically black university for two years during the virtual peak of the racial unrest in America.

@paolopiccardo7054 3 ай бұрын

Tramontate,not Tramontare

@OperaForBlackFolks 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for the correction and thanks for watching!

@FrancescoBatocchipanzer8 2 ай бұрын

My compliment, It's the first time that somebody tell the Turadot's story. Many reaction but nobody cares at what Calaf singing about. Pucciini said to us if you are a Mad woman like Turandot you will win. Instead of ij you are a very good girl as LIù you're going to die. 😅

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

@shells500tutubo 2 ай бұрын

Makes sense. I always found Turandot and Prince Calaf to be superficial, selfish characters. Liù and Timur and of course that magnificent choir, who is its own character, speak to me more.

@user-fx6dw3zy2p 2 ай бұрын

WRONG PRONUNCIATION, LUCIANO PAVAROTTI THE SONG IS NO SLEEP, YOU ALSO HAVE A PRINCESS IN YOUR COLD ROOM WHERE THE STARS SHINE WITH LIGHT AND HOPE,,,HELLO FROM MARIA ROME ITALY KISSES

@OperaForBlackFolks 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback!