20 Most Famous Opera Songs of All Time

20 Most Famous Opera Songs of All Time

Opera songs are the most iconic songs to ever have been established. They are unforgettable songs in the history of music and they never quite grow old. Their unique rhythm and melody give them life and make them the kind of songs that remain relevant for generations. This is why these songs are still relevant to date and why so many years later, they are still quoted and listened to. They are the epitome of amazing vocal strength and range, emotional power, and quite definitely very creative and out-of-this-world composition. Here are some of the most 20 famous opera songs of all time.

1. “When I Was A Lad” by Gilbert and Sullivan

This is a song by Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, Pinafore. It is a comic solo that was sung by the character named Sir Joseph Porter, who is the first Lord of the Admiralty. In the comic, this song recounts the humble beginnings of Sir Porter and how he eventually managed to rise through the ranks. The song actually meant to poke fun at the British class system and how social connections and privilege are often considered more important than actual ability and merit. It is also a beautiful song with amazing vocals that just make it all the more beautiful.2

2. “Mein Herr Marquis” by Johann Strauss II

The song was first performed in Vienna in 1874. Since then the opera has become one of the best-known opera songs in the world. It is also popularly known as ‘Laughing Song’ or simply, ‘Adele’s Laughing Song.’ This is because it is a song about Adele who is a chambermaid that pretends to be a wealthy actress in order to attend a party.  In the performance, Adele laughs at the absurdity of the situation and how ridiculous she finds the people around her. Hence why it is popularly known as the laughing song.

3. “Habanera” by Bizet (Carmen)

This is another very famous opera song that was composed by the French composer, Georges Bizet. This song tells the story of a passionate woman named Carmen. She is a seductive gypsy woman and has an affair with a soldier named Don Jose and this affair is doomed from the word go. The song is considered a bit of a romantic song as it shows how beautiful Carmen is and what she generally thinks about love.

4. “Think Of Me” by Andrew Lloyd Webber

The song, ‘Think of Me’ is a soprano aria (in other words vocal solo) that was made popular in the musical theatre production, ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ It is based on a French novel that was written by Gaston Leroux. It tells a story about a mysterious and disfigured musical genius who basically lives in the shadows of the Paris Opera House. He ends up falling in love with a young soprano known as Christine. The song is sung and performed by Christine in the first act of the musical. This is the first time she performed on the stage of the Opera House.

5. “Casta Diva” by Bellini (Norma)

Casta Diva is sung by the character named Norma, who is a druid high priestess, in the first act of the opera, ‘Norma.’ The song is in Italian and it has a sad connotation to it that you cannot help but just be intrigued with. Its somber mood and flowing lines are just amazing. It begins with a prayer made to the goddess of the moon, asking for peace and mercy, then ends with a plea for her people to just be saved. It is quite a beautiful song. The message is deep and the mood is a mixture of sadness and somberness and still beautiful all the same.

6. “Weep You No More Sad Fountains” by John Dowland

This song by John Dowland is a very famous English art song that was composed by this very popular English Renaissance composer and lutenist in the 16th century. The title of the song is typically derived from the first line of the song which goes like, ‘Weep no more, sad fountains; what need do you flow so fast.’ The message of the song expresses feelings of sorrow and grief over a love that is lost and basically encourages anyone who listens to it,  to just move on from their sadness.  It is structured as a dialogue between a lover and a fountain where the lover is urging the fountain to stop weeping and save the tears for a more worthy cause. It is indeed a beautiful song. Very somber and melancholic

7. “The Queen of the Night’s Aria” by Mozart (The Magic Flute)

This is another opera song that takes on the dialogue form of delivery along with musical numbers. The story in the song is mostly about the adventures of Prince Tamino, who is sent by the Queen of the Night, to rescue her daughter named Pamino from the evil sorcerer by the name Sarastro. This song composed by the legendary Mozart doesn’t disappoint indeed.

8. “La Donna È Mobile” by Luciano Pavarotti

This is one of the most famous and popular arias in all of opera songs. Translated, the title means, ‘Woman is fickle.’ It alludes to the opinion of the duke on how women are fickle and cannot be easily trusted. Due to its popularity, it has been featured in so many movies, commercials, and even shows.

9. “Se Tu M’Ami” by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

This is a very powerful soprano aria sung by the character, Serpina, a cunning servant trying her very best to trick her master into marrying her. The title, which means, ‘If You Love Me,’ showcases Serpina telling her master that if he really loves her,  he would marry her immediately and stop pretending that he is indifferent towards her. Some of the most famous singers who have performed this song include, Cecilia Bartoli, Maria Callas, and even Renata Tebaldi.

