Opera Matinee

Mozart’s beloved opera is a light-hearted take on love, marriage and fidelity, Adapted from Beaumarchais’s revolutionary look at 18th century society, it was composed at the height of Mozart’s powers, with a witty libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. A recorded performance from Wolf Trap Opera’s 2025 summer season at The Barns.

Francis Poulenc’s haunting 20th century opera, Dialogues of the Carmelites, portrays the true events of 18th century Carmelite nuns who explore the meaning of faith, sacrifice and martyrdom as they await execution by guillotine for refusing to abdicate their vocation during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. A recorded performance from the 2025 summer season at The Barns at Wolf Trap.

The oldest surviving opera by a Black American, Morgiane is a tragedy and comedy with characters and ideas from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, a story of love, family and personal discovery. A recorded performance by Opera Lafayette.

Smetana's light-hearted opera, full of comedic touches and delightful personalities, and reality mixed with fantasy, about a couple thwarted in their marriage plans by meddling parents and a marriage broker. A recorded performance from Vienna State Opera.

Beethoven's only opera is a testament to courage, fidelity and heroism against forces of tyranny when a woman, Leonore, engages in a risky mission to rescue her husband from false imprisonment, disguised as a young man named Fidelio. A recorded performance from Vienna State Opera, led by Franz Welser-Möst.

Shostakovich's highly dramatic and controversial opera from the 1930s with themes of loneliness and oppression when an unhappy woman enters into an affair that leads to tragedy. A recorded performance from Teatro alla Scala in Milan, conducted by Riccardo Chailly.

One of Handel's major works for the London stage, Ariodante is based on the poem, Orlando Furioso, an expressive and romantic tale of lovers who overcome attempts to tear them apart. This recorded performance from the Paris Opera features Cecilia Molinari in the title role.