Opera has long been the epitome of human emotion. But some artists connect with opera not just for inspiration, but as a foundation. From classical training to live arias, these four LGBTQ+ icons have brought opera into the heart of modern popular culture.
Freddie Mercury
What list would not be complete without Freddie Mercury? His love for opera shaped his work at every level. He was a devoted fan of acclaimed soprano Montserrat Caballé and eventually fulfilled a dream by recording Barcelona with her in 1988. This ambitious collaboration melds rock with opera over an orchestral backing. But his love for opera runs deeper. Bohemian Rhapsodyfrom the album aptly named A Night at the Opera is, in many ways, a rock opera in miniature, shifting movements, choral sections and a dramatic arc.
Mercury’s song writing frequently reflected his adoration for opera. In It’sa Hard Life, he directly quotes Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. For Mercury, opera offered something powerful, music at its more theatrical, emotional and wholly unrestrained, and he brought it to millions who might not have experienced it otherwise.
Mika
Like Mercury, Mika’s musical journey started early. Mika was home schooled and trained in music by Russian opera professional Alla Ardakov. His stage debut would be as a chorus member in Strauss’ Die Frau Ohne Schatten at the Royal Opera House. He continued his career as a boy soprano at the Royal Opera, until eventually performing in a production of The Pilgrim’s Progress, demonstrating his full vocal range.
This training was a launchpad to his pop career and his operatic instincts were never too far from the surface. Grace Kelly, his breakout hit, moves through vocal registers like an aria. His ability to shift tone mid song, layer harmonies and deliver emotionally complex performances all reflect a deep classical foundation.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga’s artistry has always been rooted in drama and classical music. Classically trained in voice and piano, she studied under renowned Don Lawrence and later honed her craft at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. Her performances often fuse pop spectacle with an operatic flair. In her recent Coachella 2025 performance, she addressed the crowd: “I decided to build you an opera house in the desert” and would often describe her style as “pop-electro opera.” Her 2024 Olympics performance also drew heavy inspiration from French cabaret and operetta traditions.
Klaus Nomi
Growing up in Bavaria, Nomi gained an interest in opera at a young age, whilst listening to diva and all-round legend Maria Callas on the radio. Inspired by Callas, he developed a six-octave vocal range and in the mid-60s he moved to West Berlin to train as a baritone.
It was only until he moved to New York in which he developed the stage persona that would fuse baroque styled arias with synth-pop and sci-fi visuals. Notably, his performance of Purcell’s The Cold Song is a striking example of opera’s emotional weight being reimagined for a new audience. With his painted face, futuristic costume and his impeccable vocal control, Nomi showed how opera could be undoubtedly strange and moving all at once. Although he tragically died young, his work on the avant-garde music scene has had a lasting impression.
Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert’s similarities with Freddie Mercury runs deeper than his association with Queen. Adam Lambert studied classical singing and trained in opera. He publicly acknowledged and celebrated his operatic background, and he’s performed Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot.
Even in his pop and rock performances, Lambert’s operatic training is clear. His breath control, vibrato and dynamic range allows him to deliver some high energy vocals without strain. A successful bridge between the world of glam and classical music, demonstrating that opera’s technique and style is not only compatible with pop music, but it can also enhance it.
Inspired?
Opera and classical music are the beating heart of the arts. Why not take a leaf out of Queen's book and have A Night at the Opera? Who knows what you might discover...