10. “Notre Amour” by Barbara Hendricks

Notre Amour is probably one of the many opera songs that is really famous and quite popularly known. It illustrates the open romance that the French language can so easily adopt as this song is a French one. According to Barbara Hendricks, her performances are conversation-like with her audience because of the unique way she uses music to communicate effectively. This is probably why her works are so popular anyway. She starts performing and her audience already feels connected and involved from the word go.

11. “O Sole Mio” by Luciano Pavarotti

This song was initially composed in 1898 by Eduardo di Capua and within no time, it had become so popular all over Italy. It is a song about a man that is separated from his love and just longs for her return. The song is written and sung in a Neapolitan dialect hence its popularity. Moreover, it has been recorded by so many popular singers including Enrico Caruso and Andrea Bocelli. Lucio Pavarotti’s is however a bit more popular and well-known hence why most people think he is the original composer and performer of this song. It has been used in countless movies and TV shows including the legendary ‘Godfather.’ This hence shows how well-known and influential it really is.

12. “Largo Al Factotum” by Gioachino Rossini

This famous aria is sung by the character Figaro, a barber and jack of all trades character who is the main character of the opera. In the song, Figaro boasts of his skills and popularity where he describes himself as a character who can do anything for anyone hence the jack of all trade perception. The aria has also been featured in many films, TV shows, and commercials over the years. It has come to be known as the most recognizable and loved arias in the opera genre of music.

13. “Quando Me’n Vo’” by Musetta

Also known as ‘Musetta’s Waltz,’ Quando Me’n Vo is a typical soprano aria from the second act of Puccini’s 1896 classic, the famous ‘La Boheme.’ This piece is about a Musetta, a woman trying to get the attention of her boyfriend, Marcello who is very much detached, emotionally speaking. It has a somber mood that just makes it euphoric hence its popularity.

14. “Ride Of The Valkyries” by Richard Wagner

This piece by Richard Wagner is ranked among the most famous pieces of classical music.  It is a song meant to represent the Valkyries, a Norse mythology group of female warriors who get to decide which dead warriors will proceed to Valhalla, where the gods reside. The tune has been used often in films, TV shows and commercials, and other forms of popular culture. Its energetic nature makes it really popular and well suited for action scenes or moments of high tension. When performed live, you can’t help but just be carried away with the way it puts you on the edge of your seat.

15. “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Giacomo Puccini 

This is a piece sung in the second act of the Opera song, Gianni Schicchi. The title of this song translates to ‘Oh, my dear papa.’ It is a song about a young woman that is pleading with her father to allow her to marry the man she loves. It is kind of sad, and relatable to anyone trapped in a culture and society that glorifies and enforces arranged betrothals and marriages.

16. “Vivo Per Lei” by Andrea Bocelli

Vivo Per Lei is a popular Italian song that literally translates to ‘I Live for Her,’ in English. It was originally written by Andrea Bocelli, a popular Italian composer and the well-known lyricist, Mauro Mengali. It was released in 1995 as part of Bocelli’s album known by the same name.  It is a romantic song about how much the singer loves a woman who has changed his life. It has both Italian and English lyrics hence its popularity in both English and Italian-speaking localities.

17. “When I Am Laid In Earth” by Henry Purcell

Also known as ‘Dido’s Lament,’ this particular song is another famous aria from the English Opera, ‘Dido and Aeneas.’ It tells of a story of the tragic love affair between Dido, queen of Carthage and Aeneas, a prince. She sings about her sadness and fear of dying after her lover leaves her in order to follow his destiny.

18. “Ombra Mai Fu” by George Frideric Handel

This is another amazing and beautiful song from the opera, ‘Serse.’ It tells the story of the king of Persia by the name of Xerxes and his love for a plane tree. He sings quite a beautiful song of love to the tree while praising its shade and beauty. The song is often simply referred to as by the first line of it which means, ‘Never was their shade.’ This musician, George Frideric Handel is simply put, a legend.

19. “Au Fond Du Temple Saint” by Georges Bizet

This song is a duet from the opera, ‘Les pecheurs de perles.’ It tells the story of two fishermen who fall in love with the same woman. So a typical love triangle story. In the song, they sing of their friendship and vow to always support each other even if that means they have to sacrifice their desires and give up on the woman. It is thus a song about loyalty too hence why it is much more appreciated to date.

20. “Lacrimosa” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This particular piece is another well-known choral piece from the famous Mozart’s piece, Requiem Mass in D minor. It is one of his last compositions and unfortunately, he died before he could complete it. Probably why it is so popular and significant. It was later finished by Franz Xaver Sussmayr who was a student of the legendary Mozart. It is a very melancholic and sad song that talks about mercy and asking for forgiveness. It remains to be so popular and celebrated Mozart’s composition.

Opera songs remain to be popular to date after generations and generations of them being in play. It just goes to show how amazing they are and extremely creative that they have never faded over the years.