10 famous operas to (re)discover that left their mark on music history
Opera blends music, theater and emotion to tell stories that never leave you indifferent. This art form may impress, but it also knows how to make itself accessible. Some titles have become classics, precisely because they speak to everyone, without sacrificing their artistic standards: powerful arias, powerful stories, emotions at the top of the voice.
Intrigued by opera but don't know where to start? These ten masterpieces are an excellent starting point for discovering the richness and diversity of the operatic universe.
La Traviata (Giuseppe Verdi, 1853)
Synopsis
The opera follows the story of Violetta, a kind-hearted Parisian courtesan who falls in love with Alfredo Germont. Their love story, sincere and intense, collides with social pressures and illness. Violetta is forced to give up her happiness to preserve the honor of Alfredo's family. A poignant tale, driven by emotion and sacrifice, to a tragic end.
tone and ambience
It's a romantic drama in which the music expresses all the complexity of human emotions: love, jealousy, pain, courage. La Traviata is a very human opera, often considered Verdi's most accessible.
Famous songs
"Libiamo ne' lieti calici": a party duet that has become a classic, very convivial and catchy.
"Sempre libera": a virtuoso aria in which Violetta expresses her desire for freedom despite her feelings.
La Traviata - "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" at New York's Metropolitan Opera
Carmen (Georges Bizet, 1875)
Synopsis
Carmen, a free-spirited and provocative woman, seduces the soldier Don José, who gives up everything for her. But their passionate relationship turns tragic, with jealousy and fate setting in until Carmen's tragic death. The opera paints an intense portrait of passion, freedom and human conflict.
tone and ambience
Carmen is anything but boring: it's a rhythmic, sensual opera, with a colorful southern atmosphere. At its premiere, Carmen caused quite a scandal: its heroine, a free-spirited and provocative woman, surprised and shocked the Parisian public of the time.
Famous songs
"Love is a rebellious bird" (Habanera): a sensual aria in which Carmen sings her free vision of love.
"Your toast, I can give it back to you" (aria from Toréador): powerful, now very popular in opera.
Bizet died shortly after the premiere of Carmen, never to experience the success his opera would later enjoy.
Carmen - "Love is a rebellious bird" (Habanera) at New York's Metropolitan Opera
The Barber of Seville (Gioachino Rossini, 1816)
Synopsis
Count Almaviva, in love with Rosina, attempts to foil the plans of his tutor, Dr. Bartolo, with the help of Figaro, the clever and resourceful barber. Full of twists and misunderstandings, this is a comedy where love triumphs through ingenuity.
tone and ambience
Light and joyful, this opera is the epitome of bel canto comedy. The Barber of Seville is characterized by its lively humor, mischievous dialogue and virtuoso music.
Famous songs
"Largo al factotum": Figaro's virtuoso aria, emblematic of opera buffa.
"Una voce poco fa": aria in which Rosina makes her entrance, revealing her determination from the very first notes.
Rossini composed The Barber of Seville in just three weeks, a record for such a complex work.
The Barber of Seville - "Largo al factotum" (Peter Mattei) at New York's Metropolitan Opera
The Magic Flute (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1791)
Synopsis
Prince Tamino, guided by a magic flute, sets out to rescue Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night, who is the prisoner of a tyrannical priest. This tale combines adventure, magic and initiation, with a strong message about wisdom, love and light.
tone and ambience
At the crossroads of initiation tale and popular opera, The Magic Flute charms with its balance of fantasy, philosophy and humor. Mozart combines easy-to-remember arias with a symbolic narrative in a work that is accessible to all.
Famous songs
The "Air de la Reine de la nuit", famous for its extreme vocal virtuosity.
Papageno's songs are often light-hearted and humorous.
Mozart died a few weeks after the premiere of The Magic Flute, unaware of just how popular his work would become.
The Magic Flute - "Queen of the Night" at London's Royal Opera House
Madame Butterfly (Giacomo Puccini, 1904)
Synopsis
Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese woman, marries an American officer, Pinkerton. When he leaves her, she awaits his return with hope, until the terrible truth comes out. This drama explores the fragility of love in the face of cultural differences and illusions.
tone and ambience
An opera of great sensitivity, in which every note seems to underline the fragility of feelings and the violence of disenchantment. Puccini composes a score of rare intensity, imbued with poetry, tenderness and restrained tragedy.
