Opera as a genre is a thrilling combination of music and drama.

Opera gives us stories of love, fear, sadness, joy and many more besides. The
emotions conveyed by a piece of opera music is a natural pairing with the
emotions that we feel when we go to the movies.

Directors often feature famous opera songs in their movies to heighten the
emotions of a dramatic scene.

Join us on a musical journey through some of the best and most popular opera
songs used in movies that you’re bound to have seen.

## Apocalypse Now – Ride of the Valkyries

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/VE03Lqm3nbI?feature=oembed)

Video

In Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam war classic the soldiers in the movie, play
‘Ride of the Valkyries’ on their speakers in their helicopter in order to gear
themselves up for battle.

This piece of music comes ‘Die Walkure’ or [_The
Valkyrie_](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-valkyrie/) which is the first opera
in [Richard Wagner](https://www.eno.org/composers/richard-wagner/)‘s epic Ring
Cycle.

[Read our beginner’s guide to Wagner](https://www.eno.org/discover-
opera/operas/the-beginners-guide-to-wagner/)

Released in 1979, Apocalypse Now was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won
for Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s book, Heart of Darkness, the film follows the
journey of a US Soldier, Willard, played by Martin Sheen, who is given a
secret mission is to find and kill Colonel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando, a
rouge Special Forces soldier who has set up his own private army deep in the
Vietnamese jungle. Willard, accompanied by a group of soldiers, travel away
from the relative safety of Saigon and journey by boat down the Nung River
deeper into the jungle and come face to face with the horror of the Vietnam
War.

###

Watch The ENO Orchestra perform Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’.

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/2PSo5ygerMc?feature=oembed)

Video

## Up – Habenera

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/igIDnBhOo2w?feature=oembed)

Video

At the beginning of this Disney movie, an instrumental version of the
‘Habenera’ from _Carmen_ by [Bizet](https://www.eno.org/composers/georges-
bizet/) plays.

[Discover Carmen](https://www.eno.org/operas/carmen/)

Up begins with an emotional scene which shows the life of Carl and Ellie – how
they meet as children, marry, go through infertility problems before enjoying
their long life together until Ellie’s death from illness. The _Habenera_
plays over the new normal of Carl’s life. It is one of solitude after the
death of Ellie.

Ellie and Carl had always planned to visit Paradise Falls in South America but
a long life had diminished their savings. Carl decides to go by himself. He
astonishes his neighbours by tying hundreds of helium balloons to the house so
that he can fly there in comfort of his own home with all of his belongings.
However, a local explorer scout, Russell has accidentally stowed away in the
house and travels with Carl on his great adventure into the wilds of the
jungle.

###

Listen to [Ginger Costa-Jackson](https://www.eno.org/artists/ginger-costa-
jackson/) sing ‘Habanera’ from Bizet’s Carmen with the ENO Chorus and
Orchestra

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJVBCIOTlFs?feature=oembed)

Video

## Pretty Woman – La traviata

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/G7rmEdj8c90?feature=oembed)

Video

In Garry Marshall’s 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Gere’s
character, Edward, takes Roberts’ character, Vivian, on a night out to her
first opera.

The opera they see is [_La traviata_](https://www.eno.org/operas/la-
traviata/)by [Verdi](https://www.eno.org/composers/giuseppe-verdi/). In the
movie, the character Violetta, sings ‘Sempre Libera’, then she sings ‘Amami,
Alfredo’.

[Read our beginner’s guide to Verdi](https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/the-
beginners-guide-to-verdi/)

The film Pretty Woman is a modern day fairytale with shades of Cinderella and
My Fair Lady.

Businessman Edward is spending the week in Los Angeles for work and hires
Hollywood Boulevard prostitute, Vivian, to be his escort for the week to
various work events. Vivian turns to hotel manager, Barney, and his team for
help with her clothes and social skills. And over the week Edward and Vivian
fall in love. Julia Roberts was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for this
film.

###

Watch soprano Claudia Boyle as Violetta with tenor Lukhanyo Moyake as Alfredo
sing _Love me, Alfredo (Amami, Alfredo)_ from ENO’s 2018 production of _La
traviata_.

