According to OPERA America, approximately 40% of the Top 20 operas performed in North America are comic opera.
Mozart, Rossini, Strauss, Donizetti
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The opera buffa works of Mozart include many of the most popular and entertaining operas ever. Among them the Marriage of Figaro, Così fan tutte, The Magic Flute and also Don Giovanni.
The Magic Flute is an adventurous quest of Tamino and the bird catcher Papageno in order to rescue princess Pamina from the evil sorcerer Sarastro.
Don Giovanni is an entertaining and amazing story of the ne’er-do-well Don Giovanni, who refuses to turn towards a decent life even when facing the most severe penalties.
Così Fan Tutte is a play about the two officers Ferrando and Guglielmo, testing the faithfulness of their fiancés Fiordiligi and Dorabella. In disguise the officers try to seduce each others girl. Will they succeed? Maybe the best comic opera ever with unforgettable plot and music.
Giochino Rossini
Gioachino Rossini’s most famous operas today are the Barber of Seville and La Cenerentola.
Johann Strauss
Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, and, Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti complete our little list.
World wide performances
A similar European sampling listed each of these operas as favorites, as well. Opera companies from Indonesia to Germany to the United States set to stage these jewels of opera each year with new and exciting interpretations of some of operas best loved characters.