The Greatest Classical Music Operas of All Time

From Puccini to Verdi, these are the greatest classical music operas of all time.

Introduction

There are few art forms as reviled by critics and adored by the public as opera. But there’s no denying that when it’s done well, opera can be a powerful and moving experience. From the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet to the Greek legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld, operas have told some of the most memorable stories in all of classical music.

Here are ten of the greatest classical music operas of all time:

1. La Bohème – Giacomo Puccini
2. Carmen – Georges Bizet
3. Don Giovanni – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. La Traviata – Giuseppe Verdi
5. The Barber of Seville – Gioachino Rossini
6. The Marriage of Figaro – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
7. The Magic Flute – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
8. Turandot – Giacomo Puccini
9.Madama Butterfly – Giacomo Puccini
10. Aida – Giuseppe Verdi

Don Giovanni

One of the greatest operas of all time, Don Giovanni was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1787. The story follows the exploits of Spanish nobleman Don Giovanni, who is notorious for his womanizing ways. When he attempts to seduce the daughter of an old man he has just killed, he sets off a chain of events that leads to his downfall. The opera is known for its complex characters and its dramatic storytelling.

La Bohème

One of the most popular and timeless operas of all time, Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème has captivated audiences since its 1897 premiere. The story of young love and loss set against the backdrop of Paris’ Latin Quarter is as relevant today as it was over a century ago. With some of opera’s most beautiful music, including “Si mi chiamano Mimi” and “Quando men vo soletta per la via,” it’s no wonder that La Bohème remains one of the most regularly performed operas in the world.

Tosca

Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a Melodramma giocoso in the genre of verismo opera.

Puccini saw Sardou’s play when it was first performed in Paris in 1887 and decided right away that he wanted to turn it into an opera. However, several factors, including the disapproval of the authorities in Rome (the play was highly critical of the Church), prevented him from doing so for many years. He attempted to get a production mounted there, but was always unsuccessful. Finally, with the help of his publisher Giulio Ricordi, Pucinni was able to secure permission to stage Tosca in 1900.

The opera’s first performance was a huge success and has remained one of the most popular works in the repertoire ever since. It continues to be produced today all over the world and is one of the cornerstones of the standard operatic repertoire.

Carmen

One of the most popular operas of all time, Carmen was composed by Georges Bizet in 1875. The French opera tells the story of the fall of Don Jose, a soldier, for the seductive gypsy Carmen. Carmen is set in Seville, Spain, and features Spanish folk music throughout. The Habanera, one of the most well-known pieces from Carmen, was actually not originally written for the opera but was adapted by Bizet.

Conclusion

This is our list of the greatest classical music operas of all time. We hope you enjoyed it.