Donna non vidi mai

"Donna non vidi mai" ("I have never seen a woman") is a tenor aria from the act 1 of Giacomo Puccini's opera, Manon Lescaut. The aria is sung by Des Grieux to a beautiful young lady, Manon Lescaut, who is destined for a convent at the will of her father. Des Grieux sings this aria of his feelings for her.

This scene takes place at a square near to the Paris gate in Amiens, France, somewhere in the 18th century.

Libretto
 Donna non vidi mai, simile a questa! A dirle: "io t'amo," a nuova vita l'alma mia si desta. "Manon Lescaut mi chiamo" Come queste parole profumate, mi vagan nello spirto. e ascose fibre vanno a carezzare. O sussurro gentil, deh, non cessar!

 I have never seen a woman, such as this one! To tell her: " I love you", my soul awakens to a new life. "Manon Lescaut is my name." How these fragrant words, wander around in my mind. And come to caress my innermost fibers. Oh! sweet thoughts, Ah, do not cease!