According to data compiled by Operabase, an organization to whom a number of opera houses report their performance, the top 10 operas performed all around the world were composed by five composers.
They are Mozart, Rossini, Puccini, Verdi and Bizet, and which would come as a surprise to most opera aficionados.
With that said, here are some of the top operas still performed around the world:
#5: Madama Butterfly
Even though this play was poorly received at first, much like Rossini’s opera, thanks to little time to rehearse, Puccini revised this two act play into three acts and the rest is history. It was first performed at Milan’s famous theatre, La Scala.
#4: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Rossini’s opera which tells the story of two men wanting to marry the same woman. It is a tale of deceptions and disguises and has become one of the world’s most famous comic operas.
#3: Le nozze di Figaro
Mozart wrote this opera as a continuation of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia even though it was dated almost thirty years after its release at the London’s Kings Theatre.
#2: Rigoletto
Verdi considered this opera to be revolutionary, considering how content offensive it was at the time it was released. In fact, the opera underwent severe censorship from his critics at the time. However, opera goers believe Rigoletto to be his very best.
#1: Don Giovanni
Composed by Mozart, this opera is based on Don Juan legends that make for good comedy and drama. It premiered at Prague’s Teatro di Praga and is regarded to offer the audience an entertaining and exciting time.