Nessun Dorma

Time for our first soloist of the evening. Arguably the most versatile solo instrument in a brass band is the Euphonium(!) - As a sometime Euph player myself I suppose I am biased, but it’s an instrument that lends itself equally to technically challenging pieces as well as the more lyrical operatic style numbers, one of which we are going to
play for you now.
"Nessun dorma" is sung by Calaf, an unknown prince who falls in love with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot in Puccini’s opera of the same name. She gives him a challenge - answer three riddles correctly and he can marry her, but get one wrong and she can chop his head off. THE aria is Calaf’s triumphant expression of his assurance that he will win the day, keep his head and marry the princess.
Made popular when Pavarotti’s 1972 recording was used as the theme for the 1990 FIFA world cup, Nessum Dorma has been arranged for solo euphonium by the late Peter Parkes, for many years the conductor of the Black Dyke Mills brass band.
Here to play it for us this evening is our principal euphonium, Nigel Eggleton.