Can anyone tell me what this beautiful piece was? It was the scene in which Tom Hanks emotionally describes the story line of the opera as it's playing in the background. I'm pretty sure he mentioned what it was called, but I can't remember. The opera is Andrea Ch茅nier by Umberto Giordano.
The version in the movie is sung by Maria Callas.
Also, the specific aria is "La Mamma Morta." There are four opera pieces in this film. The one I think you mean is Ebben ne andro lontano from La Wally by Catalini and sung by Maria Callas. The others are the La Mamma Morta already posted and Ecco respiro appena from Adriana Lecouvreur by Cilea and the final one is O nume tutalar from la Vestale by Spontini . All the arias are sung by Maria Callas but the real tear jerker is definitely the Ebben ne andro lontano | 