You might think opera isn’t for you — too dramatic and too extravagant, with voices that feel almost overwhelming. And yet, we seldom realise how often we are already listening to it.

Opera has long stepped beyond the theatre. Today, it surfaces where we least expect it — in advertising, films, video games, television series and across social media. Classical arias have taken on new lives as fragments and instantly recognisable “hits”, familiar from the very first note.

This playlist explores where and how we encounter opera in the 21st century — often without realising that what we are hearing is classical music. Through this collection, you will see that opera isn’t distant or inaccessible. It is cinematic. It is stylish. It is unforgettable.