Opera Matinee

WETA Classical is Washington's home for opera year round. From December through early June, experience the power and passion of the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Matinee Broadcasts. The rest of the year features performances from leading opera houses around the world.

Next Episode

Il trovatore

May 3, 2025 1:00 pm

Giuseppe Verdi

From Verdi's masterful middle-to-late period, Il trovatore (The Troubadour) is a highly-charged, emotional drama of family strife, mistaken identity and revenge as the bold troubadour, Manrico, is unwittingly at war with his own long-lost brother. A Metropolitan Opera recorded performance with tenor Michael Fabiano.

  • Rigoletto

    Listeners' Choice: Great Met Broadcasts -- Turandot

    May 10, 2025 1:00 pm

    Giacomo Puccini

    The annual Listener's Choice: Great Met Broadcast has chosen Puccini's immortal Turandot in 1966 Metropolitan Opera production starring Birgit Nilsson in the title role, along with Franco Corelli and Mirella Freni, conducted by Zubin Mehta.
  • Salome

    Salome

    May 17, 2025 1:00 pm

    Richard Strauss

    A biblical story, as envisioned by Oscar Wilde’s play, of an abused and unhinged antiheroine who demands the head of Jochanaan in Richard Strauss's powerful and emotional setting. Elza van den Heever sings the title role of this live Metropolitan Opera broadcast, led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
  • Antony and Cleopatra

    Antony and Cleopatra

    May 24, 2025 1:00 pm

    John Adams

    The Metropolitan Opera premiere of John Adams's opera, an adaptation of Shakespeare's play of power, political strife and burning romance. Gerald Finley and Julia Bullock star in the title roles, led by the composer, John Adams.
  • Il Barbiere di Siviglia

    Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)

    May 31, 2025 1:00 pm

    Gioachino Rossini

    Rossini's effervescent comedy, full of charm and melodies, tells the lengths a Count will go to win his love, with the help of his servant, Figaro. A live Metropolitan Opera broadcast starring Andrey Zhilikhovsky and Jack Swanson.
  • The Queen of Spadews

    The Queen of Spades

    June 7, 2025 1:00 pm

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades presents the grim story of a fanatical gambler whose obsession with a card game, desire, the supernatural and a powerful secret drives him to madness. A Metropolitan Opera production starring Brian Jagde, conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson.
  • Cosi fan tutte

    Così fan tutte

    June 14, 2025 1:00 pm

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    A recorded 2024 production from Wolf Trap Opera at the Barns of Mozart's Così fan tutte, a comedy of the fickle nature of love, featuring glorious ensemble sets. Conducted by Christine Brandes.
  • Silent Night

    Silent Night

    June 21, 2025 1:00 pm

    Kevin Puts

    A recorded 2024 production from Wolf Trap Opera at the Barns of Kevin Puts's 2011 opera, Silent Night, based on a historical truce on Christmas Eve 1914 during World War I, where, on a Belgian battlefield, enemy combatants called peace for one day in honor of Christmas. Conducted by Geoffrey McDonald.