“Vincerò!” or “I will win!” – it’s the well-known and always emotional climax to the aria Puccini’s opera Turandot. The aria is one of those very special moments of music that's gripped and enchanted millions over the years. It found truly global fame in the one thousand nine hundred ninety thanks to Luciano Pavarotti, Italia ninety, and Three Tenors CDs that were on virtually everyone’s shelf. Its drama and power, combined with that enduring public appeal makes it a natural show-stopper in live performances.

And so it was on this night, before 5.000 people at London’s Royal Albert Hall, during an opera-themed Classic FM Live with Viking. But there’s always more than just those high notes at the very finish of the aria. And on that night, there was a singer perfectly matched to reveal every glorious, emotional moment of ‘Nessun Dorma’. Look above. Michael Spyres is an American opera singer. He’s scarce for the fact that he can sing in both baritone and tenor voice types.

His range spans the wealthy and resonant baritone register, up to the highest notes of most agile Bel Canto tenor. Alongside the Puccini, he also gave us a Rossini baritone aria that night. It’s one of the reasons why this performance was so special. Puccini sets the scene with hushed orchestra, on this occasion it played by English National Opera and conductor Paul Daniel. The singer then enters, pleading “Nessun dorma” – first in the center of his register, and then low. Then that powerful lyricism starts.

This is all perfect territory for Spyres to indicate off that sonority and voice. Form these opening cries, to the final “Vincerò!” on that winning high B, it’s a journey love few others in music. Spyres held that corridor was held in rapt silence, before everyone erupted. ‘Nessun Dorma’ does it every time.