3280 shows

Clear filters

Silent Night

Opera · 2011

In summer 1914, war disrupts an opera performance in Berlin, sends singer Nikolaus Sprink to the front, prompts Scotsman William Dale to enlist, and separates pregnant Madeleine from French lieutenant Audebert. On 23–24 December, fighting kills William and Nikolaus despairs at the violence. German troops receive Christmas trees, the French receive food and wine, and the Scots receive whisky. Nikolaus sings “Silent Night,” accompanied by a Scottish bagpipe, and the soldiers agree to a truce. They meet in no man’s land, exchange provisions, and attend mass, while Jonathan vows revenge for William. On Christmas Day, the truce is extended for burials, but military headquarters condemn it. Anna leads Nikolaus across the lines to seek French asylum. On 26 December, the Scots are punished with reassignment; Jonathan mistakenly shoots Frenchman Ponchel in a German uniform. Audebert is sent to Verdun, German soldiers are transferred to Pomerania, and no man’s land is empty.

Silla

Opera · 1713

After defeating his enemies, Silla declares himself dictator. He tries to seduce Celia and Flavia, but his wife Metella stops him. He imprisons Lepido and Claudio, whom Celia loves, and sentences them to death. Metella uses a bloodstained garment to convince Silla that Lepido has been executed, then frees the prisoners. The couples reunite, and Metella rescues Silla from a shipwreck. The god Mars appears as Rome’s supporters rise against the tyrant; Silla repents, retires with Metella, and consents to Claudio and Celia’s marriage.

Simon Boccanegra

Opera · 1857

In Genoa, corsair Simon Boccanegra becomes Doge and discovers that his lover Maria has died. Their daughter has disappeared. Twenty-five years later, Boccanegra meets Amelia, a young woman he recognizes as his long-lost daughter. His adviser Paolo, angry that Amelia refuses to marry him, arranges her kidnapping. Boccanegra stops a mob from attacking Gabriele Adorno, Amelia’s lover, and discovers Paolo’s role. Paolo poisons the Doge and incites a revolt. After the revolt is suppressed, Boccanegra dies reconciled with his enemy Fiesco, who learns that Amelia is his granddaughter. Boccanegra blesses Amelia and Adorno’s marriage and names Adorno his successor.

Sir John in Love

Opera · 1929

Falstaff plots to seduce Mistress Ford and Mistress Page for money, but the Merry Wives discover his identical letters and arrange to humiliate him. Meanwhile, Anne Page loves Fenton while her parents and suitors promote other matches. Ford, disguised as Brook, tests Falstaff and later joins the Pages in a trap involving a laundry basket. At Windsor Forest, the group stages a fairy prank; Anne and Fenton reveal they have married, while Slender and Caius discover their supposed brides are boys in disguise. The opera ends in reconciliation.

Statira principessa di Persia

Opera · 1656

The King of Armenia captures Stateira and her mother during a war with Darius of Persia. Cloridaspis, King of Arabia and in love with Stateira, frees them and returns them to Darius; Stateira tends the wounded Arab king and falls in love with him. Usimano, an Egyptian prince disguised as Stateira's servant Ermosilla, grows jealous; by the end, Stateira marries Cloridaspis and relinquishes the Persian throne, while Usimano marries Floralba.

Suor Angelica

Opera · 1918

Sister Angelica, who has lived in a convent for seven years, learns that her aunt, the Princess, has come to obtain her signature on a document transferring her inheritance to her sister Anna Viola. Angelica asks about the son she was forced to leave behind. The Princess tells her that he died of fever two years earlier. Angelica signs the document and collapses in grief. She makes and drinks poison, then realizes she has committed a mortal sin and fears she will be separated from her son forever. As she dies, she asks the Virgin Mary for mercy and sees a vision of the Virgin and her son coming to embrace her.

Svätopluk

Opera · 1960

In 894 Great Moravia, King Svätopluk, believing himself near death, gives power to his sons Mojmír and young Svätopluk. The younger son plots with Frankish and pagan allies to take the throne, while Mojmír frees Milena from a planned pagan sacrifice and refuses to rebel against his father. Ľutomíra frames Mojmír, and the king imprisons him. After a failed attempt by the younger son to kill the king, Svätopluk’s third son Predslav persuades him to lift his sons’ death sentences. The king forgives them and urges unity, but young Svätopluk attacks Mojmír; Milena shields Mojmír and dies, and the king dies during the struggle. Young Svätopluk flees.

