What are the top-five must-see operas?

This is going to be an extremely personal list, and you really are going to have to decide for yourself, but here goes: 1. Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) - Suitable for all ages, wonderful music and THIS aria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXOYcd6KZ0... read more

There are more than 5 operas. And more than 5 opera composers worth checking out. At least 4 operas of Mozart are a must. Zauberfloete. Le Nozze di Figaro. Don Giovanni. Cosi Fan Tutte. Il Barbiere di Siviglia. La Traviata. It Trovatore. Carmen. Faust. and there are a few more that are must. Choosing 5 out of these doesn't make much sense to me. read more

L’Orfeo ranks in the top five, indeed the top three imo. And surely *some* Wagner opera ranks in the top ten. I also agree with the commenter who says that Verdi’s Don Carlo may be better than Traviata. read more

The Tölzer Knabenchor is famous for it's performances of Die Zauberflote, and, there is a famous opera Appollo et Hyacinthus sung, once by Allen Bergius (now a prolific opera singer), and another by Christian Fliegner - both are performers who hail from Tölzer. read more