Best Aria ever written

Some folks have already mentioned.....La Mama Morta (Maria Callas is absolutely brilliant) and Ah, Mes Amis "La Fille Du Regiment". My absolutel favorite Aria is In questa Reggia from Puccini's 'Turandot'. I'm a big Puccini fan, especially Turandot and Tosca. Nessun Dorma, E Lucevan le Stelle. They are all cliche because Domingo and Pavarotti have both done a ton of Puccini, making it pop-culture, but I love it. Candide is definitely an Operetta. It's not nearly as much purely spoken dialogue as a standard musical, and the style of it fits a more classical singing style and therefore, I will proudly list Glitter and be Gay as another favorite. Don't be fooled by the comedy, and english. It's definitely an aria. Though I would take Renee Fleming singing it over Kristin Chenoweth any day. Kristin plays the comedy(which works better in the context of the entire show), but for a standalone performance , Renee's voice is far superior, especially in the higher passages. But I'm rambling... Lastly...Natalie Desay(spelling) as the Queen of the Night singing "Der Holle Racht" the signature aria. Mozart is a lunatic for writing it, but if you have someone who can sing it, and well, more power to them. Desay (you can find her on youtube,i don't feel like linking) is so intimidating when she sings it, as the aria should be, opposed to typical fluffy approach to mozart, and that song in particular. Yeah, it requires the utmost technique, but the character is pissed off, it should sound like it..

I prefer the aria from Sweeney Todd, " Green Finch and Linnet Bird" the extended version. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics.

"Green Finch and Linnet Bird

Nightingale, Blackbird

How is it you Sing?

How can you jubilate

Sitting in cages

Never taking wing?

Outside the sky waits

Beckoning, Beckoning

Just beyond the bars

How can you remain

Staring at the rain,

Maddened by the Stars?

How is it you Sing

Anything?

How is it you Sing?

Ringdove and robinet,

Is it for wages,

Singing to be sold?

Have you decided it's

Safer in cages,

Singing when you're told?

My cage has many rooms, Damask and dark.

Nothing there sings,

Not even my lark.

Larks never will, you know,

When they're captive.

Teach me to be more adaptive.

Green finch and linnet bird,

Nightingale, blackbird,

Teach me how to sing.

If I cannot fly,

Let me sing."

Agreed.

The arias from Nixon in China are great.

When talking of Mozart's Aria, "Der Holle Racht"

... Natalie Desay]is so intimidating when she sings it, as the aria should be, opposed to typical fluffy approach to mozart, and that song in particular.

It was probably because she was singing Opera... in German!

It's cliche but any "best aria ever" has to be, and I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned yet, "Un bel di vedremo" from Madame Butterfly. I'm sure most people have heard about a billion renditions of it but the best, to me, is Ying Huang's from the film. Every other Cio Cio San sounds way too harsh and heavy handed after listening to her. I believe you can find it pretty easily on YouTube.

Almost forgot, "Vesti la giubba" from Pagliacci should be at least close to the best aria ever written. The story for that opera, which has the rare qualities for the genre of depth and innovation, makes that aria particularly poignant. It's perfect drama. How many arias do you know that can say so much with two simple words such as "laugh Pagliaccio"?

It's cliche but any "best aria ever" has to be, and I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned yet, "Un bel di vedremo" from Madame Butterfly. I'm sure most people have heard about a billion renditions of it but the best, to me, is Ying Huang's from the film. Every other Cio Cio San sounds way too harsh and heavy handed after listening to her. I believe you can find it pretty easily on YouTube.

Almost forgot, "Vesti la giubba" from Pagliacci should be at least close to the best aria ever written. The story for that opera, which has the rare qualities for the genre of depth and innovation, makes that aria particularly poignant. It's perfect drama. How many arias do you know that can say so much with two simple words such as "laugh Pagliaccio"?

You are my favorite person ever.

Not going to say its the best aria ever, but going to throw the aria "Ein M

I think Liebestod from Tristan is quite yummy...:)

Nessum Dorma, the aria that makes a tenor!