Sing Me an Aria

The Barber of Seville is a comic opera by Gioachino Rossini, centered around themes of love, deception, and clever schemes. The story follows Count Almaviva, who is in love with Rosina, the ward of the wealthy Dr. Bartolo. He disguised himself as a poor student, Lindoro Almaviva, and serenaded Rosina to win her affection. Figaro, the clever barber of Seville, assists Almaviva in his plans to outsmart Dr. Bartolo, who intends to marry Rosina himself.

The aria “Largo al factotum” is sung by Figaro with a wonderful baritone and thunderous notes.

Carmen is a tragic opera by Georges Bizet that explores themes of love, passion, and jealousy. Set in Seville, Spain, the story revolves around Carmen, a free-spirited and independent woman who works in a cigarette factory. She captivates Don José, a naive corporal, leading him to abandon his previous life for her. However, as Carmen's affections shift to the bullfighter Escamillo, Don José's jealousy escalates, culminating in tragedy.

“La Habanera,” sung by Carmen, is an opera classic. The full title is 'L'amour est un oiseau rebelle,' a dance, sung by the fiery title character, and one of the best mezzo arias to ever be written.

Gianni Schicchi is a comedic opera by Giacomo Puccini, first performed in 1918. It is set in medieval Florence and revolves around the clever character Gianni Schicchi, who is called upon by a greedy family to help them rewrite the will of their deceased relative, Buoso Donati, who has left his fortune to a monastery. Schicchi devises a plan to impersonate Buoso and trick the notary into believing he is the deceased, allowing him to rewrite the will in favor of the family.

The aria ‘O mio babbino caro’ finds the daughter Lauretta in the middle of a family feud. She makes a plea beginning with the words “Oh, my beloved father.” This aria owes its popularity to the big screen and the soundtrack of young love and romance of Italy in the 1985 film “A Room with a View.”

La Bohème is a poignant opera that explores themes of love, youth, and loss. Composed by Giacomo Puccini, the opera is set in the Latin Quarter of Paris during the 1830s. The story follows a group of young bohemians—artists, poets, and musicians—who struggle through life and love amidst poverty. The central story follows the romance between Rodolfo, a poet and Mimi, a seamstress. Their passionate yet tragic romance comes with the harsh realities of life, among them the declining health of Mimi.

The aria “Che gelida manina” comes in the first act. It is winter in Paris; Rodolfo and Mimi meet in the cold. “Your tiny hand is frozen,” Rodolfo remarks as they first touch.

La Traviata is a tragic opera by Giuseppe Verdi that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and societal expectations. The story centers on Violetta Valéry, a Parisian courtesan who falls in love with Alfredo Germont. Their romance faces challenges due to the hypocrisy of upper-class society and Violetta's past. Ultimately, Violetta sacrifices her happiness for Alfredo's reputation, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion.

“Sempre libera” In this aria, which comes early in the opera, Violetta sings of her joyful independence and strong resolve against love—in thrilling coloratura. The appearance of her suitor Alfredo outside her window might make this technically a duet, but ‘Sempre libera’ remains all Violetta and one of the finest moments in all opera.

Madame Butterfly is a tragic opera by Giacomo Puccini, set in early 20th-century Nagasaki, Japan.  The story revolves around a young Japanese geisha named Cio-Cio-San, also known as Butterfly, who falls in love with an American naval officer, Lieutenant Pinkerton.

Un bel dì is one of the most devastating arias. Butterfly, patiently at home. sings of her hope of seeing her husband, Pinkerton, who putting it lightly does not deserve such love or faith.

“One fine day” he will return, she passionately sings, with one of the most devastating climaxes ever heard on the stage.

The Magic Flute is a fairy tale opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The storyline tells about Prince Tamino, who has to rescue Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night. Initially manipulated by the Queen, Tamino embarks on a journey that leads him to discover deeper truths about love and enlightenment. He is aided by Papageno, a comedic bird-catcher, and the magic flute, which has the power to enchant and protect.

The dramatic aria from the opera is “The Queen of the Night.” It was written for dramatic coloratura soprano and demands great range and vocal power. It just grabs the soul as the mother of the opera’s heroine, Pamina, vents her rage.

The Marriage of Figaro is a 1786 comic opera by Mozart. It tells the story about how the servants Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married. They foil the efforts of their philandering employer, Count Almaviva, to seduce his young subordinate and teach him a lesson in fidelity.

“Deh vieni, non tardar,” or “Susanna’s” aria, is sung by the heroine, caught in a tender moment during all the farcical happenings.

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play “Le roi s’amuse” by Victor Hugo. The opera tells of the tragic story revolving around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda. The opera's original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by the Count Monterone, whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.

The most popular aria is “La donna e mobile,” sung by the Duke of Mantua in Act 3. It is renowned for its catchy melody. It has become one of the most recognizable pieces in the opera repertoire, often performed in concert settings and featured in various media.

Turandot is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini in Italian. In 1924 Puccini died, not completing the opera, and the music was completed by Franco Alfano. The opera is set in China and follows Prince Calaf, who falls in love with the cold-hearted Princess Turandot. To win her hand in marriage, a suitor has to solve three riddles; a wrong answer brings execution. Prince Calaf passes the test, but the princess refuses to marry him. He offers her a way out: if she can guess his name before dawn of the next day, he will accept death.

From the opera, the world-renowned aria is “Nessun dorma.” It is sung by the hero Prince Calaf, declaring “none shall sleep” as he anticipates wining the love of Princess Turandot.