'Vincero!' Tenor Innocent Masuku Gives Powerful Rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ in Britain’s Got Talent Finals

Nessun dorma rang again from the Britain's Got Talent stage, when Innocent Masuku sang the famous aria in his finals performance.

Masuku, a South African tenor based in London, made an indelible impression when he performed Lucio Dalla's Caruso in his audition. In the semi-finals, he sang Now We Are Free from the 2000 film Gladiator, winning the public vote and advancing directly to the final round. 

In the finals, Masuku moved judge Bruno Tonioli to tears. Despite generous praise, however, Masuku lost the top prize to Sydnie Christmas, who sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Masuku's performance is but one of many talent show renditions of Nessun dorma. Written by Giacomo Puccini for his opera, Turandot, it is sung by Prince Calaf, who, after the rejection of his marriage proposal to Princess Turandot, offers that she can execute him if she guesses his name by sundown. If not, she must marry him. He echoes her command to her servants in his aria, which opens with the line: "None shall sleep!"

The aria entered pop consciousness when a recording by Luciano Pavarotti was used in BBC's coverage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. After this came a soul-infused rendition by Aretha Franklin, who stepped in at the last minute for an ill Pavarotti. Nessun dorma made its way into television talent shows when it was performed in 2007, also on Britain's Got Talent, by amateur opera singer Paul Potts. Greg Pritchard performed the aria on BGT again the following year, as did Lucky Kay in 2014, and Gruffydd Wyn in 2018. It has also been heard in other talent shows all over the world.

Reflecting on the aria's many previous performances, Simon Cowell told Masuku: "We've had a lot of people sing it on the show. I don't think anyone's ever sung it as good as you just did."