Opera Matinee

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.

Aida is Verdi's epic work, an emotionally charged tragedy of forbidden love between Aida, an Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt, and Ramades, an Egyptian military captain. The lovers are members of separate classes and warring nations, each loyal to their countries yet torn by their love for each other. A recorded performance from Paris Opera.

This 1925 opera by Leos Janacek is a drama, a blend of fantasy and reality and time travel, that explores greed and fame that fuels a wish for immortality. A recorded performance by the Royal Opera in London, led by Jakub Hrůša.

Mussorgsky's opera is based on the tragic story of the real-life 17th century Russian tsar whose reign was marked by uncertainty, fear and paranoia about the murder of the real heir apparent to the throne. A recorded performance from the Royal Opera in London, featuring Sir Bryn Terfel in the title role.