Does anyone know of any sad italian opera?

Answer 1

No doubt. Most of the italian 'opera seria' is sad. Just a few of them have a 'serious' plot and a happy end: I can name Verdi's Nabucco, Bellini's 'La Sonnambula' and 'I Puritani', Puccini's 'Turandot' (though unaccomplished).
There are sad operas, and sadder ones: one can find it sad a young couple parted by poverty and tuberculosis (La Bohème), or a young girl who loses her mind because a cruel brother forces her into an interest marriage (Lucia di Lammermoor). But what is sadder than a father who kills what he believes to be his daughter's seducer only to discover that the corpse in the bag is the girl's ? (Rigoletto)
Or a love-rival killing his foe when the beloved is gone only to learn that he was his brother ? (Il Trovatore).
And there's worse yet: what is sadder than a politics-induced conflict between a father and a son (Verdi's 'I Due Foscari') resulting in son's suicide? Yes, there's worse. Politics plus love: a father taking his son's bride for himself for 'raison d'etat' (Don Carlos). To avoid a misleading link of these atrocities to the italian costumes, I have to remind that the above plots and others even more truculent come from Shakespeare, Schiller, Hugo, etc., notoriously non-latin people.
Just for those who have a hard time in naming italian comic operas, most of Rossini is happy-ended (Barbiere, Cenerentola, Italiana in Algeri, Gazza Ladra, Il Signor Bruschino, La scala di seta, Il turco in Italia, etc.). Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore' and 'Don Pasquale' are brilliant masterpieces, Verdi's 'Falstaff' is a sweet-and-bitter comedy on humans and volatility of life, Puccini's 'Gianni Schicchi' (taken from Dante) is a little burlesque story ending in a laughter.
Any curiosity about Wagner's sad operas? Gosh!

Answer 2

What could be sadder then Pagliacci, a broken heart, adultery, and murder.
La Boheme is also another sad opera !!!!!!
It's weird I don't like opera, I love the stories and the solo tenors but not the full blown opera....I think it's because I don't like women singing in opera, I'd rather just hear the tenors !!!!!
(Sorry to all the ladies, all who sing opera )

Answer 3

All stories used in Italian Opera end in tragedy. You might fine a few examples like "The Barber of Seville" by Rossini that does not end in tragedy. But for the most part, the majority of Opera stories are sad, so pick one. Verdi wrote many.

Answer 4

I have never been a fan of Opera, however I have seen several, and my choices are
Pagliacci= I actually liked it(bear in mind I was a captive audience)
Rigoletto(sp?)=It was sad at times.
Not to offend you, but now, Any Opera I have to go to is sad. One exception, the Marx's Brothers "A night at the Opera" not sad at all, if you need a good laugh, this is it.

Answer 5

One of my favourites: Tosca - Giacomo Puccini

Particularly the version with Hildegard Behrens and Placido Domingo

Tragic Opera is not any good when the actors don't adequately fulfill their roles.

With these two, you can see it in their eyes with the loving Cavaradossi and his jealous sweetheart, Floria Tosca

Answer 6

Puccini:
La Boheme
Madama Butterfly
Tosca

Rossini:
Otello

Verdi:
La Traviata
Rigolleto
Aida

Answer 7

I literally just saw "Rigoletto" by Giuseppe Verdi- The headline is "A classic tale of revenge gone bad"
http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=1956&chapter=122913&layout=html&Itemid=27

Answer 8

What you want to do is play song which will snap you out of your funky mood Kinda like Tom Cruse slideing in his socks and underclothes in risky company you want something that is going to make you purely dance round somewhat of listening to unhappy song once you spoil up do the direct oppisite play the song that made you the happiest and thrive on the happiness it gave life is purely too short to be unhappy

Answer 9

It is so very good to see "the Italian" contributing. He is most knowledgable.

Answer 10

Definitely 'Pagliacci' The most saddest and tragic clown I have ever seen.