The 99 Most Essential Opera Classics

Nabucco: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate)

Giuseppe Verdi - Nabucco: Parte III, scena 2. Coro “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” (Coro)

David Parry

Rinaldo, Hwv 7: Lascia ch’io pianga

George Frideric Handel - Rinaldo, HWV 7a: Atto II, Scene IV, no. 22. Aria “Lascia ch’io pianga mia cruda sorte” (Almirena)

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

Pagliacci, Act 1: Recitar!… Vesti la giubba

Ruggero Leoncavallo - Pagliacci: Atto I. “Recitar!” … “Vesti la giubba” (Canio)

Renato Cellini, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620, Act 1: Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja (Birdcatcher’s Aria)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Zauberflöte: Akt I. No. 2 Arie „Was hör’ ich?” … „Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” (Papageno)

Klaus Arp, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620, Act 1: O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Zauberflöte: Akt I. No. 4 Rezitativ und Arie „O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn” ... „Zum Leiden bin ich auserkoren” (Die Königin der Nacht)

Klaus Arp, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620, Act 2: Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (Queen of the Night’s Aria)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Zauberflöte: Akt II. No. 14 Arie „Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” (Die Königin der Nacht)

Klaus Arp, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620: Act 2: Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Zauberflöte: Akt II. „Papagena! Weibchen! Täubchen!” … „Klinget, Glöckchen, klinget!” (Papageno, Drei Knaben, Papagena)

Klaus Arp, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro

Giacomo Puccini - Gianni Schicchi: “O mio babbino caro” (Lauretta)

Vladimir Kamirski, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Lakmé, Act 1: Sous le dôme épais (Flower Duet)

Léo Delibes - Lakmé : Acte I. No. 2 Duetto « Viens, Mallika, les lianes en fleurs » … « Dôme épais le jasmin » (Lakmé, Mallika)

Richard Bonynge, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville): Overture

Gioachino Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia: Sinfonia

David Parry

Madame Butterfly, Act 2: Coro a bocca chiusa (Humming Chorus)

Giacomo Puccini - Madama Butterfly: Atto II. Coro a bocca chiusa

Herbert von Karajan, Norbert Balatsch, Vienna Philharmonic

Rusalka, Act 1: Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém (Song to the Moon)

Antonín Dvořák - Rusalka, op. 114, B. 203: 1. jednání. “Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém” (Rusalka)

Vladimir Kamirski, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Tristan and Isolde, Act 3: Liebestod

Richard Wagner - Excerpt from Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90: Akt III, Szene III. Liebestod. “Mild und leise wie er lächelt”

Werner Andreas Albert

Carmen, Act 1: Entrance and Habanera (L’Amour est un oiseau rebelle)

Georges Bizet - Carmen : Acte I. No. 5 Habanera « L’amour est un oiseau rebelle » (Carmen, chœur)

Alberto Lizzio, Anton Nanut, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra

Carmen, Act 2: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (Toreador’s Song)

Georges Bizet - Carmen : Acte II. No. 14 Couplets « Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre » … « Toréador, en garde ! » (Escamillo, Mercédès, Frasquita, Carmen, Moralès, Zuniga, Lillas Pastia, chœur d’hommes)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

Carmen, Act 2: La Fleur que tu m’avais jetée (Flower Song)

Georges Bizet - Carmen : Acte II. No. 17 Duo : « La Fleur que tu m’avais jetée » (Carmen, Don José)

Georg Solti, John Alldis, Plácido Domingo

Thaïs: Meditation

Jules Massenet - Thaïs: Acte II. Entr’acte “Méditation”

David Parry

La Bohème, Act 1: Che gelida manina

Giacomo Puccini - La bohème: Atto I, no. 6. “Che gelida manina!” (Rodolfo)

Marco Guidarini, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Hobson

L’Elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), Act 2: Una furtiva lagrima

Gaetano Donizetti - L’elisir d’amore: Atto II. Romanza “Una furtiva lagrima” (Nemorino)

