Opera at Eight

In addition to the opera excerpts presented throughout the day, WETA VivaLaVoce features a complete opera at 8 pm each day: Opera at 8. These opera performances are taken from the extensive WETA Classical library, ranging from classic recordings to the most recent releases.

Current Episode

Maometto Secondo

June 4, 2026

Gioachino Rossini

June Anderson [Anna Erisso] ** Margarita Zimmermann [Calbo] ** Ernesto Palacio [Paolo Erisso] ** Samuel Ramey (bass) [Maometto] ** Laurence Dale [Condulmiero ** Selimo] ** Ambrosian Opera Chorus ** Philharmonia Orchestra ** Claudio Scimione (conductor)

  • Carmen

    Episode

    Georges Bizet

    Agnes Baltsa [Carmen] ** José Carreras [Don José] ** José van Dam [Escamillo] ** Katia Ricciarelli [Micaëla] ** Christine Barbaux [Frasquita] ** Jane Berbié [Marcellina] ** Alexander Malta [Zuniga] ** Mikael Melbye [Moralès] ** Gino Quilico [Le Dancaïr] ** Heinz Zednik [Le Remendado] ** Michel Marinpouille [Andrès] ** Chœur de l'Opéra de Paris ** Berlin Philharmonic ** Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

  • Atalanta

    Episode

    George Frideric Handel

    Éva Farkas [Atalanta] ** Éva Bártfai-Barta [Meleagro] ** Éva Lax [Irene] ** János Bándi [Aminta] ** József Gregor [Nicandro] ** László Polgár [Mercury] ** Savaria Vocal Ensemble ** Capella Savaria ** Nicholas McGegan (conductor)

  • Tristan und Isolde

    Episode

    Richard Wagner

    Thomas Moser [Tristan] ** Deborah Voigt [Isolde] ** Petra Lang [Brangäne] ** Peter Weber [Kurwenal] ** Robert Holl [König Marke] ** Markus Nieminen [Melot] ** Michael Roider [Ein Hirt] ** In-Sung Sim [Ein Steuermann] ** John Dickie [Ein junger Seemann] ** Vienna State Opera Chorus ** Vienna State Opera Orchestra ** Christian Thielemann (conductor)

  • Croesus

    Episode

    Reinhard Keiser

    Roman Trekel [Croesus] ** Johannes Mannov [Cyrus] ** Dorothea Röschmann (soprano) [Elmira] ** Werner Güra (tenor) [Atis] ** Klaus Häger [Orsanes] ** Markus Schäfer [Eliates] ** Salomé Haller [Clerida] ** Kwangchul Youn [Solon] ** Graham Pushee [Halimacus] ** Brigitte Eisenfeld [Trigesta] ** Kurt Azesberger [Elcius] ** Jörg Gottschick [Hauptmann] ** Johanna Stojkovic [Nerillus] ** RIAS Chamber Chorus ** Knabenchor Hannover ** Berlin Academy for Old Music ** René Jacobs (alto)

  • The Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya

    Episode

    Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Nicolai Ohotnikov [Prince Yury Vsevolodich] ** Yuri Marusin [Prince Vsevolod] ** Galina Gorchakova [Fevroniya] ** Vladimir Galuzin [Grishka Kuter'ma] ** Nikolai Putilin [Feodor Poyarok] ** Olga Korzhenskaya [Page] ** Evgeny Boitsov [Well-off Person] ** Evgeny Fedorov [Well-off Person] ** Mikhail Kit [Gusli Player] ** Nikolai Gassiev [Bear Leader] ** Grigory Karasev [Singing Beggar] ** Bulat Minjilkiev [Bedyay] ** Vladimir Ognovienko (bass) [Burunday] ** Tatiana Kravtsova [Sirin] ** Larissa Diadkova [Alkonost] ** Kirov Chorus and Orchestra, St. Petersburg ** Valery Gergiev

