(Credit: Theater an der Wien/Opera de Monte Carlo)

This weekend is filled with rarities and curiosities. And those burning for repertory staples will also be obliged as some of the great opera stars of today are taking on iconic operas. Here is a look at what we reccommend.

La Vestale – Theater an der Wien, Vienna

Elza Van Den Heever makes her role debut as Julia in this rarely performed work by Spontini. Bertrand de Billy conducts the production Johannes Erath which also stars Michael Spyres, Sébastien Guèze, Franz-Josef Selig, and Claudia Mahnke.

Der Frieschutz – Opera de Rouen Normandie, France

Rising star Stanislas de Barbeyrac sings the lead role in Weber’s popular work alongside Johanni van Oostrum, Chiara Skerath, and Vladimir Baykov.

Laurence Equilbey conducts the production Simon Proust.

Il Triticco – Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Italy 

María José Siri leads Puccini’s triptych in “Il Tabarro” and “Suor Angelica.” The acclaimed soprano makes her debut in both operas and is accompanied by Anna Maria Chuiri who sings all three operas.

The cast of “Il Tabarro” is rounded out by Franco Vassallo and Angelo Villari while “Gianni Schicchi” stars Bruno de Simone, Francesca Longari, and Dave Monaco. Valerio Galli conducts Denis Krief’s production.

L’Ange di Nisida & Pietro il Grande – Donizetti Festival Opera, Italy 

The Donizetti Opera Festival opens with two new productions. The first celebrates the 200th anniversary of “Pietro il Grande’s” composition and is set to star Roberto De Candia, Loriana Castellano, Paola Gardina, and Nina Solodovnikov. Rinaldo Alessandrini conducts.

The second production marks the first ever for “L’Ange di Nisida” which has its world premiere last season and was recorded by Opera Rara. The work will star Florian Sempey, Roberto Lorenzi, Konu Kim, and Lidia Fridman. Jean-Luc Tingaud conducts the new production by Francesco Micheli.

OperaWire will be at both performances, so stay tuned for reviews.

Lucia di Lammermoor – Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Olga Peretyatko brings her signature Lucia to Monaco for the first time which OperaWire called a triumph. She is joined by Artur Ruciński, who recently had a breakout at the Metropolitan Opera, Ismael Jordi and Nicola Ulivieri. Roberto Abbado conducts Jean-Louis Grinda’s production, which Peretyatko first performed in Tokyo.

Doña Francisquita – Gran Teatre del Liceu, Spain 

Tosca – Scottish Opera, United Kingdom 

Natalya Romaniw sings the title role in Puccini’s masterpiece with acclaimed tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones as Cavaradossi and Roland Wood as Scarpia. Stuart Stratford conducts the production by Anthony Besch.