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/143H7DgvZyQ?feature=oembed)

Video

## Avengers: Age of Ultron – Casta Diva

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/bFzvc2pE3CI?feature=oembed)

Video

In this superhero movie, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner aka The Hulk listens to
the song ‘Casta Diva’ from the opera _Norma_.

He uses the music to calm himself down after a big battle with the other
Avengers.

[Discover Norma](https://www.eno.org/operas/norma/)

The Avengers: Age of Ultron is the sequel to the smash hit movie The Avengers
which the Marvel superheros – Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Captain America, Black
Widow, Hawkeye and others team up to save the planet.

In this film Ultron, a peacekeeping program created by Tony Stark/Iron Man,
becomes sentient after AI from Loki’s scepter is added to it. Ultron decides
that to make the world better, he needs to kill all the humans. The Avengers
team up again to prevent the destruction of humankind.

###

Watch soprano Majorie Owens sing “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s
[_Norma_](https://www.eno.org/operas/norma/).

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/HUxZ7JxjgnU?feature=oembed)

Video

## Happy Feet Two – E Lucevan le stelle

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/jQPL3K0pGQw?feature=oembed)

Video

In this movie, the baby penguin, Erik, sings an adapted version of the song “E
lucevan le stelle” (“And the stars were shining”). This aria is also from the
opera [_Tosca_ ](https://www.eno.org/operas/tosca/)by [Giacomo
Puccini](https://www.eno.org/composers/giacomo-puccini/).

[Where have I heard the music of Tosca?](https://www.eno.org/discover-
opera/explore-more/where-have-i-heard-the-music-of-tosca/)

Happy Feet Two is a sequel to the Academy Award-winning animated film Happy
Feet, Antarctica is again the setting for more Penguin adventures.

A part of their glacier breaks off, stranding the “Penguin Nation”. Mumble and
Gloria’s son, Erik, and some of his friends, who had run away from home, are
now on the outside looking in trying to figure out how to save their family
and the rest of “Penguin Nation”.

The film features the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria,
Alecia Moore (Pink), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Sofia Vergara, Common, Hugo
Weaving, Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPaglia, Richard Carter and Benjamin Lil
P-Nut Flores, Jr.

###

Listen to ENO’s version of ‘With the Stars Shining Brightly (E lucevan le
stelle) from Puccini’s _Tosca_ performed by Adam Smith and the ENO Orchestra
filmed at Battersea Arts Centre.

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/AdzuhmcT-v0?feature=oembed)

Video

## Eat Pray Love – Der Hölle Rache (Queen of the Night)

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/WHzk03QKFQk?feature=oembed)

Video

In this Julia Roberts movie, the song that soundtracks her eating spaghetti in
Italy is ‘Der Hölle Rache’ commonly known as the Queen of the Night aria from
[_The Magic Flute_](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-magic-flute/) an opera
composed by [Mozart](https://www.eno.org/composers/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/).

[Read our beginner’s guide to Mozart](https://www.eno.org/discover-
opera/beginners-guide-mozart/)

The film is based on a memoir of the same name. It is the story of Elizabeth
“Liz” Gilbert who after a painful divorce, realises that she needs to find
herself before she can move on with her life.

For her ‘Eat’ section, she travels to Italy to reconnect with her love of food
where she indulges in all the pasta, wine and ice-cream. She then travels to
India for her ‘Pray’ section. There she stays in an ashram and tries to find
spiritual peace. Finally, she travels to Bali where she rediscovers ‘Love’ in
the form of Brazilian Felipe.

[Read about Mozart’s most famous music](https://www.eno.org/discover-
opera/mozarts-famous-music-start/)

###

Watch soprano Rainelle Krause performs Mozart’s classic aria from The Magic
Flute with the ENO Orchestra.

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvtGRfI9Eok?feature=oembed)

Video

## Despicable Me 3 – I Am The Very Model of A Modern Major General

[YouTube
Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rtk9n7OkpEY?start=46&feature=oembed)

Video

In the third installment of the Despicable Me animated film series, the
Minions run away from Gru and follow a pizza delivery boy onto a Hollywood
studio lot who are filming a version of America’s Got Talent. They find
themselves on stage and perform a Minion version of [Gilbert &
Sullivan](https://www.eno.org/composers/gilbert-sullivan/)‘s “I’m A Very Model
of A Modern Major General” from [_The Pirates of
Penzance_](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-pirates-of-penzance/).

[Read out beginner’s guide to Gilbert &
Sullivan](https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/the-beginners-guide-to-gilbert-
sullivan/)

In Despicable Me 3, Gru is now married to Lucy and they are part of the Anti-
Villain league. However, they are fired because they’re unable to capture the
super-villain Balthazar Bratt who has stolen the biggest diamond in the world.
Gru discovers his long-lost brother Dru is a successful and rich super-
villain. Gru persuades Dru to steal the diamond from Bratt with the plan to
give it to the Anti-Villain league.

[Discover the best Gilbert and Sullivan songs](https://www.eno.org/discover-
opera/explore-more/gilbert-and-sullivans-best-loved-songs/)

###

Watch the tongue-twisting “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General”,
performed live during Gilbert & Sullivan’s _The Pirates of Penzance_ ,
directed by Mike Leigh at English National Opera.

Andrew Shore plays Major General-Stanley, with Joshua Bloom as Pirate King and
Claudia Boyle as Mabel.

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rs3dPaz9nAo?feature=oembed)

Video

## Luca – O mio Babbino Caro

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbCcfE_9_PE?feature=oembed)

Video

Right at the beginning of this Pixar movie, the fishermen are listening to the
aria ‘O mio babbino caro’ from the opera ‘Gianni Schicchi’ by
[Puccini](https://www.eno.org/composers/giacomo-puccini/).

This film is full of Italian songs and aria including two from the _[Barber of
Seville](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-barber-of-seville/)_ – “Una voce poco
fa” and “Largo al factotum”.

[Beginners Guide to Puccini](https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/operas/the-
beginners-guide-to-puccini/)

Set in Italy, Luca is a coming of age film about a young boy. The eponymous
Luca is half-human/half sea monster. He lives underwater off the coast of the
Italian city of Portorosso. His parents want to keep him safe from fishermen
so he is not allowed out of the water. Luca spends his days bored herding
fish. However, when Luca meets Alberto another half human who has been out of
the water, Luca defies his parents and follows him to the surface. Luca has a
summer of Italian adventures filled with ice-cream, pasta and scooters.

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/TZNvtkTvOkY?feature=oembed)

Video

## Mrs Doubtfire – Figaro’s aria

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1iI2aulaFk?feature=oembed)

Video

Chris Columbus’ Oscar-winning film begins with it’s star Robin Williams
singing “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro, Figaro, Figaro”.

This song, or aria, is called ‘Largo al factotum’. It’s from
[Rossini](https://www.eno.org/composers/gioachino-rossini/)‘s _The Barber of
Seville_. In the opera, it’s sung by the lead character, Figaro, a barber in
Seville.

[Discover the Barber of Seville](https://www.eno.org/operas/the-barber-of-
seville/)

Based on the Anne Fine novel, Madame Doubtfire, the film – Mrs Doubtfire – is
the story of Daniel, an American actor, who disguises himself as a elderly
Scottish woman to take the job of the family housekeeper to his three children
so he can spend more time with them after his divorce.

The film won an academy award in 1994 for Best Makeup.

## Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation – Nessun Dorma

[YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/jU2TU–E6OE?feature=oembed)

Video

In this fifth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise. Lead character
Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, together with his team try to foil an
assassination at the Vienna State opera in Austria.

The opera playing on stage is ‘Turandot’ and the scene ends with the famous
aria ‘ _Nessun Dorma_ ‘.

[Discover Turandot](https://www.eno.org/operas/turandot/)

In this film Ethan Hunt, ends up on the run from his own organisation, the
IMF, after he discovers The Syndicate, a shadow organisation who’s aim is to
destabilise nations through financial disasters, large scale accidents, and
acts of terrorism.

With the help of disavowed MI6 agent and Syndicate operative Ilsa Faust and
his old teammates, Benji and Luther, Ethan tracks The Syndicate around the
world to put an end to their evil plans.

Find out more about opera on our [Discover
Opera](https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/) page. And learn how you can see
live opera performed by [ENO](https://www.eno.org/).

Related Content: Beginner’s Guide to the Best and Most Famous Operas of All Time; Related Content: The beginner’s guide to opera; Related Content: La traviata in Pop Culture