11 Epic Duets That Will Knock Your Opera Glasses Off

Why are soprano jokes all one-liners? So tenors can understand them...

1.

Mozart: Don Giovanni - La ci darem la mano

Don Giovanni and Zerlina in one of the most famous tunes of all times. Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and others have written variations on it and paraphrased it.

2.

Mozart: Magic Flute - Pa... pa... pa...

Papageno finds his Papagena

3.

Donizetti: Lucia di Lamermoor

Lucia-Edgardo

Listen to the end, when the voices come together.

It is a lovers' parting - as all duets that end with "Addio!"

4.

Donizetti: Don Pasquale

A lively duet between the dirty old man, Don Pasquale, and his doctor, Malatesta.

5.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Si, Vendetta

High-voltage duet between Gilda and her father, Rigoletto, who wants to avenge her kidnapping by the duke (Si, vendetta, tremenda vendetta). Trouble is, Gilda is in love with the duke and asks her father to forgive him. The audience is so ecstatic that Ciofi and Nucci repeat the entire duet here.

6.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Addio, Speranza

Gilda and the duke in a love duet and parting... Another "Addio"

With one of the most famous operatic pairs or all times: Callas-Di Stefano

7.

Verdi: Traviata - Libiamo (AKA "Brindisi")

Alfredo and Violetta in one of the most rousing waltzes ever

8.

Puccini: La Boheme - O soave fanciulla

Famous love duet of Mimi and Rodolfo at the end of the first act

9.

Rossini: Barber of Seville

Figaro-Almaviva duet. If you want to skip the intro, the singing starts at 0:44

10.

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess - Bess, you is my woman now

11.

Flames of Paris: Pas de deux

Dance, for a change...