Famous songs
"Un bel dì vedremo": an aria combining hope and pain.
"Coro a bocca chiusa": a highly expressive a cappella chorus.
Madame Butterfly - "Un bel dì vedremo" at the Opéra national de Paris
Don Giovanni (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1787)
Synopsis
An inveterate seducer, Don Giovanni multiplies his unscrupulous conquests, breaking hearts in the process. But his arrogance eventually catches up with him, and he is confronted with the consequences of his actions, until a final confrontation with his own demons. An opera of humor and drama, with growing tension.
tone and ambience
Don Giovanni is a two-faceted opera, at once dark and witty, tragic and comic. Mozart skilfully blends irony, lightness and gravity, in music of exceptional richness. The dramatic tension gradually builds to a gripping finale. An opera that questions morality while entertaining.
Famous songs
The duet "La ci darem la mano", tender and sensual.
The catalog aria ("Madamina, il catalogo è questo"), comical and rhythmic.
The dramatic final scene.
At its premiere, Don Giovanni divided audiences: some praised its dramatic richness, others were disturbed by the darkness of the main character, a cynical and elusive libertine.
Mozart's Don Giovanni performed by the Concert d'Astrée at the Opéra de Lille.
Faust (Charles Gounod, 1859)
Synopsis
Dr. Faust, disillusioned with knowledge and old age, makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles to regain his youth. Under a new guise, he seduces the gentle Marguerite, whom he then abandons, leaving her alone and disgraced. The opera follows Faust's descent into hell and Marguerite's tragic destiny, between passion, guilt and redemption.
tone and ambience
Romantic and dramatic, Faust seduces with its rich, contrasting music. The work immerses the listener in an atmosphere that is both haunting and tormented, carried by powerful themes of temptation, love and redemption.
Famous songs
"Le veau d'or", a festive chorus around Mephistopheles.
The aria "Salut! demeure chaste et pure" performed by Marguerite.
Faust - "The Golden Calf" at London's Royal Opera House
Rigoletto (Giuseppe Verdi, 1851)
Synopsis
Rigoletto tells the tragic story of the one-eyed court jester in Mantua, who tries to protect his daughter Gilda from the Duke's intrigues and debauchery. But machinations, vengeance and cruel fate turn their lives upside down, leading to a heartbreaking finale.
tone and ambience
Rigoletto is a powerful, theatrical opera in which Verdi combines dramatic intensity, social criticism and powerful psychological portraits. Each scene is carried by expressive, deeply human music.
💡 Rigoletto's title role is one of the most demanding for a baritone, requiring great vocal power.
Famous songs
"La donna è mobile", a famous, catchy aria sung by the Duke.
"Pari siamo", a dramatic duet between Rigoletto and his daughter.
The opera Rigoletto is inspired by Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse, which was banned in France for its critical portrayal of the court and nobility. Verdi and his librettist had to adapt the story to avoid Italian censorship.
Rigoletto - "La donna è mobile" at London's Royal Opera House
Turandot (Giacomo Puccini, 1926)
Synopsis
In a legendary China, Princess Turandot imposes a riddle on her suitors: whoever fails is condemned to death. Prince Calaf, madly in love, decides to take up the challenge, despite the dangers. Between mystery, love and sacrifice, the plot combines tension and passion right up to the denouement.
tone and ambience
Turandot is an opera steeped in mystery, in which the legendary world of China serves as the backdrop for a story of love and challenges. The music is captivating and long-lasting.
Famous songs
Calaf's signature aria "Nessun dorma", a symbol of victory and hope.
"In questa reggia", monologue from Turandot
Turandot, Puccini - Verona Opera Festival 2024.
