Seeing opera live can be a marvellous experience - and what wonderful tunes! From 'heavyweights' like the works of Wagner to the light and comic operas of Gilbert & Sullivan.

You may not care for the artificiality and stage artifice of some of it, but hundreds of the tunes - both instrumental and vocal are absolutely glorious. "Au Fond Du Temple Saint" has already been mentioned. The ones I love are too numerous to mention - "Oh Celeste Aida" - "Che Gelida Manina" - the Prelude to Act 3 of "Traviata" - "The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze" - "M'Appari" - "Di Quella Pira" - "Va Pensiero" - the Prelude to Act 1 of "Traviata" - etc., etc.

Fabulous stuff. And if you haven't heard of the tunes I've listed above, do a little research and have a little listen...