Tale for a Deaf Ear

Opera · 1957

On a snowy afternoon in the suburban home of Tracy and Laura Gates, an argument about Tracy’s drinking turns violent; Tracy dies of a heart attack, and Laura prays for him to return. A Greek chorus tells of the mariner Hypraemius’s four seasonal miracles, granted when a penitent prays for the dead at 3:59. The opera presents three miracles: a Tuscan noblewoman’s infant son returns, a Scottish farm girl gets her family’s cow back, and a German soldier’s dead brother returns. Back at the Gates’ home, Tracy revives with no memory of events, but he and Laura resume their quarrel. He suffers a second heart attack and dies permanently. A doctor treats Laura as the chorus sings that the only death in life is the death of love.

Tancredi

Opera · 1813

In Syracuse, Amenaide is secretly in love with the exiled soldier Tancredi. Her father, Argirio, arranges for her to marry Orbazzano, hoping to end a feud and strengthen the city. A letter Amenaide wrote to Tancredi is mistaken for a treasonous message to the Saracen leader Solamir, and she is imprisoned. Tancredi, still believing she betrayed him, challenges Orbazzano and wins. He later defeats the Saracens; the dying Solamir confirms Amenaide’s innocence, and the lovers reunite. In the Ferrara version, Tancredi is mortally wounded and learns the truth just before dying in Amenaide’s arms.

Taras Bulba

Opera · 1924

In 17th-century Ukraine, Taras Bulba leaves his sons Ostap and Andriy in Kyiv for education. Andriy falls in love with Maryltsya, daughter of a Polish governor. When war breaks out, Taras takes his sons to the Cossack stronghold. During the siege of Dubno, Andriy helps Maryltsya and joins the Polish army to marry her. Taras learns of his son’s desertion and kills him; Ostap sings a lament. In the final orchestral scene, Taras and Ostap lead the Cossacks to victory and take Dubno.

Thaïs

Opera · 1894

The ascetic monk Athanaël returns to Alexandria to convert Thaïs, a courtesan and devotee of Venus, whom he remembers from his youth. His wealthy friend Nicias is Thaïs’s lover. Athanaël urges her to abandon her former life; after resisting, she agrees to join him in the desert and enter a convent. At the convent, Athanaël realizes that he has become consumed by desire for her. Learning that Thaïs is dying, he rushes to her bedside and confesses his love, while she dies believing she is entering heaven.

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Opera · 2007

Geppetto carves Pinocchio from a log and buys him a schoolbook, but Pinocchio is distracted by the puppet theatre, the Cat and Fox, and the Field of Miracles. After repeated misadventures, the Blue Fairy cures him and he tries to be good. He is tricked into going to Funland, transformed, joins a circus, and is sold to a drum-maker. Pinocchio returns to normal, is swallowed by a large fish, and escapes with Geppetto. He works to support his father and finally receives his reward.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Opera · 2024

In 1939, Czech Jewish artist Joe Kavalier escapes Nazi-occupied Prague and joins his cousin Sam Clay in Brooklyn, where they create the superhero the Escapist. Joe falls in love with Rosa Saks and tries to save his sister Sarah from Europe; after the ship carrying refugee children is destroyed, he enlists and goes to war. Rosa and Sam build a life together while Joe is away, and after learning through Rosa’s letters that he has a daughter, Joe returns to reunite with them.

The Amber Witch

Opera · 1861

In 17th-century Pomerania, Mary Schweidler secretly discovers amber and uses its value to help starving villagers. Count Rudiger falls in love with her, as does the local Commandant. After Mary chooses Rudiger, the Commandant and his jealous servant Elsie accuse her of witchcraft. Mary confesses during her trial to spare her father and is condemned to burn. Rudiger escapes imprisonment and rescues her; the King pardons Mary and orders the Commandant to take her place. Elsie dies by poison, and the Commandant is banished.

The Aspern Papers

Opera · 1988

At Lake Como, a Lodger who studies composer Jeffrey Aspern rents rooms from former prima donna Juliana Bordereau and her niece Tina, hoping to find Aspern’s papers and a lost Medea opera score. The story shifts between 1885, as the Lodger investigates, and 1835, when the audience sees Aspern’s relationship with the younger soprano Sonia and his death. Juliana dies after the Lodger learns she has kept the papers. Tina offers him the score if he will marry her; he initially refuses, then changes his mind, but Tina says it is too late. She burns the score page by page.

Showing 2,569–2,688 of 3,280 shows

Load more shows