Les contes d'Hoffmann (Jacques Offenbach, 1881)
Synopsis
The opera follows the poet Hoffmann as he recounts his three great tormented love stories, each marked by fantastic and mysterious adventures. Through these tales, reality and dreams mingle, revealing the passions, illusions and deceptions that haunt Hoffmann. Each tale features characters with extraordinary destinies, combining enchantment, betrayal and magical figures, and explores the fragile boundary between reality and fantasy.
tone and ambience
Les Contes d'Hoffmann offers a journey between dream and reality, with each tableau exploring a different universe. Offenbach weaves a spellbinding, melancholy atmosphere, supported by rich, expressive musical writing. This opera is both a tribute to artistic creativity and a plunge into the intricacies of the human soul.
Famous songs
The aria "Les oiseaux dans la charmille", sung by a mechanical doll.
"Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour", a passionate, waltz-like duet.
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - "Les oiseaux dans la charmille" (Kathleen Kim) at New York's Metropolitan Opera.
The vocabulary you need to understand opera
Opera has its own language. Here are a few terms to get you started.
Aria: an aria sung by a soloist. It is often the most striking and technically demanding part of the opera.
Recitative: a spoken-like song that moves the plot forward rapidly. It links the arias together and the dialogue.
Chorus: a group of singers usually representing a crowd or group of characters.
Mise en scène: all the artistic choices that bring the opera to life on stage: sets, costumes, lighting and movement of the artists.
Libretto: the opera text, i.e. the lyrics sung by the artists.
Act: a large part of the opera, comparable to a chapter in a book.
Opera styles: a journey to the heart of lyrical diversity
Opera comes in many styles, depending on the country and the period. The best-known are Italian, French and German opera, each with its own musical particularities.
Italian opera is characterized by its lyrical, expressive melodies, often featuring great solo voices and memorable arias. Verdi and Puccini are the great masters, capable of thrilling an entire hall with just a few notes.
French opera relies on a balance between music and text, with the libretto guiding the narrative. Bizet and Gounod created works that are both musical and deeply sensitive.
German opera explores deeper, sometimes darker worlds, with dense music, thought out down to the smallest detail. Wagner, for example, blends orchestral grandeur with philosophical reflection.
The evolution of opera through the centuries
Opera is an art form that has evolved considerably since its birth in late XVIᵉ century Italy. Initially, opera sought to recreate Greek antiquity by blending music and theater in new ways. We speak ofBaroque opera (e.g. Monteverdi) where ornate music and virtuoso singing dominated.
In the XVIIIᵉ century, with composers like Mozart, opera gained a better balance between music and drama, with more complex plots and deeper characters. Classicism brings clarity and elegance.
In the XIXᵉ century,Romantic opera (Verdi, Puccini) became more passionate, with strong emotions, tragic stories and a more powerful orchestra. Verism, a sub-genre, shows everyday life with raw realism.
Finally, in the XXᵉ century and beyond, opera continues to reinvent itself, often blending classical styles with modernity, incorporating new technologies, daring stagings and contemporary subjects.
Even today, opera touches us with its ability to convey universal emotions: love, joy, doubt, revolt... everything is intensely experienced. This dialogue between music and theater creates a unique artistic experience, where the voice, the gaze and the silences themselves tell a story.
First steps at the opera: our tips for making the most of it
1. Choose an accessible opera
For a first experience of opera, opt for a short or famous work, with well-known arias (such as Carmen, The Magic Flute or La Traviata). It's often easier to get started.
2. Read a summary before the show
Understanding the story in advance helps you follow what's happening on stage, especially if the opera is sung in a foreign language.
3. Don't freeze if you don't understand the details
As with a film in VO, you can let yourself be carried away by the music, the voices, the emotions... without taking it all in word for word.
4. Locate surtitles
Most operas are surtitled in French: the lyrics are projected above the stage. Don't hesitate to take a look to follow the action.
5. Make yourself comfortable and let yourself be surprised
Opera is an immersive experience. There's no need to analyze everything: just listen, observe and feel. It's normal to be moved, amused or even baffled.
6. Dress code? Keep it simple
There's no need to break out the tuxedo: these days, you can go to the opera in jeans, a dress or a shirt. The most important thing is to be comfortable.
Newzik: the must-have app for music fans
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