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

Lohengrin

December 5, 2025

Richard Wagner

Kurt Moll [Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Fowler)] ** Siegfried Jerusalem [Lohengrin] ** Cheryl Studer [Elsa von Brabant] ** Hartmut Welker [Friedrich von Telramund] ** Waltraud Meier [Ortrud] ** Andreas Schmidt [The King's Herald] ** Bojidar Nikolov [Nobleman of Brabant] ** Franz Kasemann [Nobleman of Brabant] ** Claudio Otelli [Nobleman of Brabant] ** Peter Koves [Nobleman of Brabant] ** Amy-Linda Domaracki [Page] ** Ingrid Sieghart [Page] ** Senta Fischer [Page] ** Elisabeth Mach [Page] ** Vienna State Opera Chorus [Saxon and Thuringian counts and nobles ** Brabantine counts and nobles, noblewomen, pages, vassals, ladies, serfs] ** Vienna Philharmonic ** Claudio Abbado (conductor)

  • Idomeneo

    Episode

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) [Idomeneo] ** Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) [Idamante] ** Sylvia McNair [Ilia] ** Hillevi Martinpelto [Elettra] ** Nigel Robson [Arbace] ** Glenn Winslade [Gran Sacerdote di Nettuno] ** Cornelius Hauptmann (bass) [La Voce] ** Angela Kazimierczuk [Cretesa 1] ** Jonathan Peter Kenny [Cretesa 2] ** Philip Salmon [Troiane 1] ** Stephen Charlesworth [Troiane 2] ** The Monteverdi Choir ** The English Baroque Soloists ** John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

  • Un Ballo in Maschera

    Episode

    Giuseppe Verdi

    Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) [Riccardo] ** Renato Bruson [Renato] ** Margaret Price [Amelia] ** Christa Ludwig [Ulrica] ** Kathleen Battle [Oscar] ** Peter Weber [Silvano] ** Robert Lloyd [Samuel] ** Malcolm King [Tom] ** Alexander Oliver [Un Giudice] ** Peter Hall [Un Servo d'Amelia] ** London Opera Chorus [Deputies, officers, sailors, guards, men and women of the people, gentlemen, followers of Samuel and Tom, servants, maskers and dancing couples] ** Royal College of Music Junior Department Chorus ** National Philharmonic Orchestra ** Sir Georg Solti (conductor)