Any Opera Fans? Please share your favorite aria- here's mine.

Greetings ATS!
I was listening to some of my favorite music tonight- the kind that can actually make me weep.. and thought I'd share it in hopes that there were some other opera fans on ATS tonight that could share their favorite gorgeous aria in return.
I love so many arias but keep coming back to this one- Vissi D'Arte, sung by Maria Callas.
If it gets any more emotive than this, I don't think I want to hear. This song gets me down to the core.
Please take a moment to enjoy some amazing music. I'll post the lyrics under the video.
Peace my friends. Don't forget to take some time to enjoy life to the fullest.



Vissi d'arte, Tosca's aria from Tosca

Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore,
non feci mai male ad anima viva!
Con man furtiva
quante miserie conobbi aiutai.
Sempre con fč sincera
la mia preghiera
ai santi tabernacoli salě.
Sempre con fč sincera
diedi fiori agl’altar.
Nell’ora del dolore
perchč, perchč, Signore,
perchč me ne rimuneri cosě?
Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto,
e diedi il canto agli astri, al ciel,
che ne ridean piů belli.
Nell’ora del dolor
perchč, perchč, Signor,
ah, perchč me ne rimuneri cosě?

I lived for my art, I lived for love,
I never did harm to a living soul!
With a secret hand
I relieved as many misfortunes as I knew of.
Always with true faith
my prayer
rose to the holy shrines.
Always with true faith
I gave flowers to the altar.
In the hour of grief
why, why, o Lord,
why do you reward me thus?
I gave jewels for the Madonna’s mantle,
and I gave my song to the stars, to heaven,
which smiled with more beauty.
In the hour of grief
why, why, o Lord,
ah, why do you reward me thus?


"I lived for my art, I lived for love." I just adore that line.

Goodnight all.

Dido's Lament, "When I am Laid in Earth." Purcell,
Dido and Aeneas.

a reply to: zosimov
This one from Carmen.
This specific production, which I've recorded from TV.


With honourable mentions to this one;

Barbara Frittoli-sono andati...fingevo di dormire


Absolutely glorious when she hits the high soprano notes in this song !

Those were all so lovely.. thanks!

Here's some tenor to add to our collection. (Sure you've heard this one but so good!)



Here's a short one that I've come to love:

originally posted by: zosimov
Here's some tenor to add to our collection. (Sure you've heard this one but so good!)

Nearly every English male over 30 probably knows this version better.

This gets me every time. I first heard it as the libretto in the movie Hannibal. Beautiful. Wrenching.

Libretto from Dante's La Vita Nuova.

Ha, I didn't know that! Which of the three tenors is your favorite?

Here's another Pavarotti

a reply to: zosimov

They are all stellar, but my heart is with Pavarotti. His force, passion and emotion would be enough, but then consider his precise tonal range and timbre. Really miss him.

originally posted by: argentus
a reply to: zosimov

They are all stellar, but my heart is with Pavarotti. His force, passion and emotion would be enough, but then consider his precise tonal range and timbre. Really miss him.

I hadn't considered that question before I asked.. but I think I agree! The performance I linked above was from the year I was born. The audience erupts once his final note dies down. Amazing.

I love the song you linked- thanks!

Beniamino Gigli untouchable with this one!



Takes me to another time and place

This one's for ATS:

Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro. I chose the Maria Callas version for you:

a reply to: berenike

Thank you! I do love her voice so..

And I am a huge Puccini fan.

Beautiful.

The Phantom of The Opera still takes my breath away!

a reply to: Martin75

I really love Sarah Brightman's voice too! Thanks

Mario Lanza - Vesti la giubba

a reply to: DaphneApollo

Thank you for posting! What a powerful song but also an amazing version!

And sincere thanks to everyone who has added their lovely songs to the thread.

I love Turandot so much, and not only for Nessun Dorma.



And also this one (very different!)- from Tosca

a reply to: zosimov

Story goes, when Enrico Caruso died, Mario Lanza was born and so Lanza was believed to be the reincarnation of Caruso. At least he was his most aspired to Tenor.

ENRICO CARUSO SINGS " AGNUS DEI " 1935


Thanks for the culturally enriching thread !

Love Puccini...

originally posted by: DaphneApollo


Story goes, when Enrico Caruso died, Mario Lanza was born and so Lanza was believed to be the reincarnation of Caruso. At least he was his most aspired to Tenor.

Thanks for the interesting trivia (not the trivial kind )

And thank you for enriching my thread.