Opera on WNED Classical

Enjoy complete performances of world famous operas from Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and many more Saturdays at 1pm.

For many years, radio broadcasts from "The Metropolitan Opera" have been a Saturday tradition in many American households. Met Opera broadcasts are usually performed live from Lincoln Center in New York City and can be heard from December through May on WNED Classical.    

The WFMT Radio Network Opera series complements the Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts, filling in the schedule to complete the year. From Milan to New York, Barcelona to Chicago, you'll have  a front-row seat to performances from some of the world’s greatest opera companies and performers.

The WFMT Radio Network is pleased to announce the first batch of operas for the 2022 WFMT Radio Network Opera Series, beginning on June 18 and running through December 3, 2022. This first set of operas spans from June 18 through September 10, and includes productions from Santa Fe, France, Salzburg, England, Boston, Vienna, and Italy.

Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts Opera Company debuts in the 2022 WFMT Opera Series as a part of our ongoing partnership with the world-renowned Chinese arts organization. The set of 8 operas is split into two parts, from late September to mid-October, and closing out the series from mid-November into early December.

Broadcasts can be heard on WNED Classical at 1pm every Saturday through December 2, 2022.

Next is a stunning production of The Merry Widow by Lehár, with SONG Yuanming as Hanna Glawari, Thomas Laske as Count Danilo, Sarah Zhai Strauss as Valencienne, and SHI Yijie as Camille de Rosillon.

COMPOSER: Franz Lehár

LIBRETTO: Viktor Léon and Leo Stein

VENUE: China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts

PRESENTING COMPANY: National Centre for the Performing Arts

CAST:

Hanna Glawari: SONG Yuanming

Count Danilo Danilovitsch: Thomas Laske

Valencienne: Sarah Zhai Strauss

Camille de Rosillon: SHI Yijie

ENSEMBLE: NCPA Orchestra

CHORUS: NCPA Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Thomas Rösner

For the final opera in this first set of NCPA productions, we’re especially excited to present a work by Chinese composer HAO Weiya titled A Village Teacher, likely the first time the production has been heard on US radio!

A Village Teacher tells about a touching story of female teacher YANG Caihong (performed by ZHOU Xiaolin) who dedicates her life to education undertaking in poverty-stricken mountainous region. Through the perspective of the protagonists’ ups and downs, the opera gives insight into people’s common emotional conflicts and life confusions, and wrestles with the opposition between idealism and reality, love and betrayal, sacrifice and dedication. Poetic expression, warm music and beautiful idyllic scenes make this work a touching, intimate portrayal of the human condition. The cast includes WANG Hexiang, KOU Jing, ZHANG Wenqin, WANG Lei, and GUAN Zhijing.

COMPOSER: Hao Weiya

LIBRETTO: Liu Heng

VENUE: China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts

PRESENTING COMPANY: National Centre for the Performing Arts

CAST:

Yang Caihong: ZHOU Xiaolin

Zhou Luoping: WANG Hexiang

Li Wenguang: KOU Jing 

Meng Qiuxia: ZHANG Wenqin 

Lin Xifeng: WANG Lei

Zhou Wushan: GUAN Zhijing

ENSEMBLE: NCPA Orchestra

CHORUS: NCPA Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: ZHANG Yi

From China, we journey to Chicago for two productions from Opera Festival of Chicago, marking their debut in the WFMT Opera Series with Verdi’s Il Corsaro and Rossini’s L’Inganno Felice. Verdi’s bombastic 1848 opera Il Corsaro plunges us into the dashing world of seafaring pirates. The production features Jose Simerilla Romero as Corrado, Christine Arand as Medora, Franco Pomponi as Seid, and more.

COMPOSER: Giuseppe Verdi

LIBRETTO: Francesco Maria Piave

VENUE: Cahn Auditorium

PRESENTING COMPANY: Opera Festival of Chicago

CAST:

Corrado: Jose Simerilla Romero

Medora : Christine Arand

Seid: Franco Pomponi

Gulnara : Alejandra Sandoval

Giovanni: Frank De Vincentis

The Eunuch: Benjamin Burney

Aga Selimo: André De Mesquita

ENSEMBLE: Opera Festival of Chicago Orchestra

CHORUS: Opera Festival of Chicago Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Emanuele Andrizzi

L’Inganno Felice, Rossini’s one act opera, was an instant success after its premiere in 1812, creating a worldwide sensation thanks to the beauty of its music from overture to finale. The melodrama with comic elements is directed by Ella Marchment, is under the baton of Emanuele Andrizzi, and features an international cast including Kenneth Tarver, tenor, as the lovesick Duke Bertrando who still mourns for his wife; Katherine Beck, soprano, as the disowned but faithful wife, Isabella; Frank DeVincentis, bass baritone, as the villainous Ormondo; and more.

COMPOSER: Gioachino Rossini

LIBRETTO: Giuseppe Maria Foppa

VENUE: Athenaeum Center

PRESENTING COMPANY: Opera Festival of Chicago

CAST:

Duke Bertrando: Kenneth Tarver

Isabella: Katherine Beck

Ormondo: Frank DeVincentis

Tarabotto: Alexander Adams-Leytes

Batone: Matthew Ciuffitelli

ENSEMBLE: Opera Festival of Chicago Orchestra

CHORUS: Opera Festival of Chicago Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Emanuele Andrizzi

Next, we welcome LA Opera back to the WFMT Opera Series with a stunning performance of Verdi’s inimitable audience favorite Aida. Latonia Moore and Russell Thomas star as secret lovers from rival kingdoms in this timeless romance, directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by James Conlon. With some of the most famous music in all of opera and a gorgeous take on ancient Egypt, this lavish production is sure to entice opera lovers and newcomers alike.

