The magnificent world of vocal artistry: a special feature on popular vocal works from opera to art songs.

“Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore” from the opera ToscaGiacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini

Angela Gheorghiu – Puccini – Tosca – ‘Vissi d’arte’

“Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore: I Lived for Art, I Lived for Love” by Angela Gheorghiu, a Romanian soprano and one of the greatest divas of our time, is an aria from Puccini’s opera Tosca and is among the world’s finest soprano arias.

The Voice of SpringFranz Peter Schubert

Sumi Jo sings Frühlingsstimmen (J. Strauss) 조수미, 봄의소리왈츠

She is a soprano singer from South Korea whose beautiful voice was praised by the world-renowned conductor Karajan as a “gift from God.” Through numerous collaborations with many distinguished singers and conductors, she quickly rose to fame.

Here, she delivers a radiant performance of Strauss’s famous waltz.

“Caro nome” from the opera RigolettoGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi

Verdi “Rigoletto” “Caro nome” Callas

Maki Mori is a Japanese soprano who combines vocal prowess with beauty and performs on the world stage.

With a voice full of clarity, she conveys the rising emotions of Gilda, a heroine who gradually becomes aware of her love.

It’s a piece whose impression changes dramatically depending on the singer, but Mori imparts a sense of freshness and elegance.

I Want to Live in My Dream, from the opera Romeo and JulietCharles François Gounod

Diana Damrau Je Veux Vivre (Roméo et Juliette, Gounod)

With a sweet, bright, and beautiful melody, “Je veux vivre” (“I want to live in a dream”), a piece that joyfully expresses the happiness that has come into one’s life, is a famous aria from the opera Romeo et Juliette by the French composer Charles François Gounod.

The original work is based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare.

Come Again to Please Me (from the opera “Alcina”)Georg Friedrich Händel

G. F. Händel: Tornami a vagheggiar

The dazzlingly beautiful “Tornami a vagheggiar,” which sings of the feeling of love, is a famous da capo aria from one of the masterworks of opera by the great Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, Alcina.

Ombra mai fuGeorg Friedrich Händel

Ombra Mai Fu Cécilia Bartoli

The aria “Ombra mai fu” from Handel’s opera Serse—often performed as an instrumental piece under the title “Largo”—is a famous work whose graceful melody is filled with tenderness and brings calm to the heart.

Although it was originally written for a castrato, today it is sung as a repertoire piece by many sopranos.

“O God of Love, Behold” from the opera The Marriage of FigaroWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Maria Callas – Porgi amor

The aria “Porgi amor” from Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro is a piece enveloped in elegance and noble grace, sung here by Maria Callas, the greatest opera singer of the 20th century whose name is etched in history.

Based on a play written in 1784 by the French playwright Beaumarchais, Mozart composed the work in 1786.