Opera is fairly familiar in Japan, even being included in school textbooks.
Still, many people may recognize the melodies without knowing much about the famous opera pieces themselves.
For those readers, we’ve selected a number of renowned opera masterpieces.
In addition to introducing the works, we explain them from various angles—the background of their creation, the appeal of the opera singers performing them, and more—so both regular opera listeners and those less familiar with opera can enjoy the content.
Please take your time and enjoy it to the very end.
Famous Opera Masterpieces | Many Great Opera Singers Also Appear (1–10)
Queen of the Night ariaDiana Damrau
The Magic Flute – Queen of the Night aria (Mozart; Diana Damrau, The Royal Opera)
When it comes to the most famous pieces for soprano in opera, many people probably picture the Queen of the Night aria.
In Japanese, it is known by the title “The flames of vengeance blaze in my heart like hell,” and it is one of the signature pieces from Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute.
This time we’re featuring Diana Damrau’s rendition, and among active soprano singers, she is likely the one who performs it the best.
When people are asked to name a famous opera piece, many probably picture this one.
Nessun Dorma appears in Giacomo Puccini’s opera and ranks among the most popular pieces in the operatic repertoire.
The character of the song varies greatly depending on the performer, but Gianfranco Cecchele’s version, often cited as the best among existing recordings thanks to his vocal prowess, achieves an exceptionally grand atmosphere.
Composed in 1986 by the Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla, it is, as the title suggests, a song dedicated to the great tenor Enrico Caruso.
Owing to its exceptional quality, it has been performed by renowned tenors—foremost among them Luciano Pavarotti—and, although not an opera, it is recognized as a highly prestigious work.
When Luciano Pavarotti sings this song, he pours his emotions into it from the depths of his heart, so please pay attention to that aspect as well.
The Three Tenors in Concert 1994: “La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto
“La donna è mobile,” the famous aria that appears in the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, a composer who epitomizes Italian Romantic music.
In Japanese, it’s known by the title “Onna-gokoro no Uta” (“Song of a Woman’s Heart”).
It’s such a well-known piece that even those not familiar with opera will likely recognize it.
This time, we’ve picked the version by The Three Tenors, known in Japan as the “San-dai Tenoru.” The perfectly synchronized blend of the three tenors is exceptionally captivating.
Luciano Pavarotti, New York Philharmonic, Leone Magiera – Leoncavallo: Mattinata (Live)
The masterpiece Mattinata, composed by the great opera composer Ruggero Leoncavallo, who created numerous famous works.
In Japan it is known under the title “Asa no Uta” (Song of the Morning), and it is notable for its romantic lyrics in which a man sings of love beneath the window of the house where his beloved lives.
This time, we’ve highlighted the version by the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
With his voice—often called the “voice of the sun”—and exceptional vocal technique, the romantic atmosphere is emphasized all the more.
Giacomo Puccini, a composer who created numerous operatic masterpieces.
Among his many works, “Che gelida manina” is especially popular, and astonishingly, between the 1900s and the 1980s it was sung by as many as 500 tenors.
This time, we’ve chosen a rendition by the Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas, whose pure-sounding voice matches perfectly with the depiction of speaking to a beloved.
The famous song known in Japan under the title “Katari Katari” is “Core ’ngrato.” Composed by Salvatore Cardillo, an Italian immigrant from the United States, for the great tenor Enrico Caruso, the piece portrays the feelings of a man who has been spurned.
Although it is not a formal opera, it has been covered by renowned tenors such as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras, and it remains a work of enduring popularity today.
Granada is a masterpiece composed by the Mexican composer Agustín Lara.
Although he was from Mexico, he was exposed to Spanish culture from a young age.
However, because it was wartime, traveling to Spain was not easy.
This song is a classic born from his longing for a Spain he had yet to see.
While not a formally trained opera singer, actor Mario Lanza—who continues to be respected by many opera singers—has a remarkable version that I’ve selected here.
Please enjoy it along with his overwhelming vocal power.
The canzone “Torna a Surriento” is familiar in Japan as well, even being included in textbooks.
Although it’s not a formal opera piece, it has continued to be sung by many great tenors, which is why I chose it this time.
I’ve picked the version by Franco Corelli, one of Italy’s greatest tenors, and the way he effortlessly delivers this highly challenging song is nothing short of remarkable.
He’s a singer whose vocal ability ranks among the top three in history, so be sure to check it out.
