La Gioconda

La Gioconda means "The Ballad Singer" or "The Happy Woman," a sadly ironic title for an opera whose heroine meets a tragic end. In the final scene of La Gioconda, the heroine arranges a secret meeting in the ruins of an island castle.

This is an opera unique for having a major role for each of the voice types (soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, bass). The result is a rich and beautiful score with several familiar tunes, including "The Dance of the Hours" (the one in Fantasia where the hippos and the crocodiles dance). You can listen to the broadcast of this beautiful opera here.

You can read more about this opera here.