Top Five Opera Character and Music Entrances

[Soave_Fanciulla]

This is Eric Owens' pick.




What do you guys think? I reckon some interesting choices, especially his choice of music for Otello, when you consider the serious competition from that first glorious cry of victory from Otello himself:

[Almaviva]

Strange indeed, because for me Esultate! is ten times more impressive than any of his choices. It may be the very human trait that everybody wants to be original, and Esultate! is too obvious a choice. But almost objectively speaking, it *is* the best entrance in all of opera, overexposed or not.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I like what he says about the Marschallin, it's true that her entrance changes the whole emotional atmosphere of the last act.

[Dark_Angel]

One of the most brilliant and colorful character themes is the simple but so memorable entrance of Papageno in Mozart's Magic Flute, used thoughout the opera as a theme motif for the character......

[Schigolch]

In this case I will agree with Mr. Owens, the entrance of Blanche de la Force is indeed an amazing piece of music, and drama.

[Amfortas]

I agree with the Tristan und Isolde choice.

Among Wagner's operas, I would also put Lohengrin's first entrance among my top ten. First there's the skillful buildup--Elsa's trial for murdering her brother, her strange vision of a mystical knight, her calling him to come defend her, and her initial fear that no one will answer the summons. Then comes the big entrance itself: the crowd sees a boat in the distance, pulled by a swan and carrying a knight in resplendent armor. It's always a great moment; here we see a Vienna production with Placido Domingo as the hero.