The Power of Puccini’s ‘Nessun Dorma’

The great buildup in Puccini’s arias anticipate something from deep within to spring forth.

Luciano Pavarotti sings of victory during the 1990 World Cup Draw held in Italy. Simon Bruty/Allsport

Last year’s presidential election was decided in the closing minutes of the closing day of the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC). It was then that tenor Christopher Macchio proclaimed on behalf of Donald Trump: “I will win! I will win! I will win!”

He did not say those words in English. In fact, he didn’t say them at all. He sang them, in Italian: