Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – North America (11/16-18)

A Major West Coast Premiere & Rare Operas Are This Week’s Picks

By David Salazar

As we get ready for Thanksgiving, we can look around and be thankful for all the opera options in North America. Here’s a look at what you can check out before you start to think about your Thanksgiving feast.

Poppea – Bare Opera

It might be a reduced version of Monteverdi’s masterpiece, but it remains a vital piece of work that doesn’t often get the limelight in New York City. It’s for this reason that you can’t miss the work. Bare Opera is another growing New York-based company putting on high-quality performances and there is no doubt that this production, which will be showed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will satisfy those who take a look.

Glory Denied – Des Moines Metro Opera

For three straight nights starting on Friday, the Des Moines Metro Opera will collaborate with the Iowa National Guard and Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center to bring this opera by Tom Cipullo. Michael Mayes headlines the cast alongside Emma Grimsley and John Risen.

Mefistofele – Metropolitan Opera

Boito’s masterpiece is in the midst of its run and will be featured on Friday night in a production starring Michael Fabiano, Angela Meade, Jennifer Check, and recent Richard Tucker Award winner Christian Van Horn.

Il Trovatore – Lyric Opera of Chicago

With the season back in full swing, it is undeniably refreshing to see one of the premiere companies in the US put together such a tremendous cast as is on display in this “Trovatore.” With opening night on Saturday, Nov. 17, audiences will get a chance to see Tamara Wilson, Russell Thomas, Jamie Barton, and Artur Rucinski in the four main leads of Verdi’s lyric masterwork.

It’s A Wonderful Life – San Francisco Opera

Saturday will be the site of the West Coast premiere of Jake Heggie’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which stars Andriana Chuchman, Rod Gilfry, William Burden, Golda Schultz, and Keith Jameson among others. Patrick Summers conducts and Leonard Foglia directs.

 

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