Shostakovich’s opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is one of the twentieth century’s masterpieces, acclaimed at its premiere in 1934 but then banned two years later by Stalin.

Renée Fleming stars as the Marschallin and Alice Coote, as her young lover Octavian. Knowing their love will end, they plot together to save Sophie von Faninal (Sophie Bevan) from a loveless marriage to the philandering Baron Ochs (Matthew Rose).

‘Tannhäuser’ is the tale of the young troubadour knight who is torn between spiritual love and carnal desire.

Mozart’s Don Giovanni, with its compelling story and characterization, coupled with some of his greatest and most memorable music, has been a hit with audiences ever since its 1787.

Written for the Paris Opera in 1855, Verdi adopted the elaborate styles and traditions of French Grand opera in ‘Les Vêpres Siciliennes’. It is a tale of family relationships, loyalty, patriotism and revenge.

Jealousy, torture, murder and suicide: the path of true love certainly produces a bumpy ride. Puccini’s Tosca can make for a compelling night at the theatre.

The 2021 WFMT Radio Network Opera Series begins with an exceptional double-bill of Handel: ‘Acis and Galatea’, and ‘Apollo e Dafne’, presented by Chicago’s Haymarket Opera Company.

From 1997: Steuart Bedford conducts Philip Langridge (Captain Vere), Dwayne Croft (Billy Budd), James Morris (Claggart), Victor Braun (Mr. Redburn), Julien Robbins (Lt. Ratcliffe), James Courtney (Mr. Flint), Paul Plishka (Dansker)

From 2015: Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Sonya Yoncheva (Desdemona), Aleksandrs Antonenko (Otello), Dimitri Pittas (Cassio), and Željko Lučić (Iago).

From 2017: Maurizio Benini conducts Diana Damrau (Elvira Walton) and Javier Camarena (Lord Arturo Talbot).

From 2016: Simon Rattle conducts Nina Stemme (Isolde), Ekaterina Gubanova (Brangäne), Stuart Skelton (Tristan), Evgeny Nikitin (Kurwenal), and René Pape (King Marke).

Star soprano Anna Netrebko performs Puccini highlights from La bohème, Tosca, and Turandot.

Maurizio Benini conducts; Sondra Radvanovsky (Elisabetta), Elīna Garanča (Sara), Matthew Polenzani (Roberto), and Mariusz Kwiecien (Duke of Nottingham) star.

From 2013: Anne Schwanewilms (Empress), Ildikó Komlósi (Nurse), and Christine Goerke (Dyer’s Wife) star, Vladimir Jurowski conducts.

From 2009: Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts this performance starring Stefan Margita (Filka Morozov/Kuzmich), Eric Stoklossa (Alyeya), Peter Mattei (Shishkov), and Willard White (Gorianchikov).

From 2017: Angel Blue (Mimì), Brigitte Kele (Musetta), Dmytro Popov (Rodolfo), Lucas Meachem (Marcello), and Duncan Rock (Schaunard) star; Alexander Soddy conducts.

Renée Fleming stars in the title role; Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

Gerald Finley stars as the title character in this performance of Mozart’s seminal opera. Sir Andrew Davis conducts; Marina Rebeka (Donna Anna), Ellie Dehn (Donna Elvira), Isabel Leonard (Zerlina), Matthew Polenzani (Don Ottavio), and Bryn Terfel (Leporello) costar.

Pretty Yende (Countess Adèle), Karine Deshayes (Isolier), Susanne Resmark (Ragonde), and Juan Diego Flórez (Count Ory) star, Maurizio Benini conducts.

Mozart’s indelible opera buffa, starring Ailyn Pérez (Countess), Nadine Sierra (Susanna), Isabel Leonard (Cherubino), Katarina Leoson (Marcellina), Mariusz Kwiecien (Count), Ildar Abdrazakov (Figaro), Maurizio Muraro (Dr. Bartolo). Conducted by Harry Bicket.

From 2014: Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Anita Rachvelishvili (Carmen), Anita Hartig (Micaëla), Aleksandrs Antonenko (Don José), Ildar Abdrazakov (Escamillo) in Bizet’s seminal work.

Renée Fleming (Marschallin) stars with Elīna Garanča (Octavian), Erin Morley (Sophie), Helene Schneiderman (Annina), Matthew Polenzani (A Singer). Sebastian Weigle conducts this 2017 performance of the landmark Strauss opera.

Marco Armiliato leads a star-studded cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Magda), Lisette Oropesa (Lisette), Roberto Alagna (Ruggero), Marius Brenciu (Prunier), Samuel Ramey (Rambaldo). From 2009.

From April 2018: Joyce DiDonato stars as the title character in Massenet‘s adaptation of the Cinderella fairy tale. Kathleen Kim (La Fée), Alice Coote (Le Prince Charmant), Stephanie Blythe (Madame de la Haltière), Laurent Naouri (Pandolfe) co-star; Bertrand de Billy conducts.

The great Maria Callas stars as the title character in this 1956 performance conducted by Fausto Cleva. Giuseppe Campora (Edgardo), Enzo Sordello (Enrico), Nicola Moscona (Raimondo) costar.