We will apologize beforehand because you are going to be hearing a few opera titles repeatedly quite a bit over the next few weeks. You know which ones and they comprise a major part of our recommendations for the first major holiday weekend of the season.

The Magic Flute – LA Opera

Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade’s immersive “Magic Flute” gets its final performance on Sunday. It is one of the best productions of the opera in recent history and needs to be seen. Per OperaWire’s review of the production, “One would hope that many, many more people get to experience this magical storybook, and that this production, which was conceived seven years ago, can continue to travel the world proving how delightful opera can be for another 10.”

The Queen of Spades – Metropolitan Opera

The Met will showcase Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterwork for the first time since 2011 with a cast headlined by Lise Davidson, Elena Maximova, Larissa Diadkova, and Igor Golovatenko. Yusif Eyvazov will take on the role of Hermann with Alexey Markov as Tomsky. Vasily Petrenko conducts. This opera does not get as many performances at the Met as it probably deserves, making it a true must-see.

Amahl and the Night Visitors – Mississippi Opera

We warned you and here it is. The ultimate holiday opera will start making the rounds around the U.S. with Mississippi Opera among the first to give it a go. It’s a wonderful family experience for all and in this case, there is but one performance on Dec. 1. Take your family and friends.

Hansel and Gretel – San Francisco Opera

Another holiday favorite, this production is nearing the end of its run with performances on Saturday and Sunday before another one next Saturday. With the holiday season in full swing this cannot be recommended more. OperaWire’s review noted “All in all, ‘Hansel and Gretel’ decked the halls with a festive if not a somewhat worn-out take on a timeless tale. The singers were undeniably the source of this merry cheer, buoying the music to its vibrant heights.” Sasha Cooke and Heidi Stober star.