Anyone knows some really good opera songs?

Question:i'm really a complete newbie when it comes to opera music.. all i know are Con te partirò (Time to say goodbye) and nessum dorma and i got introduced to them by paul potts' performance.. anyone know other good ones???

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i'm really a complete newbie when it comes to opera music.. all i know are Con te partirò (Time to say goodbye) and nessum dorma and i got introduced to them by paul potts' performance.. anyone know other good ones???

Sure... once you've listened to some real opera you'll have washed your hands of Paul Potts.

Here's a list of some of the best arias, duets, and choruses just to get you started (they're in no specific order, just off the top of my head):

"Il mio tesoro" from "Don Giovanni" by Mozart
"Finch'han dal vino" from "Don Giovanni" by Mozart
"Non pui andrai" from "Le nozze di Figaro" by Mozart
"Voi che sapete" from "Le nozze di Figaro" by Mozart
"Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja" from "Die Zauberflote" by Mozart
"Recondita armonia" from "Tosca" by Puccini
"E lucevan le stelle" from "Tosca" by Puccini
"Vissi d'arte" from Tosca" by Puccini
"Un bel di vedremo" from "Madama Butterfly" by Puccini
"Vogliatemi bene" from "Madama Butterfly" buy Puccini
"Che gelida manina" from "La boheme" by Puccini
"Mi chiamano Mimi" from "La bohme" by Puccini
"O soave fanciulla" from "La boheme" by Puccini
"O mio babbino caro" from "Gianni Schicchi" by Puccini
"Flower Song" from Carmen" by Bizet
"Toreador Song" from "Carmen" by Bizet
"Habanera" from "Carmen" by Bizet
"Un di all'azzurro spazio" from "Andrea Chénier" by Giordano
"La mamma morta" from "Andrea Chénier" by Giordano
"Vesti la giubba" from "Pagliacci" by Leoncavallo
"Va, pensiero" from "Il trovatore" by Verdi
"Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" from "Nabucco" by Verdi
"Celeste Aida" from "Aida" by Verdi
"Libiamo" from "La Traviata" by Verdi
"Ombra mai fu" from "Serse" by Handel
"Largo al factotum" from "Il barbiere di Siviglia" by Rossini
"Viens, Mallika" from "Lakme" by Delibes

Some of the best opera singers to listen to that come to mind are Jan Peerce, Robert Merrill, Jussi Bjorling, Dorthy Kirsten, Maria Callas, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Rise Stevens, Robert Weede, Licia Albanese, Lily Pons, John Brownlee, Nicolai Gedda, Grace Moore, and Ezio Pinza. You'll also really enjoy Mario Lanza.

Try to stay away from names like Michael Bolton and Andrea Bocelli because you'll think you're getting the full experience even though you're not.

Hope this helps!

the whole Carmina Burana opera by Orff is amazing

anythign from phantom of the opera

carmina burana is a stage play or oratorio, not an opera, and phantom of the opera is a musical, despite the title.
So, to get to real opera, I'd suggest you look up some standards:
the Magic Flute, by Mozart- has the famous aria for the character "Queen of the NIght" which takes the soprano up to the very highest notes she can sing.
Carmen, by Bizet, which has so many tunes in it that it would take all day to list. some of them you will recognize right off the bat, they have been used so often in movies and commericals.
La Traviata, by Verdi, that also has more tunes than you can shake a stick at.
if you can stand lots of sound, go for the whole opera of Turandot by Puccini ( that's where Nessun dorma comes from). Not all of it is hummable right off the bat, but extremely powerful and impressive stuff.
Once you have heard these operas, there will be no stopping for you! Welcome to the world of opera! have a good listen

I certainly agree with "opera singer" that neither Carmana Burana or Phantom of The Opera are real opera choices. And con te partiro is not a real opera "song" or aria in opera jargon.

So based on your post the only aria you've been introduced to is Nessun Dorma and the Paul Potts performance of that was severely truncated. At this point jumping into full opera's might be a bit much and you might be better served by acquainting yourself with other arias by other artists to find if you really like the genre.

Fortunately Youtube is available to you and it has a rich stock of operatic arias, duets. ensembles etc. by golden performers for you to sample without any cost except your time.

If you simply search by performer or aria on youtube you will find a great variety to sample. Just plug in "Nessun Dorma" and you will find versions by Corelli, Pavarotti, Bjorling,
di stefano... etc.

Or work the other way and use the performer name of the three I named above and you will find numerous examples of their work which will lead you to other artists and arias.

And you needn't ignore another tenor named Mario Lanza whose voice at it's best was very exciting. Give a listen to his circa 1950 recording (on youtube) of another Puccini favorite
Che Gelida Manina from La Boheme. The well known critic Irving Kolodin thought it the best on record and it's hard to argue with that.

There is much to listen to and fortunately right at your fingertips. Good luck and good listening.

Tony C