Manfred Honeck, the longtime music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, leads music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Giuseppe Verdi, and Gustav Mahler.

Chosen by Angel Blue, hear Renée Fleming in a performance from November 7, 2007. Fleming is the the self-sacrificing courtesan Violetta—one of opera’s ultimate heroines. Tenor Matthew Polenzani is her self-centered lover Alfredo, alongside baritone Dwayne Croft as his disapproving father, and Marco Armiliato on the podium.

This grandest of grand operas — set in Ancient Egypt and packed with magnificent choruses, complex ensembles, and elaborate ballets — is in essence, an intimate love story.

Verdi’s heartbreaking masterpiece returns, with baritone Luca Salsi in the title role, alongside soprano Erin Morley as naïve daughter, Gilda, and rising tenor Pene Pati as the rakish Duke of Mantua, with Daniele Callegari on the podium to conduct Bartlett Sher’s Weimar-inspired production.

The American soprano, one of the most admired singers of her generation, is headlining the Metropolitan Opera’s first new production of Verdi’s “Aida” in 36 years.

Storms capture the human imagination, inspiring awe and fear in equal measure.

Meet two artists making their Lyric Opera debuts this month.

During his reign in Chicago, Al Capone, who you may not know loved opera, was one of the city’s biggest jazz impresarios.

Quirky customs, long-lived legends, and other classical curiosities and superstitions.

What is it about this music that is so hair-raising?

Situated in a wooded area just outside Berlin, the Waldbühne is one of Europe’s largest and most popular open-air concert venues.

An interview with the Mexican tenor in advance of his Lyric Opera debut in Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Riccardo Chailly conducts this grand opera that delves deep into themes of power, love, and betrayal.

Oboist Alex Leidtke and pianist Dana Brown perform works by Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Verdi, Barbara Strozzi, and Antonio Pasculli.

A celebration of the great Italian tenor, born July 13, 1924.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for a performance of Verdi’s soul-stirring Requiem alongside a thrilling quartet of soloists.

“This is a tra-ge-dy. It’s not going to go right in the end. And that’s hard.”

The season includes 9 programs, including concerts from opera and musical theater royalty.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Verdi’s grand tale of ill-fated love, deadly vendetta, and family strife, with stellar soprano Lise Davidsen as the lead role.

Lyric Opera’s music director highlights favorite moments from Verdi’s grandest opera.

A 1962 audience-favorite Met Broadcast featuring Carlo Bergonzi and Leontyne Price.

Four contemporary operas have their Met premieres.

Carlo Rizzi conducts an all-star ensemble that features soprano Angela Meade, Quinn Kelsey, and Charles Castronovo.

Much like a gourmet dish, classical music is the result of many individual elements coming together. The composer, like a chef, must know the distinct flavor profiles of each instrument and how they complement each other.

Ancient Babylon comes to life in a classic Met staging of biblical proportions.