Giuseppe Verdi Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Drinking SongGiuseppe Verdi1rank/position

La Traviata: “Libiamo, ne’ lieti calici”

Giuseppe Verdi, the great master of Italian opera.

The piece that brightens Act 1 of his masterpiece La traviata is “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici,” known in Japan as “The Drinking Song.” Set to a lively waltz in 3/4 time, the duet in which Violetta and Alfredo sing of love and the joys of life also conveys a fleeting, bittersweet beauty behind the glittering festivity.

Although it was poorly received at its premiere in March 1853, it is now a beloved classic around the world.

Why not give it a listen as an introduction to opera?

Triumphal March from the opera AidaGiuseppe Verdi2rank/position

'Triumphal March' from Verdi's opera Aida

The Triumphal March is a piece that appears in Act II, Scene 2 of the opera Aida, composed by Giuseppe Verdi.

Part of it is well known as a soccer chant, so even those unfamiliar with classical music may have heard it.

The piece features fanfare trumpets, and a distinctive aspect is that they are performed on stage rather than in the orchestra pit.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Dies Irae from RequiemGiuseppe Verdi3rank/position

Mozart Requiem 'Dies Irae' — Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Karajan

This work, one of the Catholic Mass settings, was composed by Verdi in memory of the Italian literary giant Alessandro Manzoni and premiered on May 22, 1874, the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death, at the Church of San Marco in Milan.

Along with the works of Mozart and Fauré, it is regarded as one of the “Three Great Requiems.” “Dies Irae” is the second movement within it.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Overture from the opera “La forza del destino”Giuseppe Verdi4rank/position

G. Verdi: La forza del destino (obertura) – Maazel – Sinfónica de Galicia

The overture to The Force of Destiny is one of the most iconic pieces in the operatic repertoire.

From the opening three chords—known as the “Fate motif”—it grips the listener and never lets go.

The characters’ inner conflicts and their struggle against destiny are conveyed through rich melodies and dramatic development, making it a piece that can be fully enjoyed even by those unfamiliar with opera.

Blending the orchestra’s brilliant sonorities with Verdi’s genius compositional craft, this work is highly recommended for anyone interested in classical music or drawn to dramatic soundscapes.

The revised version performed at La Scala in Milan on February 27, 1869 was a great success and continues to be beloved by many to this day.

RequiemGiuseppe Verdi5rank/position

Verdi – Requiem: Dies Irae (Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic (2002))

Verdi’s Requiem is famous for its choral sections.

As the title “Requiem” suggests, the music is very weighty and even a bit fearsome, but it can be nice to occasionally enjoy that sense of urgency.

It’s a piece recommended for advanced classical music listeners.

Dies Irae from the RequiemGiuseppe Verdi6rank/position

Verdi’s Requiem: “Dies irae”

A section from Giuseppe Verdi’s monumental sacred composition, the Requiem.

This piece portrays the “Day of Judgment,” symbolic of Christian eschatology.

It is characterized by fierce orchestral writing and choral forces; the opening’s thunderous orchestral strikes and cries of the chorus overwhelm listeners with both terror and majesty.

Verdi employs operatic rhythms and stark dynamic contrasts to depict, in musical terms, the anxiety and grandeur of the end times.

At its premiere in Milan in May 1874, its dramatic expressiveness and religious solemnity were highly acclaimed, and it continues to be frequently performed by choirs and orchestras around the world today.

Highly recommended if you want to enhance a Halloween atmosphere.

Overture (from the opera ‘La forza del destino’)Giuseppe Verdi7rank/position

Verdi: Overture “La forza del destino” / Verdi: Sinfonia for 2 Pianos = 1st: Kimihiko Kitajima, 2nd: Akiko Takehara

The Overture to Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La forza del destino is richly infused with key musical motifs that symbolize the entire work, vividly portraying the weighty theme of fate alongside the protagonists’ love, inner conflicts, battles, and despair.

In the piano arrangement, it is striking how the instrument’s timbre brings out human emotions with even greater nuance.

Why not immerse yourself in Verdi’s grand vision and enjoy performing it on the piano?