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Guide to Opera

The Classical California Guide to Opera: The Essential Top 5 of Opera

The Classical California Guide to Opera: The Essential Top 5 of Opera

Explore the world of opera with this guide, featuring 5 essential pieces from Puccini, Wagner, Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, and a bonus from Verdi. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

09/30/2025
The ABC’s of Opera: Puccini’s “La bohème”

The ABC’s of Opera: Puccini’s “La bohème”

Explore the timeless themes of love, optimism, and dreams in Puccini's La Bohème. Learn about its history, characters, and its influence on modern productions like Rent.

09/18/2024
A Rare ‘Lucrezia’ in Pacifica

A Rare ‘Lucrezia’ in Pacifica

Phénix Opera Company's director, Osvaldo de Leon, stages the rarely performed opera Lucrezia by Respighi at Pacifica’s Spindrift School, aiming to introduce it to a wider audience.

03/06/2020
‘Aci, Galatea e Polifemo’ in the Age of Me Too

‘Aci, Galatea e Polifemo’ in the Age of Me Too

Handel's mini-opera, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, is reimagined with a contemporary twist, addressing power dynamics and sexual abuse in the age of #MeToo.

03/06/2020
A Surreal Fairytale at ‘Snapshot’

A Surreal Fairytale at ‘Snapshot’

West Edge Opera and Earplay present Snapshot, featuring new short operas. Highlight includes "Moon, Bride, Dogs", a surreal tale of a woman's escape from abuse, narrated by the moon.

03/06/2020
Hansel and Gretel Head to the Opera House

Hansel and Gretel Head to the Opera House

San Francisco Opera and Opera San Jose are staging Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. The opera, first performed in 1893, was the first to be broadcast on radio.

12/17/2019
The XYZ’s of Opera: Handel’s “Xerxes”

The XYZ’s of Opera: Handel’s “Xerxes”

Explore the world of opera with the KUSC Guide, focusing on Handel's Xerxes. Learn about its history, unique characteristics, and its resurgence in popularity.

07/28/2019

RELATED TOPICS

Pop CultureEssentialsThe State of the ArtsMetropolitan OperaPuccini

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Beethoven’s Quartet of ‘Thanksgiving’

Beethoven’s Quartet of ‘Thanksgiving’

Beethoven's String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132, features a movement expressing gratitude for recovery from illness. It alternates between prayerful chorales and lively sections, reflecting his mortality.

11/25/2025
The Story Behind “Appalachian Spring,” the Ballet

The Story Behind “Appalachian Spring,” the Ballet

Explore the history of Appalachian Spring, a ballet commissioned by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, composed by Aaron Copland, and choreographed by Martha Graham.

11/22/2025
The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord

The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord

Explore the life of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, his obsession with the occult, and his creation of the "mystic chord" used in his compositions.

11/17/2025
Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”

Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”

Explore the intriguing history of Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, composed in 1898-99. Discover how this piece, inspired by Elgar's friends and personal experiences, established his fame.

11/15/2025
A Playlist to Celebrate All Things Fall

A Playlist to Celebrate All Things Fall

Explore the beauty of autumn through music with this curated list of compositions inspired by the season's warm colors, chilly weather, and melancholic mood.

11/12/2025
Virtuosity and Nostalgia: Teresa Carreño and Chopin

Virtuosity and Nostalgia: Teresa Carreño and Chopin

Explore the life and music of Teresa Carreño, a South American composer and pianist, and her significant influence from Frédéric Chopin.

10/14/2025