Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsEventsOn DemandOur StoryOur TeamWays to Give Become a Sponsor
How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersAnnual EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

Visit Help CenterContact UsHow to Listen

©2025 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceLocal Public FilesCPB ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity

articles / Classical California Ultimate Playlist

5 Must Hear (and See!) Operatic Performances

Classical California Ultimate Playlist OperaPlaylistCulture


A scene from Verdi’s “La Traviata” | Orthorhombic / CC BY

Need a dash of inspiration to help you vote for this year’s Classical California Ultimate Playlist? Our resident opera expert, Jennifer Miller Hammel, put together this opera favorite playlist to inspire you to discover new pieces or relive favorites.

Ah! je ris de me voir si belle (The Jewel Song)
Charles Gounod: Faust

A sparkling moment for heroine Marguerite which gives her an opportunity to vocally show off while not taking herself too seriously.

Au fond du temple saint
Georges Bizet: The Pearl Fishers

Two best friends vow their bond is more important than that of the woman they both love, even though she has still captured their hearts.

Es gibt ein Reich
Richard Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

High drama and rich singing that leaves you speechless until the last note.

Di provenza il mar
Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata

It’s easy to be disappointed with Germont in this moment, but how can you with an aria this beautiful.

Ah! Mes amis, quel jour fete!
Gaetano Donizetti: La fille du regiment

A joyous, acrobatic aria that was delivered with such finesse and exuberance by Javier Camarena at the Met that it demanded a rare encore. A moment of musical magic and triumph. And here it is!

Vote Now in the Classical California Ultimate Playlist
Classical California Ultimate Playlist OperaPlaylistCulture
Written by:
Jennifer Miller Hammel
Jennifer Miller Hammel
Published on 08.04.2022
Loading...

MORE LIKE THIS

Opera’s Ultimate Five-Minute Interlude: The Meditation from “Thais”

Opera’s Ultimate Five-Minute Interlude: The Meditation from “Thais”

Explore the enduring appeal of Jules Massenet's "Meditation from Thaïs", a five-minute interlude that has become a beloved piece in the classical music repertoire.

09/19/2024
The Many Lives of the “The Flower Duet”

The Many Lives of the “The Flower Duet”

Explore the #75 entry on the Classical California Ultimate Playlist: the Flower Duet from Delibes' opera Lakme. Discover its use in TV, film, and creative remixes.

09/13/2021
Your Ultimate Choral Playlist

Your Ultimate Choral Playlist

Explore Brian Lauritzen's top picks for the Classical California Ultimate Playlist, featuring diverse choral works from Beethoven to Ellington. Vote for your favorites now!

09/11/2020
A Modern Music Playlist to Inspire You

A Modern Music Playlist to Inspire You

Explore Alan Chapman's playlist for the Classical California Ultimate Playlist vote, featuring works from modern composers like Tan Dun, Arvo Pärt, and Jennifer Higdon.

09/04/2020
For Your Consideration: A California Playlist

For Your Consideration: A California Playlist

Vote for your favorite Californian classical pieces to be included in the Classical California Ultimate Playlist. Pieces by Andrew York, Henry Cowell, Jake Heggie, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Jerry Goldsmith are up for consideration.

09/01/2020
Take Our Movie Music Quiz

Take Our Movie Music Quiz

Vote for your favorite film soundtracks in the Classical California Ultimate Playlist. Can you identify all 17 films listed? Participate in our quiz and cast your vote now!

08/20/2020