Famous opera masterpieces | Featuring many great opera singers

From the opera ‘Carmen’: ‘Toreador Song’ by G. Bizet — ‘I gladly accept your toast’ (Akiyama Takanori) Bizet: Carmen — Toreador Song ‘Votre toast’Georges Bizet

From the opera “Carmen” — Toréador Song (G. Bizet) “Your toast, I can accept with pleasure.” Vocalist Takayoshi Akiyama, active in bel canto, graduate of Tokyo College of Music. Bizet: Carmen

Born in 1838, French 19th-century composer Georges Bizet’s work, Toreador Song, from the opera Carmen.

The opera Carmen was praised by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Debussy.

In Japan, it is one of the opera works famous enough to be included in school textbooks.

Pavarotti: Nessun dorma (Puccini: from the opera Turandot)Giacomo Puccini

G. Puccini - Turandot “Nessun dorma” None shall sleep

Nessun dorma from Turandot by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, born in 1858.

Turandot was left unfinished due to Puccini’s death in 1924, but his friend Franco Alfano completed it in 1926.

G. C. MENOTTI | Amelia al Ballo: FinaleGian Carlo Menotti

G. C. MENOTTI | Amelia al Ballo: Finale

The work is The Consul’s Ball (La festa a la americana) by Gian Carlo Menotti, an opera composer and librettist born in Italy in 1911 who was active in the United States.

This was Menotti’s first opera, and it was so well received that NBC commissioned him to write two operas for radio.

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.