For those not already familiar with the opera and think it is a dated music genre. Here are a few operatic numbers you might find yourself enjoying more than you thought you would. The sample clips' URL are found on the
Internet and are listed for your convenience. Their source pages are listed at the bottom of the essay.
SOPRANO ARIAS:
1. PUCCINI: La Boheme: Quando m'en vo (Musetta's Waltz)
sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1aMqj98sQ
If you have seen the film Moonstruck, you have heard this song by the flirty Musetta (tho I believe they used the instrumental version of it as the background music when Olympia Dukakis' character gets walked home after dinner). You will have heard a modernized take of it if you have seen the play Rent, which is also a modernized theatrical take on Puccini's opera 'La Boheme'.
Anna Netrebko sings it very well, so does Angela Gheorghiu, but my favorite take is by Mirella Freni.
2. MOZART: Zaïde: Ruhe sanft
sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NEn8f-kzKk
This opera is Mozart's unfinished precursor to his latter work, 'The Abduction from the Seraglio'. The opera itself may have been long forgotten, but this soprano aria sung by Zaïde has long been a standard fare at lyric soprano recitals. If you have seen the film Amadeus, you might have caught a glimpse of it (at any rate, it is in the soundtracks CD for the film... sung by the distinguished Dame Felicity Lott). It is an easy going song beautifully highlighted by the French horns with some drop dead gorgeous upward forays into coloratura soprano high notes. I love the versions by Edita Gruberova, Natalie Dessay, and Sandrine Piau.
3. BELLINI: Norma: Casta diva
Sample: http://daper.en.eresmas.net/SONORS_archivos/ariasopera/bellini...norma-casta(callas2)(1.21).mp3
Norma, the druid priestess, is the ultimate role for the soprano repertoire. In this Act I air, she is leading a prayer for peace between the druids and the Romans. It is set at a walking pace with minimum orchestral accompaniment and the soprano voice soaring above it. A very dignified and haunting song (if done right, that is).
SOPRANO ARIAS:
1. PUCCINI: La Boheme: Quando m'en vo (Musetta's Waltz)
sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1aMqj98sQ
If you have seen the film Moonstruck, you have heard this song by the flirty Musetta (tho I believe they used the instrumental version of it as the background music when Olympia Dukakis' character gets walked home after dinner). You will have heard a modernized take of it if you have seen the play Rent, which is also a modernized theatrical take on Puccini's opera 'La Boheme'.
Anna Netrebko sings it very well, so does Angela Gheorghiu, but my favorite take is by Mirella Freni.
2. MOZART: Zaïde: Ruhe sanft
sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NEn8f-kzKk
This opera is Mozart's unfinished precursor to his latter work, 'The Abduction from the Seraglio'. The opera itself may have been long forgotten, but this soprano aria sung by Zaïde has long been a standard fare at lyric soprano recitals. If you have seen the film Amadeus, you might have caught a glimpse of it (at any rate, it is in the soundtracks CD for the film... sung by the distinguished Dame Felicity Lott). It is an easy going song beautifully highlighted by the French horns with some drop dead gorgeous upward forays into coloratura soprano high notes. I love the versions by Edita Gruberova, Natalie Dessay, and Sandrine Piau.
3. BELLINI: Norma: Casta diva
Sample: http://daper.en.eresmas.net/SONORS_archivos/ariasopera/bellini...norma-casta(callas2)(1.21).mp3
Norma, the druid priestess, is the ultimate role for the soprano repertoire. In this Act I air, she is leading a prayer for peace between the druids and the Romans. It is set at a walking pace with minimum orchestral accompaniment and the soprano voice soaring above it. A very dignified and haunting song (if done right, that is).
(Guest)