COMPOSER: Giuseppe Verdi

LIBRETTO: Antonio Ghislanzoni

VENUE: Dorothy Chandeler Pavilion

PRESENTING COMPANY: LA Opera

CAST:

Aida: Latonia Moore

Amneris: Melody Moore

Radames: Russell Thomas

Amonasro: George Gagnidze

Ramfis: Morris Robinson

Priestess: Alaysha Fox

King of Egypt: Peixin Chen

Messenger: Anthony Ciaramitaro

ENSEMBLE:: LA Opera Orchestra

CHORUS:: LA Opera Chorus 

CONDUCTOR:: James Conlon

We are very pleased to feature Haymarket Opera Company’s exceptional 2022 production of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ L’Amant anonyme. Haymarket brings the Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ only extant opera to the stage in a blockbuster period production featuring a star-studded cast, sumptuous ballets, the complete original French dialogue, wigs and costumes fit for Marie Antoinette herself, and a full orchestra of rarely heard late-eighteenth-century instruments. Nicole Cabell, a Cardiff Singer of the World and acclaimed international soprano, leads the cast in her Haymarket debut as the beautiful young Léontine, widowed by an unfaithful husband. Tenor Geoffrey Agpalo, also in his company debut, portrays her dear friend Valcour, who has been wooing her with gifts and anonymous letters while he waits for her broken heart to heal. Haymarket favorites David Govertsen (Ophémon), Erica Schuller (Jeannette), Michael St. Peter (Colin), and Nathalie Colas (Dorothée) are all conspirators in the amorous ruse.

COMPOSER: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

LIBRETTO: François Guillome Desfontaines

VENUE: Jarvis Opera Hall                               

PRESENTING COMPANY: Haymarket Opera Company

CAST:

Léontine: Nicole Cabell

Valcour: Geoffrey Agpalo

Ophémon: David Govertsen

Jeannette: Erica Schuller

Colin: Michael St. Peter

Dorothée: Nathalie Colas

ENSEMBLE: Haymarket Opera Orchestra

CONDUCTOR: Craig Trompeter

The second set of NCPA productions begins on November 12 with Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with Mélissa Petit and Francesco Demuro in the title roles.

COMPOSER: Charles Gounod

LIBRETTO: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré

VENUE: China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts

PRESENTING COMPANY: National Centre for the Performing Arts

CAST:

Juliette: Mélissa Petit

Roméo : Francesco Demuro

Le Comte Capulet: Luca Grassi

Frère Laurent: Burak Bilgili

Mercutio: Alessandro Luongo

Stéphano: Jurgita Adamonytė

Tybalt: YUAN Lu

Gertrude: DUAN Nina

ENSEMBLE: NCPA Orchestra

CHORUS: NCPA Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Patrick Fournillier

Next is Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, starring Bruno Pratico as Don Pasquale, with Ekaterina Bakanova as Noria, SHI Yijie as Ernesto, and more. 

COMPOSER: Gaetano Donizetti

LIBRETTO: Michele Accursi

VENUE: China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts

PRESENTING COMPANY: National Centre for the Performing Arts

CAST:

Don Pasquale: Bruno Pratico

Noria: Ekaterina Bakanova

Ernesto: SHI Yijie

Dottor Matatesta: Filippo Polinelli

Natalo: WANG Hexiang

ENSEMBLE: NCPA Orchestra

CHORUS: NCPA Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Daniele Callegari

Verdi’s Falstaff is next, featuring Roberto de Candia in the title role, with Rachele Stanisci as Alice, Filippo Polinelli as Ford, and more.

COMPOSER: Giuseppe Verdi

LIBRETTO: Arrigo Boito

VENUE: China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts

PRESENTING COMPANY: National Centre for the Performing Arts

CAST:

Sir John Falstaff: Roberto de Candia

Alice: Rachele Stanisci

Ford: Filippo Polinelli

Nannetta: Giulia Semenzato

Fenton: SHI Yijie

Mrs. Quickly: Anna Maria Chiuri

Meg Page: Lilly Jørsyad

Dr. Caius: LIANG Yufeng

Bardolf: KOU Jing

Pistola: HUANG Yisheng

ENSEMBLE: NCPA Orchestra

CHORUS: NCPA Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Renato Palumbo

Finally, the 2022 Opera Series comes to a close with Donizetti’s fabulous L’elisir d’amore with Serena Gamberoni in the role of Adina alongside Francesco Meli as Nemorino, LIU Songhu as Belcore, Enzo Capuano as Dr. Dulcamara, and MA Min as Ganeta.

COMPOSER: Gaetano Donizetti

LIBRETTO: Felice Romani

VENUE: China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts

PRESENTING COMPANY: National Centre for the Performing Arts

CAST:

Adina: Serena Gamberoni

Nemorino: Francesco Meli

Belcore: LIU Songhu

Dr. Dulcamara: Enzo Capuano

Ganeta: MA Min

ENSEMBLE: NCPA Orchestra

CHORUS: NCPA Chorus 

CONDUCTOR: Pier Giorgio Morandi