it’s been said that an opera is musical
scenery a musical atmosphere in which
the characters move and talk welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the Masters of this
art the top 10 opera singers for this
list we’re taking a look at those
singers whose musical work almost
completely subsists of this dramatic
musical art form so as powerful as
Andrea Bocelli’s voices he will not be
considered for this list
number 10 Nicolai Gedda born in
Stockholm Sweden it didn’t take long for
this former bank teller to become one of
the most extensively recorded tenors of
all time after being tutored by a
well-known Swedish tenor he made his
Royal Swedish opera debut at 26 where he
aced one of the most challenging tenor
arias in existence before long he was
appearing in opera house from La Scala
in Italy to the Royal Opera House in
London this brilliant tenor renowned for
his work in pedestrian and pewt Thani
continued performing well into his 70s
number nine Renee Fleming
born in Pennsylvania to two music
teachers Fleming showed an interest in
music at an early age gradually moving
into a musical education that also
included studying at the prestigious
Julliard School
it was while still a student there that
she began to sing opera professionally
later winning the Metropolitan Opera
auditions at the age of 29
since then this award-winning lyric
soprano has appeared all over the United
States and the world performing in
operatic roles ranging from German to
rush into French and she has been
praised for her singing in the works of
Mozart Strauss and others
number eight
you see Bjoerling known as the Swedish
Caruso this tenor was taught to sing by
his father and making his first public
appearance when he was only four years
old though his career was tragically cut
short dying at the age of 49 due to
heart problems he left a legacy that
inspired many men to come after him
including Luciano Pavarotti
known mostly for shows at the
Metropolitan Opera in New York he was so
dedicated to he still performed La
Boheme at the Royal Opera House despite
suffering a heart attack just hours
before
number seven she Austin flag stock born
in Norway to a conductor and pianist
frog staad received training in the
capital Oslo and made her debut there at
the age of 18 at the National Theatre
her vocal flexibility and eagerness to
take on new roles progressed her quickly
and while touring in Scandinavia caught
the attention of the chairman of the
Metropolitan Opera and was soon invited
to New York where her popularity shot
through the roof
known for her performance and Kristen
undissolved among others this beauty and
virtuoso in line and tone has been
called the voice of the century
number six Enrico Caruso born to a poor
family in Naples Italy this man who
originally sang on the street to raise
money for his family ended up becoming
one of the most famous celebrities of
his time debuting at the Teatro nuovo in
Naples it wasn’t long before Caruso
found himself at the Metropolitan Opera
where he showcased his powerful voice
which could hit high C with confidence
even in his latter years having toured
through Europe and the Americas the
success and talent of this singer long
surpassed his short life number 5
Joan Sutherland born in Sydney Australia
Sutherland was drawn to music after
hearing and attempting to copy her
mother singing at an early age
although she made her concert debut in
Sydney and studied music in several
Institute’s her breakthrough performance
was in singing Lucia di Lammermoor at
the Royal Opera House touring the world
with the likes of Pavarotti her dramatic
soprano voice and incredible intonation
staccato and unique trill earned her the
respect of audiences everywhere and the
nickname la stupenda or the stunning one
number four Jose Carreras
born in Barcelona to a working-class
family he developed a love for singing
early on and first sang publicly at the
age of eight in a broadcast on Spanish
national radio
after receiving an extensive musical
education and support from the renowned
soprano mo tzedakah ballet he progressed
as an acclaimed tenor speedily known for
his appearances in the works of
composers like Verdi and Puccini
Carretas was said to have one of the
most beautiful tenor voices of his time
and grew to even greater fame as one of
the three tenors
number three Placido Domingo this
nine-time Grammy award-winner tenor and
conductor was born to Zazu a low
performers that encouraged him to
likewise pursue a musical career in
Mexico known for his incredible
versatility and voice having performed
some of the most difficult baritone
musical pieces as well as in role with
147 roles to date this multi talented
performer has also appeared in
television film and the Olympic closing
ceremonies
his performances as one of the three
tenors and solo have been described as
monumental and unforgettable number two
Luciano Pavarotti
born in northern Italy to a poor family
this former schoolteacher who allegedly
never learned to read music later became
one of the most commercially successful
tenors in history first appearing
internationally in Belgrade Serbia his
talent took him to greater places and
his debut at the Metropolitan Hall in
1972 was so impressive that he received
17 curtain calls
touring far and wide both on his own and
as a member of the three tenors his
performances of the classic Nessun Dorma
are perhaps some of his most memorable
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
number one Maria Callas hailed as the
greatest soprano of all time and
considered an influence on countless
musical artists Callas was born in
Manhattan studied music in Greece and
lost her career in Italy
though her life was marred by a
difficult childhood strained
relationships with family members wage
problems scandals love affairs rivalries
with other singers and personal
tragedies her vocal and dramatic gifts
always out shown the negative though she
was severely visually challenged she
brought life humanity and beauty to
nearly every role she took on and for
this she’s been called Davina the divine
one
so do you agree with our list what opera
singers do you think should have made
the cut for more entertaining top 10s
published daily be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
you
