My Operatic Valentine By Rex Levang February, 1999

It's the old story: boy gets shot by Cupid's bow and arrow, boy falls in love with girl.

So old, in fact, that it forms the story of the very first opera. History has not been gentle with Jacopo Peri's Daphne – most of the music is lost, and the date of the first performance is unclear. (Probably 1598—there could have been a big anniversary celebration last year, if we only knew for sure.)

But the tradition which it began has been resilient, and of the thousands of operas written since then, most have had some version of boy-meets-girl at their center. Here we take a quick look at some of opera's most famous love duets – and wish you a Happy Valentine's Day.

My Passionate Valentine
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde.
Love served up in heroic, superhuman, cosmic portions. Wagner's way of communicating this in words can be obscure; in music, never.

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My Shakespearean Valentine
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette
This French version of Romeo and Juliet is the most durable operatic treatment of the story (there have been at least 25.) "Parting is such sweet sorrow" becomes "De cet adieu/Si douce est la tristesse," and Shakespearean energy is transformed into Gallic suavity.

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My Shakespearean Valentine II
Verdi: Otello.
Verdi's version of the Othello story was to have profound influence on younger composers.
As the first act ends, the tumult of the day is over. Night descends on Cyprus. The gallant naval officer takes his wife in his arms …

My Verismo Valentine
Puccini: Madama Butterfly
As the first act ends, the tumult of the day is over. Night descends on Nagasaki. The gallant naval officer takes his wife in his arms ...
Where do these people get their ideas?

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My Funny Valentine
In 1908, Enrico Caruso and Geraldine Farrar went into a recording studio to record the Madama Butterfly love duet.
The question is, in this recording did Farrar sing the written text ("Si, per la vita") or, as many opera lovers swear, change it to: "He's had a highball"?

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For For the opposite of all of the above, check out the confrontation between Tosca and Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca. She hates him - which is not too uncommon in opera - but not only that, he likes it that way.