TOSCA

my thanks to my slovakian friend patricia for sharing one of her favorite arias with me on facebook. while i find much of opera is more enjoyably orchestrally, sans voices, there are many passages in which the human voice is indispensable. my favorite aria is "E Lucevan le Stelle" ("And the Stars Were Shining"), from giacomo puccini's opera Tosca. the artist cavaradossi is awaiting execution for fomenting political unrest, and is composing a final letter to his beloved tosca, unaware that she has arranged for his safety. i cannot hear the opening bars without becoming teary-eyed -- it breaks my heart. click on the links to the aria, and the opera description, and you'll see why. transcendent.