Thursday Night Opera House

Thursdays at 7:00 pm Eastern

 

Thrill to the sounds of grand opera.

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.

Fall 2026

September

  • September 3 — Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail
    Rundfunkchor Leipzig · Staatskapelle Dresden · Karl Böhm, conductor
    A comic rescue plot filled with virtuosic music, romantic devotion, and outrageous antics.
  • September 10 — Cimarosa: Il matrimonio segreto
    English Chamber Orchestra · Daniel Barenboim, conductor
    A sparkling Classical-era comedy about a secret marriage and the complications it creates.
  • September 17 — Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
    Vienna Philharmonic · Sir Georg Solti, conductor
    A noble prince, a comic birdcatcher, an angry Queen of the Night, and a quest for true love.
  • September 24 — Mozart: Don Giovanni
    Berlin Opera and Berlin Philharmonic · Herbert von Karajan, conductor
    Comedy and melodrama meet in Mozart’s celebrated dramma giocoso. An archival broadcast by the late Al Ruocchio.

October

  • October 1 — Weber: Der Freischütz
    German Symphony Orchestra of Berlin · Marek Janowski, conductor
    Romance and the supernatural converge in the famously eerie Wolf’s Glen scene.
  • October 8 — Dvořák: Rusalka
    Czech Philharmonic Orchestra · Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor
    A water nymph longs to become human after falling in love with a prince.
  • October 15 — Gounod: Faust
    Orchestre et Chœurs du Théâtre National de l’Opéra de Paris · Georges Prêtre, conductor
    Faust bargains away his soul for youth in a drama rich with memorable arias and duets.
  • October 22 — Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer
    BBC Chorus and New Philharmonia Orchestra · Otto Klemperer, conductor
    Condemned to sail forever, the Dutchman comes ashore once every seven years in search of a faithful woman. From the Al Ruocchio archives.
  • October 29 — Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier
    Fall Membership Drive

November

  • November 5 — Rossini: La Cenerentola
    Orchestra of the Royal Opera House · Carlo Rizzi, conductor
    Rossini’s joyful, lyrical retelling of Cinderella gives its mezzo-soprano heroine a radiant spotlight.
  • November 12 — Bellini: I puritani
    London Symphony Orchestra · Richard Bonynge, conductor
    Love between a Puritan woman and a Royalist is threatened by civil war and betrayal. An archival broadcast by the late Al Ruocchio.
  • November 19 — Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
    Orchestra della Toscana · Gianluigi Gelmetti, conductor
    Figaro’s clever disguises and schemes help Count Almaviva win Rosina away from her jealous guardian.
  • November 26 — Thanksgiving Programming

Now Playing

Clarinet Quartet in E flat

Composed by

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)

Performed by

Neidich/L'Archibudelli

Label

Sony

Catalog Number

57968

Today's Playlist

1:27pm Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, K. 297b

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy

2:01pm Salut d’amour, Op. 12

Composed by

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Performed by

Shaham/Orpheus Chamber Orch.

2:05pm Music for the Royal Fireworks

Composed by

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Performed by

King's Chamber Orchestra/Malgoire

2:28pm Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

Composed by

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Performed by

Kissin/Emerson String Quartet members

3:01pm Symphony No. 087 in A

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

3:29pm Danza Paraguaya

Composed by

Agustin Barrios (1885-1944)

Performed by

Xuefei Yang

3:32pm Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61

Composed by

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Performed by

Chee-Yun/London Phil./Lopez-Cobos

4:02pm Suite No. 1 from Ancient Airs & Dances

Composed by

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Performed by

L.A. Chamber Orch/Marriner

4:18pm Recorder Concerto in C, RV 443

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Copley/Camerata Bern/Copley

4:29pm Deep River

Composed by

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, arr. by Maud Powell

Performed by

Pine/Hagle

4:34pm Danzon No. 2

Composed by

Arturo Marquez (b.1950)

Performed by

Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra/Dudamel

4:45pm Overture from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Stuttgart Chamber Orch/Munchinger

4:53pm Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orpheus and Eurydice

Composed by

Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787)

Performed by

Zoeller/Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

5:01pm Finale (Allegro molto) from Symphony No. 5 in E flat, Op. 82

Composed by

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Performed by

Philharmonia/Ashkenazy

5:11pm Selection of solo piano works: Lilacs, Elegie, Liebeslied, Melodie,

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff

5:27pm Country Gardens

Composed by

Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

Performed by

Eastman-Rochester Pops/Fennell

5:31pm Kettenbrucke Waltz

Composed by

Johann Strauss Sr. (1804-1849)

Performed by

Boskovsky Ensemble

5:36pm Elegy for Strings, Op. 58

Composed by

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Performed by

New Philharmonia/Barbirolli

5:41pm Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D, "Fandango"

Composed by

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Performed by

Romero/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble

6:00pm Light Cavalry Overture

Composed by

Franz von Suppe (1819-1895)

Performed by

NY Philharmonic/Bernstein

6:08pm Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Composed by

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Performed by

Brendel/London Symphony/Abbado

6:41pm Prelude from Suite Bergamasque

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

Empire Brass

6:46pm Music selected by the announcer

7:01pm Symphony No. 094 in G, "Surprise"

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Bernstein

7:27pm String Quintet in C, K. 515

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Berthaud/Quatuor Voce

8:00pm Symphony No. 5 in E flat, Op. 82

Composed by

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

8:32pm Symphony No. 8 in F, Op. 93

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink

9:00pm Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

National Academy of St. Cecilia/Chung

9:09pm Concerto in A flat for Two Pianos

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

A. & J. Paratore/R.I.A.S. Symphony/Lajovic

9:45pm Ballet des Plaisirs

Composed by

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)

Performed by

Aradia Baroque Ensemble/Mallon

10:00pm Reverie

Composed by

Claude Debussy, trans. Allen

Performed by

Nancy Allen

10:06pm Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Argerich/Berlin RSO/Chailly

10:47pm In Bohemia

Composed by

Mily Balakirev (1837-1910)

Performed by

USSR Symphony/Svetlanov

11:00pm Piano Sonata No. 10 in C, K. 330

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Yundi Li

11:20pm Serenade in D minor for Winds, Op. 44

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Orchestra of Beethoven Hall, Bonn/Davies

11:47pm Music selected by the announcer