A bunch of documentaries on Puccini’s life
- BBC Great Composers, Puccini
- the downside is there’s some parts in Italian which are not translated
- Giacomo Puccini - a biography: his life and places, by opera-inside
- Uncovering The Operatic Genius Of Giacomo Puccini, by Perspective
Persian roots of Puccini’s opera Turandot
I particularly enjoyed this recap on tales and historical sources that are the basis of Turandot’s libretto
Non piangere, Liù (Turandot)
“Non piangere, Liù” (“Don’t cry, Liù”) is an aria sung by Calàf, the “Unknown Prince”, in act one of the Italian opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. The lyrics were written by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. The scene takes place before the walls of the imperial palace. In the preceding aria (“Signore, ascolta!” - “My lord, listen!”), Liù begs Calàf not to risk his life by playing a deadly game to marry Princess Turandot, and Calàf responds to her gently, asking her not to cry.
musescore sheet https://musescore.com/user/286836/scores/525721
Libretto
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Non piangere, Liù se in un lontano giorno io t’ho sorriso per quel sorriso, dolce mia fanciulla m’ascolta il tuo signore sarà, domani, forse, solo al mondo Non lo lasciare… portalo via con te Dell’esilio, addolcisci a lui le strade Questo…questo, o mia povera Liù, al tuo piccolo cuore che non cade chiede colui che non sorride più! | Do not cry, Liù, If on a day long ago I smiled at you; For that smile, My sweet girl, Listen to me: Your lord will be, tomorrow, perhaps, left alone in the world. Do not leave him behind… take him with you; Of exile, Ease for him the paths. This… this, oh my poor Liù, of your modest heart that does not faint asks he who smiles no more! |