Eric Grosse, founder and president of Hotwire.com, is a self-proclaimed opera-holic, so it makes sense that he passes time on long-haul flights listening to Mozart. Here are his three favorite operas:

Tannhäuser (Richard Wagner)
“This opera takes you away to another world. The score has a romantic richness that perfectly fits the set and plot. Of all Wagner’s operas, I find Tannhäuser most enjoyable to listen to outside the opera house.”

The Marriage of Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
“If perfection is possible with an opera, this is probably it. The overture gets things going with a vigor and musical genius that just doesn’t let up. The brief closing aria in which the count reconciles with his wife is one of the most moving pieces of music found in any form.”

The Barber of Seville (Gioachino Rossini)
“My generation can’t help but think of Bugs Bunny when hearing the overture, but this is one great comedic opera. The plot and characters are well suited for a modern set. In fact, my favorite production was put on by the San Francisco Opera, which had Figaro dressed as a punker singing his famous opening aria on a Vespa motor scooter. Way cool.”