Marco Guidarini, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Hobson

La Fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment), Act 1: Ah! Mes amis… Pour mon âme

Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du régiment : Acte I, Scène 11. Final: Cavatina “Ah ! mes amis” (Tonio)

Douglas Robinson, Richard Bonynge, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Le nozze di figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492: Overture

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Sinfonia

Heribert Beissel, Klassische Philharmonie Telekom Bonn

Le nozze di figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492, Act 2: Voi che sapete

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Atto II, Scena II. (no. 12) Canzona “Voi che sapete che cosa è amor” (Cherubino)

John Pritchard, Philharmonia Orchestra

Casanova: O Madonna, auf uns sieh (Nuns’ Chorus)

Ralph Benatzky - Casanova: Nuns’ Chorus & Laura’s Song

Jerold Ottley, Julius Rudel, Utah Symphony

Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act 1: Soave sia il vento (Trio)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Così fan tutte: Atto I. No. 10 Terzettino “Soave sia il vento” (Fiordligi, Dorabella, Don Alfonso)

Carlo Rizzi, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra

The Italian in Algier, Act 2: Pensa alla patria

Gioachino Rossini - L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 11. No. 15. Coro, recitativo e rondò: “Pronti abbiamo e ferri e mani” (Coro) / “Amici, in ogni evento” / “Pensa alla patria” (Isabella, Coro)

Alberto Lizzio

Faust, Act 5: Alerte! Alerte!… Anges purs

Charles Gounod - Faust : Acte V. No. 31 « Alerte, alerte » … « Anges purs » (Méphistophélès, Marguerite, Faust, Chœur)

Richard Bonynge, London Symphony Orchestra

La Wally, Act 1: Ebben? Ne andrò lontana

Alfredo Catalani - La Wally: Atto I. “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana” (Wally)

Vladimir Kamirski, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act 1: Madamina! Il catalogo è questo (Catalogue Aria)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Don Giovanni: Atto I. No. 4 Aria “Madamina, il catalogo è questo” (Leporello)

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act 2: Deh vieni alla finestra (Serenade)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Don Giovanni: Atto II. No. 16 Canzonetta “Deh vieni alla finestra” (Don Giovanni)

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo Sinfonico

Pietro Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo

Heribert Beissel, Klassische Philharmonie Telekom Bonn

Cavalleria Rusticana: Easter Hymn

Pietro Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana: “Regina coeli laetare” (Coro)

Gianandrea Gavazzeni, National Philharmonic Orchestra

L’incoronazione di Poppea, Sv 308, Act 3: Pur ti miro, pur ti godo

Claudio Monteverdi - L’incoronazione di Poppea: Atto III. “Pur ti miro” (Poppea, Nerone)

Antony Walker

Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt), Hwv 17, Act 1: Va tacito e nascosto

George Frideric Handel - Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17: Atto I, Scena IX, 14. Aria “Va tacito e nascosto” (Cesare)

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

Tosca, Act 3: E lucevan le stelle

Giacomo Puccini - Tosca: Atto III. “E lucevan le stelle” (Cavaradossi)

Lorin Maazel, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Jocelyn, op. 109. Act 2: Oh! Ne t'éveille pas encore (Berceuse)

Benjamin Godard - Jocelyn, op. 100: Acte II. Berceuse “Cachés dans cet asile”

Marco Guidarini, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Hobson

Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction From the Seraglio), K. 384, Act 3: O wie will ich triumphieren (Osmin’s Aria)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384: Akt III, Szene V. No. 19 Arie "Ha, wie will ich triumphieren" (Osmin)

Dobbs Franks, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Orfeo ed Euridice, Act 2: Dance of the Blessed Spirits

Christoph Willibald von Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30: Ballet in D minor “Dance of the Blessed Spirits”

Richard Divall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

The Bohemian Girl, Act 2: I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls

Michael William Balfe - The Bohemian Girl: Act 2 no. 3 “I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls”

Vladimir Kamirski, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra