This week we head into World Opera Day - I encourage you to share some opera on your social media or by some other way. In this way we become opera ambassadors! 

Below I compiled some of my favorite opera moments. Maybe you would like to do so as well to share with your friends and family!

Click here to see my YouTube Play List of these Opera Moments

Wintersturme Duet – Wagner - As I have a strong love of mythology, my opera journey properly begins with the Ring and with this duet. Putting aside the situation (they are actually twins) the unification of two lonely souls is just so beautiful.

Lippen Schweigen – Lehar – Two people who refuse to say “I love you” though they obviously do… the unbearable sweetness tinged with the sadness of a performance after the announcement of Dmitri’s illness.

Turandot Finale – Puccini -this was the moment when I understood why people are crazy about opera (in a later performance with Marcelo Giordanni and Maria Guleghina in 2009). Nothing compares to this scene… I wept just from the beauty.

Habanera – Bizet - You never forget your first Carmen!

Sempre libera – Verdi - this filmed version of the famous aria is just sublime.

Un bel di - Puccini - You can find MANY performances of this iconic aria but the delicacy of this animation is so unusual…

O patria mia – Verdi - This song got me through some personal dark times. But in times of war (which seem to never end) this song is especially poignant.

Lucia Duet – Donizetti – Sutherland and Pavarotti - a duet for the ages

Siegfried Duet- Wagner -It’s taken about 12 hours to get these kids together and their elation does not disappoint.

Rigoletto Quartet – I didn’t even know this piece of music when I went to see the film “Quartet” - now I can’t get enough.

Madamina – Mozart – “Modern Version” a fabulous example of how opera is VERY relevant.

Sull’aria – Mozart – the Shawshank Duet. The incredible power of music.

Barcarolle – Offenbach - Life is Beautiful – Don’t cry. I pretty much did when I compiled the play list.

The people are the heroes now / News – This opera prompted me to fill in a lot of holes in my education. Who can resist an 747 landing on stage and that “News has a kind of Mystery” never fails to be 100% true. This particular story is still rolling out as we watch.

Leave it in the road – Blanchard- I usually don’t expect many take aways from modern operas because often the music is a little “unharmonious”. That’s not the case with Fire Shut Up in My Bones and I must think of this aria at least once a week.

Hymn to the Sun – Glass- I love Philip Glass’s music but I don’t always love his operas. Akhnaten was different and the hymn is a rare stand alone piece.

Gotterdammerung finale – As again a lover of mythology, I see Gutrune as fulfilling the role of surviving to be “the teller of the tale”. To see that actually shown in performance is rare and I love how they pulled it off here.

La Rondine Duet – the sweet beauty… it was a moment of “on again” in the on again off again relationship of Roberto and Angela and it shows…

Au fond du temple sant - Bizet – When I’m upset or worked up I just put this on a loop. I don’t know , its not about the scene but rather the beautiful harmony of the voices.

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