scenery a musical atmosphere in which
the characters move and talk welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the Masters of this
art the top 10 opera singers for this
list we’re taking a look at those
singers whose musical work almost
completely subsists of this dramatic
musical art form so as powerful as
Andrea Bocelli’s voices he will not be
considered for this list
number 10 Nicolai Gedda born in
Stockholm Sweden it didn’t take long for
this former bank teller to become one of
the most extensively recorded tenors of
all time after being tutored by a
well-known Swedish tenor he made his
Royal Swedish opera debut at 26 where he
aced one of the most challenging tenor
arias in existence before long he was
appearing in opera house from La Scala
in Italy to the Royal Opera House in
London this brilliant tenor renowned for
his work in pedestrian and pewt Thani
continued performing well into his 70s
number nine Renee Fleming
born in Pennsylvania to two music
teachers Fleming showed an interest in
music at an early age gradually moving
into a musical education that also
included studying at the prestigious
Julliard School
it was while still a student there that
she began to sing opera professionally
later winning the Metropolitan Opera
auditions at the age of 29
since then this award-winning lyric
soprano has appeared all over the United
States and the world performing in
operatic roles ranging from German to
rush into French and she has been
praised for her singing in the works of
Mozart Strauss and others
number eight
you see Bjoerling known as the Swedish
Caruso this tenor was taught to sing by
his father and making his first public
appearance when he was only four years
old though his career was tragically cut
short dying at the age of 49 due to
heart problems he left a legacy that
inspired many men to come after him
including Luciano Pavarotti
known mostly for shows at the
Metropolitan Opera in New York he was so
dedicated to he still performed La
Boheme at the Royal Opera House despite
suffering a heart attack just hours
before
number seven she Austin flag stock born
in Norway to a conductor and pianist
frog staad received training in the
capital Oslo and made her debut there at
the age of 18 at the National Theatre
her vocal flexibility and eagerness to
take on new roles progressed her quickly
and while touring in Scandinavia caught
the attention of the chairman of the
Metropolitan Opera and was soon invited
to New York where her popularity shot
through the roof
known for her performance and Kristen
undissolved among others this beauty and
virtuoso in line and tone has been
called the voice of the century
number six Enrico Caruso born to a poor
family in Naples Italy this man who
originally sang on the street to raise
money for his family ended up becoming
one of the most famous celebrities of
his time debuting at the Teatro nuovo in
Naples it wasn’t long before Caruso
found himself at the Metropolitan Opera
where he showcased his powerful voice
which could hit high C with confidence
even in his latter years having toured
through Europe and the Americas the
success and talent of this singer long
surpassed his short life number 5
Joan Sutherland born in Sydney Australia
Sutherland was drawn to music after
hearing and attempting to copy her
mother singing at an early age
although she made her concert debut in
Sydney and studied music in several
Institute’s her breakthrough performance
was in singing Lucia di Lammermoor at
the Royal Opera House touring the world
with the likes of Pavarotti her dramatic
soprano voice and incredible intonation
staccato and unique trill earned her the
respect of audiences everywhere and the
nickname la stupenda or the stunning one
number four Jose Carreras
born in Barcelona to a working-class
family he developed a love for singing
early on and first sang publicly at the
age of eight in a broadcast on Spanish
national radio
after receiving an extensive musical
education and support from the renowned
soprano mo tzedakah ballet he progressed
as an acclaimed tenor speedily known for
his appearances in the works of
composers like Verdi and Puccini
Carretas was said to have one of the
most beautiful tenor voices of his time
and grew to even greater fame as one of
the three tenors
number three Placido Domingo this
nine-time Grammy award-winner tenor and
conductor was born to Zazu a low
performers that encouraged him to
likewise pursue a musical career in
Mexico known for his incredible
versatility and voice having performed
some of the most difficult baritone
musical pieces as well as in role with
147 roles to date this multi talented
performer has also appeared in
television film and the Olympic closing
ceremonies
his performances as one of the three
tenors and solo have been described as
monumental and unforgettable number two
Luciano Pavarotti
born in northern Italy to a poor family
this former schoolteacher who allegedly
never learned to read music later became
one of the most commercially successful
tenors in history first appearing
internationally in Belgrade Serbia his
talent took him to greater places and
his debut at the Metropolitan Hall in
1972 was so impressive that he received
17 curtain calls
touring far and wide both on his own and
as a member of the three tenors his
performances of the classic Nessun Dorma
are perhaps some of his most memorable
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
number one Maria Callas hailed as the
greatest soprano of all time and
considered an influence on countless
musical artists Callas was born in
Manhattan studied music in Greece and
lost her career in Italy
though her life was marred by a
difficult childhood strained
relationships with family members wage
problems scandals love affairs rivalries
with other singers and personal
tragedies her vocal and dramatic gifts
always out shown the negative though she
was severely visually challenged she
brought life humanity and beauty to
nearly every role she took on and for
this she’s been called Davina the divine
one
so do you agree with our list what opera
singers do you think should have made
the cut for more entertaining top 10s
published daily be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
you
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