two of my favourite opera arias...

[Michel.R.E]

these are arias I've known all my life, since I started accompanying opera singers at the age of 17.

the first one is a beautiful lesson in "how to write for the male voice".

Il Cavallo Scalpita

the second excerpt is one that has been horribly over-used, misunderstood, and parodied. but it's beautiful word-painting, the music so perfectly rendering the complex emotional lyric. Notice the sudden shifts back and forth between major mode and minor modes.
Vesti la giubba

 

[whitebark]

Both arias are wonderful - thanks for posting the links

Jay

[sandalwood]

Thanks Michel!

[Michel.R.E]

by the way, double-features of these two operas (they are often performed as a pair because of their popularity) are known by an affectionate pet name..

[Jerry Engelbach]

by the way, double-features of these two operas (they are often performed as a pair because of their popularity) are known by an affectionate pet name..

Michel,
 

We used to call them "Ham and Eggs."
 
Cheers,
Jer