The Top 10 Opera Songs of All Time

In this blog post, we’ll be counting down the top 10 greatest opera songs of all time. From dramatic arias to heart-wrenching ballads, these are the pieces that have stood the test of time and become classics within the genre.

Introduction

Opera is a genre of music that is typically associated with drama and emotion. In fact, the word “opera” comes from the Italian word for “work.” Opera began in Italy in the 16th century and quickly spread to other parts of Europe. Today, operas are performed all over the world and are enjoyed by millions of people.

There are dozens of famous opera songs, but some are more popular than others. Here is a list of the ten most popular opera songs of all time:

1. “Nessun dorma” from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini
2. “La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi
3. “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
4. “Queen of the night” from The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
5. “Casta diva” from Norma by Vincenzo Bellini
6. “Voi che sapete” from Le nozze di Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
7. “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini
8. “Habanera” from Carmen by Georges Bizet
9. “Brindisi” from La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
10. “Song to the moon” from Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák

“Nessun Dorma” by Giacomo Puccini

Nessun Dorma is an aria from the opera Turandot and is one of the most famous opera songs of all time. The aria is sung by the character Calaf, who has fallen in love with the cold Princess Turandot. Calaf has passed her three tests, but she still refuses to marry him. In this aria, Calaf declares that he will win her love or die trying. Nessun Dorma is one of the most popular opera songs ever written and has been performed by some of the world’s most famous singers, including Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Andrea Bocelli.

“Casta Diva” by Vincenzo Bellini

“Casta Diva” is an aria from the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini. The opera was first performed in Rome in 1831. “Casta Diva” is sung by the character Norma, who is a Druid priestess. The aria is considered to be one of the most beautiful and difficult to sing in all of opera. It has been recorded by many famous opera singers, including Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Renata Tebaldi.

“La donna è mobile” by Giuseppe Verdi

One of the most famous tunes in all opera, “La donna è mobile” comes from Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The Duke of Mantua sings it in the act 3 finale as he mocks Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda, whom he has just seduced.

“Una furtiva lagrima” by Gaetano Donizetti

“Una furtiva lagrima” (“A Furtive Tear”), is a cavatina from the opera L’elisir d’amore by Gaetano Donizetti, sung by the character Nemorino. It is probably the best-known piece from L’elisir d’amore and is renowned as one of the most difficult arias to sing in all of opera.

The aria was first performed by Vittorio Rubiani at the Teatro della Canobbiana in Milan on 12 May 1832. It has been sung by many of the world’s most famous tenors, including Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli and Giuseppe Di Stefano.

“Vissi d’arte” by Giacomo Puccini

This aria comes from the opera Tosca and is sung by the title character. It is one of the most popular arias in all of opera and has been covered by many artists over the years. The lyrics express Tosca’s intense love of art and her dedication to it even at the cost of her own happiness.

“E lucevan le stelle” by Giacomo Puccini

“E lucevan le stelle” is an aria from the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. The aria is sung by the character Cavaradossi, a painter in love with the singer Floria Tosca, as he imagines his life with her in the starlight.

The aria is one of the most popular opera songs of all time and has been covered by many artists, including Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and Andrea Bocelli.

“O mio babbino caro” by Giacomo Puccini

“O mio babbino caro” is one of the most famous and beloved opera songs of all time. It is from the opera “Gianni Schicchi” by Giacomo Puccini, and it has been covered by countless artists over the years. The lyrics are written in Italian, but they have been translated into many different languages. The song is about a young girl who is in love with a boy who her father does not approve of. she begs her father to allow her to marry him, and the song is full of both sadness and joy.

“Caro nome” by Giuseppe Verdi

“Caro nome” (“Beloved name”) is a mezzo-soprano aria from the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi. It is sung by Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter, in the first act, when she is declaring her love for the dashing Duke of Mantua.

The piece is written in A-flat major and Gilda’s vocal range extends from B♭3 to F5. The aria is known for its technical difficulty, particularly its many rapid runs.

Despite its challenges, “Caro nome” has become a popular showpiece for many of opera’s leading mezzo-sopranos, including Cecilia Bartoli, Marian Anderson, Joyce DiDonato, Jennifer Larmore, Teresa Berganza, and Denyce Graves.

“Nessun dorma” by Giacomo Puccini

“Nessun dorma” (“None shall sleep”) is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot and one of the best-known tenor arias in all of opera. It is sung by Calaf, a prince who has fallen in love with the beautiful but cold-hearted Princess Turandot. The aria is widely cited as one of the most beautifulopera songs ever written.

The aria is sung by Calaf after he has passed a series of tests set by Turandot in order to win her hand in marriage. At the end of the aria, Calaf declares that he will win Turandot and that she will be his “dulcissima” (most beloved). The aria is famous for its “vincerò, vincerò” (“I will win, I will win”) refrain.