The virtuoso operatic paraphrase: or, opera flash 'n' trash and why it's good for you. I will briefly discuss the sub-genre and its usefulness for pedagogy and programming: singing through the instrument using what were then easily-recognizable tunes and performing with panache, as well as techical display. I will cover tips for preparing a performance, and perform Antonio Torriani's paraphrase on themes from Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor."