It’s our fourth annual challenge to “Make Opera Your Valentine”

At Opera Bracelets we say our product is for fun loving, passionate opera fans. As such, I encourage you this Valentine’s Day to share a favorite opera love aria, moment or duet on your own Facebook page or on Twitter, Pinterest or wherever you like to post things. Maybe you would rather send an email to your friends with the link or just talk it up in person.

BUT, this is the important thing: You have to tell why you LOVE the piece and give a short explanation of what is happening to the characters in the song. The goal is to give your friends who may not be familiar with opera a little sample of how it can rock your world! Without context, it is hard to understand why we find opera moving and beautiful.

Here’s mine for 2016:

Hanna and Danilo had a youthful fling but were separated by his parents (she wasn't rich enough), but Hanna never stopped loving him. Some years later, it's clear Danilo still loves her but he stubbornly vows never to say the words "I love you". Hanna will not accept him until he DOES say it. During this song and waltz the two leave this silliness behind and confess their love for each other.  It's a moment of sweet seriousness that stands out for its beautiful quietness in the otherwise light, rollicking, comic operetta... Click here for lyric translation.