Knoxville: Summer of 1915

Knoxville: Summer of 1915 / BBC Proms

Jonathon Heyward conducts Angel Blue in a live broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall
Streamed August 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Hannover Opera Gala

Hannover Opera Gala / Hannover Maschpark

Michael Spyres, Caterina Piva, and Ludovic Tézier perform excerpts by Bizet, Cilea, Verdi, Puccini, and more, live from Hannover
Streamed August 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Piotr Beczala and Kathryn Lewek

Piotr Beczala and Kathryn Lewek / Santender International Festival

José Miguel Pérez-Sierra conducts Piotr Beczala and Kathyrn Lewek in favorite arias and duets live from Santander.
Streamed August 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Excerpts from <em>Nixon in China</em>

Excerpts from Nixon in China / Boston Symphony Orchestra

Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson star in a performance conducted by Andris Nelsons and recorded at Tanglewood last month.
Streamed August 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Das Lied von der Erde

Das Lied von der Erde / BBC Symphony Orchestra

Anja Bihlmaier conducts Jamie Barton and Clay Hilley in a live broadcast from Royal Albert Hall
Streamed August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Some filth or dementia from Remko Jas Some filth or dementia from Remko Jas

To make a success of the Empress in Frau ohne Schatten, it is not enough to be a fine singer and a great actress.

Der Prinz von Homburg

Der Prinz von Homburg / Salzburg Festival

Ingo Metzmacher conducts Hanz Werner Henze's opera live from the Salzburg Festival
Streamed August 20, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Some filth or dementia from Ryan Ellermann Some filth or dementia from Ryan Ellermann

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny it’s iconic!

Ariadne auf Naxos

Ariadne auf Naxos / BBC Proms

Robin Ticciati conducts Rachel Willis-Sørensen, David Butt Philip, and Alina Wunderlin in a live performance from the Royal Albert Hall
Streamed August 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Vox populi Vox populi

In Bayreuth, a confident Magnus Vigilius and luminous Jennifer Holloway attempt to elevate Wagner’s populist Rienzi.

Some filth or dementia from Damian Some filth or dementia from Damian

I’ve only heard one performance that could be described as ‘filth.’

(A)nything (B)ut <em>(C)armen</em> (A)nything (B)ut <em>(C)armen</em>

Calling from 2066, Brendan Latimer argues that the best way to save opera might be to just blow up the standard repertoire altogether.

Eugene Onegin

Eugene Onegin / Santa Fe Opera

Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts Mattia Olivieri and Olga Kulchynska in a performance recorded earlier this summer at The Santa Fe Opera
Streamed August 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM
What passion cannot Music raise and quell? What passion cannot Music raise and quell?

American Bach led a stirring rendition of Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, full of big questions and even bigger musical highlights.

Some filth or dementia from TildyDiva Some filth or dementia from TildyDiva

I could not wrap what’s left of my mind around the concept of “filth and dementia” in opera

An instrument of your peace An instrument of your peace

Philippe Sly is sublime as Messiaen’s Saint François D’Assise in Salzburg, though Romeo Castellucci‘s production could brush up on its catechism.

Some filth or dementia from Belle Raggio Some filth or dementia from Belle Raggio

Renée as Thaïs finding salvation while trudging through the parched Egyptian desert in off-the-shoulder La Croix atelier.

Verdi Requiem

Verdi Requiem / Salzburg Festival

Riccardo Muti conducts a matinée performance featuring Iwona Sobotka, Marianne Crebassa, Michael Spyres, and Maharram Huseynov live from Salzburg
Streamed August 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Da capo days of summer Da capo days of summer

San Francisco goes baroque with performances of Handel‘s AlcinaTolomeo, and Rinaldo.

Lead balloon Lead balloon

At Wolf Trap Opera, a season-closing Tosca is weighed down by an incoherent setting during Italy’s Anni di piombo.

Some filth or dementia from HBadger Some filth or dementia from HBadger

What to our wondering ears should appear, but a 40-track Jonas Kaufmann Christmas album?

La scala di seta

La scala di seta / Rossini Opera Festival

Iurii Samoilov, Paolo Bordogna, and Hasmik Torosyan lead a live performance from Pesaro
Streamed August 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Some filth or dementia from Michael Anthonio Some filth or dementia from Michael Anthonio

Speaking of dementia in opera, all I can think of is the extraordinary reimagined production of Béla Bartók’s chamber opera Bluebeard’s Castle that I saw at Atlanta Opera in October 2022.

L’occasione fa il ladro

L’occasione fa il ladro / Rossini Opera Festival

Alessandro Bonato leads a live broadcast from Pesaro featuring Dave Monaco
Streamed August 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM