
So Renée Fleming can basically sing anything. In one memorable episode in 2007, she broke her leg on stage and managed to finish the show - and then finished the rest of the run performing from a wheelchair. Joyce is an audience favourite with the credentials to back it up, from core operatic repertoire to revelling in the golden age of musicals. It’s not a one-off, either: as she grows into the bel canto repertoire she continues to go from strength to strength, she’s sure to cement herself as one of the all-time greats.Ī thoroughly modern soprano: outspoken, but never out-sung. This is without doubt one of the most iconic opera performances of recent years and it’s down to the sense of terrifying drama that Diana Damrau manages to conjure. I can even forgive the imperfections in the voice because her acting was so totally believable. "She created characters you could believe in. "Her acting is what does it for me," says Classic FM's weekday morning presenter John Suchet. Her bel canto work in the operas of Verdi, Bellini and Donizetti is considered legendary.Ībsolutely iconic - there’s no way Callas could not be on this list. And although many of those who know her will do so only from this one song, her career on the operatic stage is the envy of many. Just take it all in.įeatured image credit: Andrew Cioffi.When the great Freddie Mercury wanted to capture the essence of operatic drama in a new song, there was only one name on his list: Montserrat Caballé. “Toreador Song” (common name of “Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre”) from Bizet’s Carmen.Opera Sense recommended recording of Le nozze di Figaro: We see a different sort of Figaro in this aria when compared to that of “Largo al Factotum.” This piece ends Act I on a comedic note, as Figaro pokes fun at Cherubino, who has just been assigned military duty by Count Almaviva. This is Mozart’s second appearance on this list of famous arias. “Non più andrai” from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.Opera Sense recommended recording of La bohème: In this Act II aria, Musetta tries to regain the affection of her former lover, Marcello. “Quando me’n vo'” (also known as “Musetta’s Waltz” from Puccini’s La bohème.Opera Sense recommended recording of Carmen: This is another famous aria that everyone knows. “Habanera” (common name of “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”) from Bizet’s Carmen.Opera Sense recommended recording of Il barbiere di Siviglia: The quick, fast-paced 6/8 time signature perfectly fits the character, and gives the audience a clue as to his socioeconomic status. This famous aria is performed at the entrance of the title character, Figaro himself.


If ever there were an aria whose melodic line seems to make all of life pause for a moment, it would be this one. Opera Sense recommended recording of Gianni Schicchi: The aria itself is even more famous than the opera it comes from!

Otherwise, the Queen of the Night will disown her!

In this aria, the Queen of the Night tells her daughter, Pamina, that she has to kill the evil Sarastro. This most famous of all famous coloratura soprano arias is a wonder to behold. If you don’t know this one, chances are you live under a rock and haven’t ever seen another human being in your life. “Der Hölle Rache” from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.Opera Sense recommended recording of Rigoletto: Listen for that quintessential boom-chuck-chuck Verdi rhythm in this famous aria. This Act III aria, translated as “Woman is fickle” and sung by the libertine Duke of Mantua, is an audience favorite. “La donna è mobile” from Verdi’s Rigoletto.Performers include Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Renée Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and Anna Netrebko. Bask in the glorious sounds of some of the world’s greatest singers singing tunes from the world’s most famous operas. Here is a list of the 10 most famous arias in the world.
