Famous opera masterpieces | Featuring many great opera singers

O, how many timesGraziella Sciutti

Bellini “I Capuleti e i Montecchi” “Oh, how many times” Schutti

Julietta’s aria, despairing over an unwanted marriage.

Compared with fellow Romantics Donizetti and Rossini, it may not be considered mainstream, but you can hear Bellini’s characteristically graceful melodies.

Although the opera itself is rarely performed, the aria is often presented on its own.

My daughter or my cute wifeHermann Prey

Mozart The Magic Flute “A maiden or a pretty wife” — Hermann Prey

From Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Papageno’s aria in Act 2.

With bells in hand, he sings of wanting Papagena.

The German lyric baritone, Fischer-Dieskau, has a bright, free-spirited voice that’s perfect for the bird-catcher Papageno.

As a side note, the bells take various forms depending on the production.

Winter storms have yielded to the blissful moon.Klaus Florian Vogt/ Kurausu Furorian Fōkuto: uta, The Bavarian State Orchestra/ Baiyerun Kokuritsu Kangen Gakudan

Klaus Florian Vogt singing “Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond” from DIE WALKÜRE

This is a piece from the opera Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), which begins with a forbidden love between a long-separated twin brother and sister who reunite and are drawn to each other.

It is the song in which the brother, Siegmund, proposes marriage to his sister, Sieglinde, celebrating the joy of their reunion; it is sweet and passionate.

Live for song, live for loveLeontyne Price

Puccini Tosca “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore” Leontyne Price

From Puccini’s Tosca, Tosca’s aria in Act II.

Although this work is synonymous with Italian prima donna opera, it isn’t performed very frequently in Japan due to the difficulty of the title role.

It’s a moving scene in which Tosca’s heartfelt lament to God is deeply affecting and brings tears to the eyes.

Tears unseen by anyoneLuigi Alva

Donizetti “L’elisir d’amore” ‘Una furtiva lagrima’ — Luigi Alva

Nemorino’s aria from Act 2 of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore.

Among the most famous Romantic-era tenor arias, it is typically sung by a lyric leggero.

It’s moving to see the cheerful, guileless young Nemorino grow a little more mature as he becomes confident in Adina’s love.

Recondita armoniaPlacido Domingo

Placido Domingo sings: Recondita armonia

From Puccini’s Tosca, Cavaradossi’s aria from Act I.

While not particularly flashy compared to other works of the same era, this piece is woven with Puccini’s characteristically beautiful melodies and, like the Act III aria, appears to enjoy great popularity.

Because it contains many sustained high notes, a high level of vocal technique is required to sing it.

You devil, you fiend.Renato Bruson

Rigoletto: "You devil, you fiend!" — Renato Bruson

From Verdi’s Rigoletto, the Act II aria by Rigoletto.

Sung as he tries to get his daughter back, this aria combines fierce anger with music that pleads for mercy, and because it demands extremely high technique, it is said to be the pinnacle that Verdi baritones devote their careers to reaching.