  • Mefistofele

    Episode

    Arrigo Boito

    Nicolai Ghiaurov (bass) [Mefistofele] ** Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) [Faust] ** Mirella Freni (soprano) [Margherita] ** Nucci Condò [Marta] ** Piero de Palma (tenor) [Wagner] ** Montserrat Caballé (soprano) [Elena] ** Alan Jones [Pantalis] ** Robin Leggate [Nereo] ** London Opera Chorus ** Trinity Boys' Choir ** National Philharmonic Orchestra ** Oliviero de Fabritiis (conductor)

  • L'incoronazione di Dario

    Episode

    Antonio Vivaldi

    John Elwes [Dario] ** Gerard Lesne [Statira] ** Henri Ledroit [Argene] ** Michel Verschaeve [Niceno] ** Isabelle Poulenard [Alinda] ** Agnes Mellon [Oronte] ** Isabelle Poulenard [Arpago] ** Dominique Visse [Flora Bervoix] ** John Elwes [Le Fantôme de Ciro] ** Michel Verschaeve [L'Oracle d'Apollo] ** Ensemble Baroque de Nice ** Gilbert Bezzina (conductor)

  • Roland

    Episode

    Jean-Baptiste Lully

    Nicolas Testé [Roland] ** Anna-Maria Panzarella [Ang!lique] ** Olivier Dumait [Médor] ** Monique Zanetti [Témire] ** Robert Getchell [Astolfe] ** Saomé Haller [La fée principale, Logistille] ** Evgueniy Alexiev [Ziliante ** Demogorgon ** Un suivant d'Angélique] ** Emiliano Gonzalez-Toro [Un insulaire ** Tersandre] ** Anders. J. Dahlin [Un insulaire ** Un suivant d'Angélique ** Coridon, un pâtre]] ** Marie-Hélène Essade [Un amante contente ** Une suivante d'Angélique ** Une postourelle] ** Delphine Gillot [Une suivante d'Angélique ** Une amante contente, La Gloire] ** Les Talens Lyriques ** Christophe Rousset (conductor)

  • Médée

    Episode

    Marc-Antoine Charpentier

    Jill Feldman [Médée] ** Jacques Bona [Créon] ** Agnes Mellon [Créuse] ** Gilles Ragon [Jason] ** Philippe Cantor [Oronte] ** Sophie Boulin [Nérine] ** Les Arts Florissants Chœurs et Orchestre ** William Christie (conductor)

  • Don Giovanni

    Episode

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    William Shimmel [Don Giovanni] ** Samuel Ramey (bass) [Leporello] ** Cheryl Studer (soprano) [Donna Anna] ** Carol Vaness [Donna Elvira] ** Frank Lopardo (tenor) [Don Ottavio] ** Susanne Mentzer [Zerlina] ** Natale de Carolis [Masetto] ** Jan-Hendrik Rootering [Commendatore/La Statua] ** Vienna State Opera Concert Chorus ** Vienna Philharmonic ** Riccardo Muti (conductor)

  • Nabucco

    Episode

    Giuseppe Verdi

    Piero Cappuccilli (baritone) [Nabucco] ** Plácido Domingo (tenor) [Ismaele] ** Evgeny Nesterenko [Zaccaria] ** Ghena Dimitrova [Abigaille] ** Lucia Valentini Terrani [Fenena] ** Kurt Rydl [Il Gran Sacerdote di Belo] ** Volker Horn [Abdallo] ** Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin ** Giuseppe Sinopoli (conductor)

  • Turandot

    Episode

    Giacomo Puccini

    Joan Sutherland [Turandot] ** Luciano Pavarotti [Calaf] ** Montserrat Caballé [Liù] ** Nicolai Ghiaurov [Timur] ** Peter Pears [L'Imperatore Altoum] ** Tom Krause [Ping] ** Pier Francesco Poli [Pang ** Il Principe di Persia] ** Piero de Palma [Pong] ** Sabin Markov [Un Mandarino] ** John Alldis Choir ** Wandsworth Boys' Choir ** London Philharmonic Orchestra ** Zubin Mehta (conductor)