10 Famous Italian Operas

Famous Italian Opera Gala

Many of us, when we hear the word “opera”, instantly think of famous Italian operas.

For most people, opera is associated with the

• beautiful Italian language
• passionate Italian composers
• vibrant Italian culture
• stormy Italian history
• Italy, where opera was born. For some, even famous Italian fashion designers come to mind.

Somehow, singing or hearing a love aria sung in Italian is very romantic! After all, we all seem to understand the word amore, even if we don’t know Italian.

And, when it’s a famous opera singer performing the Italian love song, then many of us just soar into the clouds.

If you can’t wait, click here for the list of 10 famous Italian operas everyone ought to know.

How Much Do We Really Know About Famous Italian Operas?

What do the names

• Amilcare
• Giuseppe
• Gioachino
• Gaetano
• Giacomo
• Pietro
• Ruggero
• Vincenzo

have in common?

Move your mouse over each name above to get a clue
or
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the answer.

Why do Most People Think Italian, When They Think of Famous Operas?

Italian Opera Concert

To answer that question, we should probably ask a few more detailed questions.

Where did opera originate? In Italy. Italy is the land, where opera was born, the land of the beginnings of opera. Of course, it wasn’t called Italy at that time.

• Venice
• Florence
• Rome are the Italian cities where opera began. Today, opera continues to flourish in Italy –
• Milan (La Scala)
• Naples (Teatro San Carlo)
• Pisa (Teatro Verdi).

Who wrote the first opera? An Italian, of course. The formal name that was first used in the 17th century was opera di musica – “a work in music”. There is some discussion as to which should really be considered the first opera. The choice is:

• Dafne composed by Jacopo Corsi and Jacopo Peri to Ottavio Runuccini’s libretto, performed in Florence in 1598
• Rappresentatione di anima at di corpo composed by Emilio de’ Cavalieri to the text of a sacred morality play, performed in Rome in 1600
• L’Orfeo composed by Claudio Monteverdi to a libretto by Alessandro Striggio, performed in Mantua in 1607. But, there is no doubt! They were all composed by Italians.

Who invented opera? The Italians. And, famous Italian opera singers continue to cultivate the best of Italian opera as part of popular culture. Who can forget Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo and the opening of the 1990 World Cup and what they did to popularize opera!

Who started opera? The Italians, of course. Opera began in the royal courts of the Italian artistocracy in the 17th century. The artists and craftsmen, who put on the opera productions were employed by the court on a full-time basis. After attending the productions, the diplomats and invited guests would write letters to their friends and family at the many other royal courts in Europe. In these letters, they would describe the magnificence and splendour of the spectacle.

A List of Operas That are Famous and Italian

Famous Italian Operas

The following is a list of 10 Italian operas

• composed in Italy by Italian composers
• written in Italian by Italian librettists
• enjoyed and appreciated by opera lovers around the world.

As we add more information, you will be able to click on the names of these famous Italian operas and see and hear excerpts from them. (Please be patient! And, do come back!)

1. Aida, by GiuseppeVerdi
2. Cavalleria Rusticana, by Pietro Mascagni
3. Il Barbiere de Siviglia, by Gioachino Rossini
4. La Gioconda, by Amilcare Ponchielli
5. La traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi
6. L’elisir d’amore, by Gaetano Donizetti
7. Madama Butterfly, by Giacomo Puccini
8. Nabucco, by Giuseppe Verdi
9. Norma, by Vincenzo Bellini
10. Pagliacci, by Ruggero Leoncavallo

What Are the Names of Famous Opera Composers of Italian Origin?

Famous Opera Composers

So, what do the names: Amilcare, Giuseppe, Gioachino, Gaetano, Giacomo, Pietro, Ruggero and Vicenzo have in common?

They are the names of famous Italian opera composers, who wrote the 10 famous Italian operas listed above.

What are the Benefits of Italian Opera?

Today, opera is a major cultural export for Italy. Italian opera stimulates people to learn the Italian language and the history of the Italian people. Wanting to see an opera and visit the famous Italian opera houses, encourages people to travel to Italy.

When you travel through the villages of Italy, you may find that at the local trattoria they will be singing a famous opera aria in Italian rather than the popular songs currently on the hit-charts.