CROSSOVER – popular music artists singing opera

CROSSOVER – popular music artists singing opera

Many opera singers crossover into musical, folksong and pop music.
But also popular music artists occasionally sing a bit from opera.
I do not mean popular artists who try to be in both such as Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, Sarah Brightman and similar.
I mean singers who only on some occasion sing an opera aria.

Here is a selection of such video clips.
if you have any suggestions what to add, please comment below

Did you know that Frank Sinatra sang Don Giovanni?

Not bad!
But you know for sure that Sammy Davis sang Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess

 

Some Broadway musical artists ventured into singing opera.
Such an example is John Raitt (1917-2005) singing Figaro’s aria from Barbiere

 

But the aria popular artists sang most often is of course Nessun dorma

Aretha Franklin’s version has become a classic

 

Here is Lucio Dalla singing Nessun dorma in duet with Cecilia Gasdia

 

Even Elvis Presley had a go at Nessun dorma

 

Luciano Pavarotti inspired many singers to sing opera with him
Michael Bolton in Vesti la giubba

 

Freddie Mercury with Nessun Dorma

 

Sting, Zucchero and Lucio Dalla with La donna e mobile

 

For female singers O mio babbino caro is the top hit
Here is Sissel having a go at it

 

Celine Dion sang opera arias in honor of Maria Callas

and she tried Carmen too

 

and what about Barbara Streisand trying her operatic voice…