Best alternative rock wedding songs first dancengs: Best Loved Operas

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One of the most famous and loved operas of all time is Verdi's La Traviata. You will hear bits from the opera in films such as Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and the drinking song, Libiamo, is a favourite at corporate entertainment events. At opera galas, the leading heroine's arias are often featured, and it gives the soprano the chance to really shine as she showcases her coloratura, high notes and long melodic lines.

What is it about La Traviata that pulls so much on people's heartstrings? Let us have a look at this wonderful piece of music. The music is strikingly and achingly beautiful. It has the most lovely melodic lines, wonderful harmonies and musical depth. You can really understand the different characters from the music they sing.

The story of La Traviata is one that seems to grab audiences emotionally too. There are three main characters; Violetta (a soprano) who is a courtesan, her lover Alfredo (a tenor) as well as his father, Germont (a baritone). As with the majority of operas, there are smaller characters too, but in this case they are not that important to the story. The plot of La Traviata is quite straightforward for a change. Violetta and Alfredo fall in love. Alfredo's father Germont disapproves and manages to make Violetta leave. Despite being a courtesan, Violetta is a good-hearted woman and not interested in Alfredo's money. Alfredo doesn't understand why Violetta leaves. He is greatly upset and their parting is bitter. At the end of the opera, as Violetta is dying, Alfredo's father tells him the truth. Alfredo rushes to be at Violetta's side, but he is too late and Violetta dies soon after he gets there after just having maken amends.

La Traviata is based on a play adapted from a book by Alexandre Dumas called La Dame aux Camelias (The Lady of Camellias) from 1852.Verdi wanted the opera to have a contemporary setting, but the authorities at the famous opera house in Venice, La Fenice, insisted it had to be set in the past. The first performance took place there in 1853. It wasn't an overnight success, but that had a lot more to do with the leading lady, the soprano Fanny Salvini-Donatelli, who was deemed too old and too fat to be portraying a character who is dying from consumption. The audience also took a dislike to the professional opera singers singing Alfredo and Germont, and it was not till a few years later, and after a bit of revising by the composer that La Traviata started having more success. Today, in opera houses and at opera festivals all around the world, it never fails to wow audiences. At corporate entertainment events and opera galas, arias and duets from La Traviata will always impress and move people. It is without doubt one of the most loved operas of all time.

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