One of the real heartbreaking arias in all of opera. Puccini likes to write in strange keys. This one is in G-flat Major (or F# Major) if you prefer.
I wish I had “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli (sp?)
and Sarah Brightman loaded up..
It’s lovely.
I think it was written in G flat major because it is the black key pentatonic scale, and the pentatonic scale often represented exotic (Asian) music in a lot of classical music, especially during the fad of exoticism of the late 19th century.
PS ABBA’s breakup song “The Winner Takes it All” is also in G flat major (for a little trivia on your topic). :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cwKCU8Z5c