Every Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, let The Classical Station sweep you away to the enchanting world of opera.
Since 1980, the Thursday Night Opera House has brought the beauty of the stage to your living room, now guided by Dr. Jay Pierson’s expert hand.
La Rondine
Giacomo Puccini
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
Lorin Maazel, conductor
First performed in 1917, La Rondine (The Swallow) tells the story of Magda and Ruggero, who have fallen in love. However, Magda has a secret that could put their relationship into jeopardy. Does she reveal the secrets of her past life?
Le Villi
Giacomo Puccini
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Lorin Maazel, conductor
Le Villi (The Fairies) was Puccini’s first work for the stage. It premiered in 1884. Set in the Black Forest, Roberto is lured away by the Sirens, from his love, Anna, and she dies of a broken heart. The fairies then plot their revenge against Roberto.
Attila
Giuseppe Verdi
Ambrosian Singers
Finchley Children’s Music Group
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Lamberto Gardelli, conductor
First performed in 1846 in Venice, this opera is filled with drama and intrigue. The storyline revolves around the reign and downfall of Attila, the Hun.
L’Italiana in Algeri
Gioachino Rossini
Coro Filarmonico Di Praga
Claudio Scimone, conductor
Isabella, a young Italian woman, is shipwrecked and captured by pirates who deliver her to Mustafa, the Bey of Algiers, who is bored with his wife and seeks a new Italian lover. (Archival broadcast by the late Al Ruocchio)
Giulio Cesare
George Frederic Handel
New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Julius Rudel, conductor
One of Handel’s most successful operas. Julius Caesar and Cleopatra overcome their enemies and Cleopatra is crowned queen.
L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love)
Gaetano Donizetti
English Chamber Orchestra
Marcello Viotti, conductor
A lighthearted, comical, and sentimental opera, regarded as Donizetti’s most well-known work. Will the elixir work for Adina and Nemorino? (Archival broadcast by the late Al Ruocchio)
La Forza del Destino (The Force of Destiny)
Giuseppe Verdi
London Symphony Orchestra
James Levine, conductor
Based on a Spanish drama, this Verdi masterpiece is filled with intrigue. Alvaro and Leonora’s love for each other takes a tragic turn when Leonora’s family gets involved.
Così fan tutte
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Erich Leinsdorf, conductor
Comic opera at its best! Two gentlemen are in love with women who are sisters, and they devise a plot to test their fidelity. The men go off to a fictitious war and return disguised as Balkan soldiers. They try to seduce each other’s lover. Do the sisters give in? Tune in and find out.
Das Rheingold
Richard Wagner
Vienna Philharmonic
Sir Georg Solti, conductor
Das Rheingold is the first of the four music dramas that make up Wagner’s Der Ring Des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). The Rhinemaidens guard the precious Rhinegold. They explain to Alberich (Neidlinger) that this gold can be made into a magic ring which gives power to rule the world. Alberich then curses love and steals the gold.
Aida
Giuseppe Verdi
Obratsova, Ricciarelli, Domingo, Ghiaurov
Coro e Orchestra del Teatro Alla Scala
Claudio Abbado, conductor
Since its premiere in 1871, Aida has received over 1100 performances at the Metropolitan Opera alone. This tragic romance, set in Egypt, is filled with thrilling choruses, amazingly difficult arias and brilliant orchestration, all adding up to Verdi at his finest. (Archival broadcast by the late Al Ruocchio)
Norma
Vincenzio Bellini
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala Milano
Tulio Serafin, conductor
Plaintive, graceful and virtuoso melodies abound in this 1831 masterpiece, bel canto at its finest! Tune in and listen to this dramatic story, and discover the love triangle that ends in tragedy. (Archival recording by the late Al Ruocchio)
Die Fledermaus
Johann Strauss II
Wiener Philharmoniker
André Previn, conductor
Filled with memorable melodies and beautiful waltzes, this operetta has remained highly popular since its debut in 1874.
Rodelinda
George Frederic Handel
Welsh National Opera Orchestra
Richard Bonynge, conductor
Rodelinda is stricken with grief, believing that her husband, Bertirino, is dead, but is he? Several suitors try to steal her heart, yet she remains faithful to her husband’s memory. All’s well that ends well and her husband returns, making a joyous ending to this masterpiece.
L’Orfeo
Claudio Monteverdi
The Monteverdi Choir
The English Baroque Soloists
His Majesties Sagbuts & Cornetts
John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
Written in 1607, this masterpiece is the oldest surviving score still in the standard repertoire. It tells the story of Orpheus trying to rescue his lover, Euridice, from Hades.
