Question: I am writing a eulogy for a man who loved opera. I'm trying to find a passage from an opera that speaks of death in an uplifting/positive way to incorporate into the eulogy. Do you have any suggestions?

Diva: The Diva's first suggestion would not be words from an opera, but rather from Richard Strauss's "Four Last Songs," the third of which, "Beim Schlafengehen," speaks of going to sleep. Here is a translation of the text by William Mann:

Going to Sleep

Now that day has tired me,
my spirits long for
starry night kindly
to enfold them, like a tired child.

Hands, leave all your doing;
brow, forget all your thoughts!
Now all my senses
want to sink themselves in slumber.

And the soul unwatched,
would soar in free flight,
till in the magic circle of night
it lives deeply and a thousandfold.
(Transl. William Mann)

While not specifically about death, the Apostle Paul speaks many times (for instance, Thessalonians 4:13-18) of death for a believer as being like sleep. The Strauss is so beautiful, that you might consider reading the passage from Thessalonians, and asking a good soprano to sing "Beim Schlafengehen."

Operatically, there are the last word of Thais, which describe heaven:

"Heaven opens up. Here are the angels, the prophets and the saints -- all come smiling, their hands full of flowers.

Two seraphim with wings of white soar in the azure, and as thou didst say, the gentle Consoler -- placing on my eyes His fingers of light -- wipeth away the tars forever!

The sound of the harps of gold enchants me -- soft perfumes penetrate my being. I feel an exquisite beatitude put all my ills to sleep. Ah! Heaven! I see God!

The Diva hopes these suggestions are helpful. She is also very sorry for your loss.