Don Giovanni

The moon landing is juxtaposed to Dante and Beatrice's journey through paradise in this visual oratorio composed by Jacob ter Veldhuis.

A colorful and comedic staging of the classic opera buffa by the Vienna State Opera.

A return to its roots for Castor et Pollux, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s lyric tragedy first performed in 1737 at the Académie royale and inspired by the mythological episode of the Gemini. Rarely performed in its original version – the score was reworked by Rameau himself in 1754 –, this daring work plays on contrasts and expressiveness, as in the famous “Tristes apprêts”. The aria is sung by Télaïre mourning the death of her fiancé Castor, killed in battle, before his twin brother Pollux descends into the Underworld to ask his father, Jupiter, to bring him back to life. While this opera celebrates brotherly love, its prologue poses an essential question for director Peter Sellars: how do you stop a war and its attendant hatred and resentment?

Released in 1967, the famous black-and-white film adaptation of Donizetti's opera, starring tenor Carlo Bergonzi and soprano Renata Scotto, alongside Giuseppe Taddei, is known for its charming performances and popular recordings. The film and associated recordings captured leading Italian singers in their prime, showcasing Donizetti's beloved work, famous for the tenor aria "Una furtiva lagrima". L'Elisir d'amore saw various productions and releases in 1967, including a RAI TV film in Italy, performances at Glyndebourne starting June 17, San Francisco Opera in October, and a World Record Club vinyl release in the UK, indicating it was a popular year for Donizetti's opera across different media

Offenbach’s mockery of bourgeois ideals, the sublimity of music and the institution of marriage ensures that the moralistic sermonizing of ‘Public Opinion’ falls on deaf ears. The mysterious figure of John Styx tells the story of behind-the-times Orpheus and his hacked-off Eurydice, of gods and goddesses seeking diversion, jaded with humdrum life in Olympus. He tells of the rebellion in the pantheon, which Jupiter adeptly averts by promising an amusement for his entourage. Burning with curiosity to see the beauteous captive and the contest between Jupiter and Pluto for Eurydice’s favour, the illustrious company embarks on an infernal ride to the underworld that culminates in what is surely the most wellknown can-can in the history of music. And what of Eurydice? She ends up putting a spoke in everyone’s wheel…

The classic opera by Giuseppe Verdi, brought to Teatro Real Madrid with stars such as Ermonela Jaho and Gregory Kunde in 2016, conducted by Renato Palumbo.

The Prince, Don Ramiro (who has changed places with his valet, Dandini), meets Cenerentola and they are instantly attracted to each other. When the Philosopher, Alidoro, later takes Cenerentola (dressed in magnificent clothing) to the palace, Dandini (still posing as the prince) tries to talk of love to her, but Cenerentola rejects him, saying that she is in love with his 'valet'. Ramiro, who has overheard this comment, is overjoyed, and immediately proposes to her, but Cenerentola says that he must first seek her out and then, if he still felt the same way, she would marry him. She gives him one of a matching pairs of bracelets, telling him to look for its companion on her right arm (she then leaves the palace). Ramiro ends the masquerade, and he and Dandini resume their true identities. The Prince then sets out on his quest - little realising that destiny, in the form of a violent thunderstorm, is about to take a hand in the affair.

At a glittering party in 18th-century Paris, the poet Andréa Chenier delivers an impassioned denunciation of Louis XVI. Five years later, the Revolution has given way to the Terror, transforming the power balance between Chénier, his beloved Maddalena, and Gérard, the man who could destroy him...

Inspired by Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz, the film opera Hunter's Bride traces the romantic rivalry between two veterans of the Napoleonic Wars who each vie for the heart of the same woman.

Clara is given an enchanted Nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. As midnight strikes, she creeps downstairs to find a magical adventure awaiting her and her Nutcracker. The magician Drosselmeyer transforms the drawing room into a battle between mice and toy soldiers. During the battle, Clara saves the Nutcracker’s life – so breaking a magical spell that turned him from a boy to a toy – and the Mouse King is defeated. In celebration, Drosselmeyer sweeps Clara and the Nutcracker off to the Kingdom of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and take part in a wonderful display of dances. The next morning, Clara’s adventures seem to have been more than just a dream.

Mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina headlines a winning ensemble as the feisty heroine, Rosina, alongside high-flying tenor Jack Swanson, in his Met debut, as her secret beloved, Count Almaviva. Baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky stars as Figaro, the titular barber of Seville, with bass-baritone Peter Kálmán as Dr. Bartolo and bass Alexander Vinogradov as Don Basilio rounding out the principal cast.

Director Carrie Cracknell makes her Met debut, reinvigorating the classic story with a staging that moves the action to the modern day, in a contemporary American industrial town.

ABOUT THE SHOW An uplifting and poignant tale of humanity and hope, set to many of Sting’s most iconic hits. The peaceful village of Bebko erupts in celebration, until it’s suddenly attacked. Three siblings—Leto, Mati and Tana—are forced into dangerous journeys to survive. This captivating story unfolds as an uplifting, poignant exploration of displacement, immigration and hope, conveyed through high energy footwork, exhilarating dance and breathtaking athleticism. Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK present Message In A Bottle, a stunning dance theatre production choreographed by triple Olivier Award nominee Kate Prince, set to the music of 17 time Grammy Award winner Sting.

The innocent Candide discovers that human beings aren't all they are cracked up to be and ultimately focuses on building his own life on his own terms.

Met performances of Strauss’s white-hot one-act tragedy, which receives its first new production at the company in 20 years. Claus Guth, one of Europe’s leading opera directors, gives the biblical story—already filtered through the beautiful and strange imagination of Oscar Wilde’s play—a psychologically perceptive Victorian-era setting rich in symbolism and subtle shades of darkness and light.

Mythology goes to church in New Zealand Opera's unique, site-specific staging of Handel's baroque masterpiece. This sensual story explores a love triangle between Jupiter, King of the Gods, his wife, the goddess Juno, and his lover, the mortal but overly ambitious princess Semele. This engrossing film of an in-the-round live performance showcases Handel's exquisitely lyrical music and presents a powerful story of ambition that is as relevant today as it was when written nearly three centuries ago.

From the Baroque Theater at Český Krumlov Castle: Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice (Orpheus and Eurydice) starring Regula Mühlemann, Bejun Mehta and Eva Liebau, with Collegium Vocale 1704 & Collegium 1704 under the baton of Václav Luks. Directed by Ondřej Havelka A co-production of Clasart / Unitel / ORF in association with Czech Television / SVT / YLE / RSI / Arthaus Music

Count Almaviva lives with his Countess on their estate near Seville. The Count has his eye on his wife’s maid Susanna, who is betrothed to the Count’s servant, Figaro. Much to Figaro’s dismay, the Count plans to seduce Susanna on wedding night. Meanwhile, Cherubino, the Count’s young page, is infatuated with the Countess, but has just been dismissed after being discovered with Barbarina, the gardener Antonio’s daughter.

In an epic tale of good versus evil, Faust sells his soul to the Devil and tries to save Marguerite from an eternity in Hell.

A romantic, strong-willed, and beautiful-voiced girl named Alevtina (Alka) falls in love with a married man named Sergey. The fire of her love ignites a passionate response in Sergey, who was previously happy in his marriage but now finds himself torn between his loyal wife, Lyuba, and the beautiful Alka. What should Lyuba do – accept and let go, or fight for her husband? Does Alka have a right to her love, even though she was "born late" and her rival got there first? The opera raises universal and timeless issues of love, duty, and rights, which every generation and every individual must face again and again.