10 Famous Opera Songs in Movies

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’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

In Garry Marshall’s 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Gere’s character, Edward takes Roberts’ character Vivenne to the opera to her first opera.

The opera they see is La traviata by Verdi. In the movie, the character Violetta, sings ‘Sempre Libera’, then she sings ‘Amami, Alfredo’.

Discover La traviata

In Francis Ford Coppola’s 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 which is the first opera in Richard Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle .

Read our beginner’s guide to Wagner

In this movie, Daniel Craig as British super spy James Bond, is hunting out the villains at a performance of the opera Tosca by Puccini.

The song playing is ‘Va, Tosca’ (Te Deum) from the end of Act 1. The scene was filmed at the open air opera in Brengenz, Austria.

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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.

Where have I heard the music of Tosca?

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.

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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 ‘Turnadot’ and the scene ends with the famous aria ‘Nessun Dorma’.

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.

This film is full of Italian songs and aria including two from the Barber of Seville – “Una voce poco fa” and “Largo al factotum”.

Beginners Guide to Puccini

At the beginning of this Disney movie, an instrumental version of the ‘Habenera’ from Carmen by Bizet.

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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 an opera composed by Mozart.

Discover The Magic Flute