HABANERA
Carmen’s signature aria is opera at its very best. The Habanera steams with temperament and sexy flirtation, instantly leading the poor soldier Don José astray. The melody’s descending, chromatic scale more than hints at trouser or dress buttons being slowly unbuttoned one by one.
NESSUN DORMA
Pavarotti shot Puccini’s earworm from Turandot to the top of the charts worldwide when Nessun Dorma became a kind of soundtrack to the 1990 World Cup. The aria has become a so-called popera crossover, recorded by a host of popular artists in a multitude of arrangements – including for soprano.
BRINDISI
A fabulous ensemble number that really gets the party started at the home of the luxury prostitute LaTraviata. Verdi’s bubbly, irresistible drinking song celebrates life, wine and love in an infectious waltz rhythm.
SUMMERTIME
The beautiful, melancholic aria from Porgy and Bess is said to have been recorded in no less than 25,000 cover versions. Perhaps the best is Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong’s jazzy 1959 recording of Gershwin’s opera classic. Oscar Petterson delivers an immortal instrumental version on Live From Russia.
DONNA E MOBILE
Verdi knew he had written a smash hit. To prevent anyone from stealing the super catchy theme, the song was kept secret until the premiere of Rigoletto. Kvinden Er Uberegnelig is a beloved concert number and is used unabashedly in advertisements for just about anything.
