Vilja Song

Speaking of opera, Vilja Song is one of the most lovely arias of all time (from Franz Lehar's Merry Widow).  The song itself has very little to do with the plot so I won't bother retelling it, but Vilja has a story worth telling.  Vilja (also known by Wila, Veela, Vila) is a mythical forest fairy.  Though Google delivers tantalizingly few images, Rossetti's romantic painting below works with the mood of the song (according to some legends Vilja is cursed never to find true love and if they do, that love will die a terrible death, how is that for melodramatic).

Dante Gabriel Rossetti  “The Blessed Damozel”

This version of the song is performed by Sissel Kyrkjebø (soprano from Norway).