Famous Italian Operas, famous popular and tragedy operas.

The Famous Italian Operas

Do You love Italian Culture? Famous italian Operas? Operas love story? Tragedy operas? Funny operas?

Here I have listed the famous popular operas in alphabetical order with information about the Authors of the music and the libretto.

By the way, near Lake Garda, there is the city of Verona with its world famous ancient Arena and the really popular Opera Season.

Visit our Shop, with many Operas related items.

• AIDA, by Giuseppe Verdi.
One of the most famous italian Opera, it is a melodram in four acts of Giuseppe Verdi,
libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, from a subject of Auguste Mariette.
The first representation was at "Kedivial Opera House ",
Cairo Egypt on December 24, 1871 in occasion of the inauguration of Suez Canal.

• ANDREA CHENIER, by Umberto Giordano.
It is an Opera in four pictures of Umberto Giordano on the libretto by
Luigi Illica. The first performance was at "Teatro alla Scala"
(the Scala Theatre, one of the most famous italian theatres) in Milan on March 28, 1896.

• ATTILA, by Giuseppe Verdi.
It is a liric Drama with an introduction and three acts of
Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Temistocle Solera, from the Tragedy
"Attila, Koning der Hunnem" of Zacharias Werner.
The first representation was done at the "Teatro La Fenice"
(La Fenice Theatre) in Venice on March 17, 1846.

• CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, by Pietro Mascagni.
It is a liric Opera in one single act of Pietro Mascagni, italian libretto
by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, from
the Novel of Giovanni Verga. The first representation was at the
"Teatro Costanzi" (Costanzi Theatre) in Rome on May 17, 1890.

• COSI' FAN TUTTE, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(Note: Mozart is listed because of the Opera italian libretto).
It is an Opera in two acts of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
italian libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte based on a true Story.
The first representation was at the "Burgtheater" in Vienna, Austria on January 26, 1790.

• DON PASQUALE, by Gaetano Donizetti.
This is an "Opera buffa" (funny Opera) in three acts, libretto by Giovanni Ruffini
and Gaetano Donizetti.The first rapresentation was in Paris at the "Théâtre des Italiens" on January 3, 1843.

• EDGAR,
by Giacomo Puccini.
This famous italian Opera was first developed in four acts,
then rielaborate and reduced to three acts by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Ferdinando Fontana
from the dramatic Poem "La coupe et les lèvres" of Alfred de Musset.
The first rapresentation was at "Teatro alla Scala" in Milan on April 21, 1889.

• ERNANI, by Giuseppe Verdi.
It is a liric Drama in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi,
libretto by Francesco Maria Piave from the homonymous drama of Victor Hugo.
The first rapresentation was at "Teatro La Fenice" (La Fenice Theatre), in Venice on March 9, 1844.

• FALSTAFF, by Giuseppe Verdi.
Famous italian Opera, is the last of Giuseppe Verdi, composed of three Acts, libretto by Arrigo Boito,
based on "Le allegre comari di Windsor" (William Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor").
The first rapresentation was at the "Teatro alla Scala" (the Scala Theatre), in Milan on February 9, 1893.

• GIANNI SCHICCHI, by Giacomo Puccini.
It is an Opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano,
based on a story that is referred to in Dante's "The Divine Comedy". The first performance was at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on December 14, 1918.

• IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, by Gioachino Rossini.
This is a very famous italian Opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini,
libretto by Cesare Sterbini from the homonymous comedy by P. Augustin Beaumarchais.
The first representation was at "Teatro Argentina" in Rome, on February 20, 1816.

• I LOMBARDI ALLA PRIMA CROCIATA, by Giuseppe Verdi.
It is an Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by
Temistocle Solera. The first representation was held at
"Teatro alla Scala", in Milan on February 11, 1847.

• LA BOHEME, by Giacomo Puccini.
Another famous italian Opera in four pictures by Giacomo Puccini,
libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, from the Novel "Scenes de la vie de Boheme"
by Henry Murger. The first representation was at "Teatro Regio"(King's Theatre), in Turin on February 1st 1896, directed by
the Maestro Arturo Toscanini.

• LA TRAVIATA, by Giuseppe Verdi.
Melodrama in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave,
from "La dame aux camelias" by Alexandre Dumas.
The first representation was at "Teatro La Fenice" in Venice,
on March 6, 1853.

• MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Madame Butterfly), by Giacomo Puccini.
Very famous italian Opera, originally in two acts by Giacomo Puccini (current version in three acts), with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is based on the short story "Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Luther Long and on the novel "Madame Chrysanthème" (1887) by Pierre Loti. The original version of one of the most famous italian operas, in two acts, was premiered on February 17, 1904, at Teatro "Alla Scala" in Milan.

Madame Butterfly, Arena of Verona

• MANON LESCAUT, by Giacomo Puccini.
It is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini. The story is based on the 1731 novel "L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut" by the Abbé Prévost. The italian libretto was put togheter by Ruggero Leoncavallo, Domenico Oliva, Giuseppe Giacosa, Marco Praga and Luigi Illica.The first performance of Manon Lescaut took place in the Teatro Regio in Turin in 1893. It was Puccini's third opera and his first great success.

• OTELLO, by Giuseppe Verdi.
This is a famous italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi in four acts, Arrigo Boito's libretto, it was based on Shakespeare's "Othello". It was Verdi's second to last opera and it is considered by many to be his greatest.
The first performance was held at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan,
on February 5, 1887.

• PAGLIACCI, by Ruggero Leoncavallo.
Also known as "I Pagliacci" (Players, Clowns) is an opera consisting of a prologue and two acts written and composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It premiered at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan on May 21, 1892,
conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

• RIGOLETTO, by Giuseppe Verdi.
It is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, the Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play "Le roi s'amuse" by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851.

• SUOR ANGELICA by Giacomo Puccini.
Opera in one single act by Giovacchino Forzano and music
by Giacomo Puccini.
It received its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on December 14, 1918.

• TOSCA, by Giacomo Puccini.
Lyric Opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Luigi Illica
and Giuseppe Giacosa, from homonymous drama of Victorien Sardou.
The first representation was at "Teatro Costanzi" in Rome on January 14, 1900.

• TURANDOT, by Giacomo Puccini.
It is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni.The first performance was held at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan on 25 April 1926 and conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

• I VESPRI SICILIANI, by Giuseppe Verdi.
It is a famous italian Opera in five acts by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Eugene Scribe and Charles Duveyrier, inspired by the "Vespri Siciliani" story.
The first representation was at the "Opéra" Theatre in Paris on June 13, 1855.

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