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.

Celebrate the return the WFMT Radio Opera Series on WNED Classical for the 2023 season

The WFMT Radio Network is pleased to announce the first batch of operas for the 2023 WFMT Radio Network Opera Series, beginning on June 17 and running through December 2, 2023. This first set of operas spans from June 17 through September 23 (with more to follow), and includes productions from Vienna, France, England, Italy, China, and more. 

Broadcasts can be heard on WNED Classical at 1pm every Saturday through December 2, 2023.

See what’s coming up below:

From Europe, we traverse continents to land in China to hear four operas from Beijing’s exceptional National Centre for the Performing Arts. Following on their success last season, we’re honored to bring these exceptional productions to listeners across the United States. First up is Wagner’s audience-favorite Tannhäuser! Endrik Wottrich stars as Tannhäuser, with Barbara Haveman as Elizabeth, Giuseppina Piunti as Venus, Markus Werba as Wolfram, and many more.

Composer: Richard Wagner    

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts

Presenting Company: National Centre for the Performing Arts Opera

Cast:

Tannhäuser:  Endrik Wottrich

Elisabeth:  Barbara Haveman

Venus:   Giuseppina Piunti

Wolfram von Eschenbach:   Markus Werba

Hermann:  Manfred Hemm

Walther von der Vogelweide:   Vicente Ombuena

Biterolf:   Karsten Mewes

Heinrich der Schreiber:  Kurt Azesberger

Reinmar von Zweter:  Rainer Zaun

Shepherd:   ZHANG Xin

Ensemble: NCPA Orchestra

Conductor: LÜ Jia 

Next up is an exciting production of Chinese composer YIN Qing’s The Ballad of the Canal, presented here for the very first time on US radio. This beautiful opera celebrates the ups and downs of life on the canal, full of joy and sorrow, life and death, righteousness and evil—all sung in a virtuosic and stunning style.

Composer: YIN Qing

Libretto: HUANG Weiruo      

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts

Presenting Company: National Centre for the Performing Arts Opera

Cast:

SHUI Honglian: WANG Lida / WANG Zhe

QIN Xiaosheng: WANG Hongwei / WANG Zenan

GUAN Yanyan: WANG Li / JIN Tingting

ZHANG Shuiyao: SUN Li / WANG Hexiang

Ensemble: NCPA Orchestra and Chorus

Chorus Director: MENG Huan

Conductor: LÜ Jia

La Fille du Régiment, Donizzeti’s light-hearted and humorous story features another fabulous cast that combines the talents of Western and Chinese artists. Sabina Puértolas stars in the role as Marie, with Giovanni Romeo as Sulpice, SHI Yijie as Tonio, WANG Hexiang as Hortensius, and ZHAO Denghui as Un Caporal.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto: Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard      

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts

Presenting Company: National Centre for the Performing Arts Opera

Cast:

Marie:  Sabina Puértolas

Tonio:  SHI Yijie

Sulpice:   Giovanni Romeo

La Marquise de Berkenfield:  Doris Lamprecht

La Duchesse de Krakenthorp:  Daniela Mazzuccato

Hortensius:  WANG Hexiang

Un Caporal:  ZHAO Denghui

Un Paysan:  MEN Hongduo

Un Notaire:  GUO Shuojie

Ensemble: NCPA Orchestra and Chorus

Chorus Director: Marco Bellei

Conductor: Matteo Beltrami 

And finally, the first part of the 2023 Opera Series ends with a bang, featuring an epic production of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West staring Amarilli Nizza as Minne, Claudio Sgura as Jack Rance, Marco Berti as Dick Johnson, and KOU Jing as Nick. Acclaimed conductor LÜ Jia leads the NCPA Orchestra and Chorus for these exciting productions from China’s leading opera house.

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini      

Venue:  National Centre for the Performing Arts

Presenting Company: National Centre for the Performing Arts Opera

Cast:

Minnie:   Amarilli Nizza

Jack Rance:  Claudio Sgura

Dick Johnson alias Ramerrez:  Marco Berti

Nick:  KOU Jing

Ashby:  WANG Meng

Sonora:  Domenico Balzani

Trin:   ZHU He

Sid:  ENG Zhe

Bello:  SHANG Chunlai

Harry:  DU Fanyong

Joe:  GUO Jianchao

Happy:   ZHAO Denghui

Larkens:  ZHAO Ming

Billy:  DU Ang

Wowkle:  LIU Lu

Jake Wallace:  ZHANG Yang

Ensemble: NCPA Orchestra and Chorus

Chorus Director: Salvatore Caputo

Conductor: Andrea Battistoni