November means a lot of opera.

And a lot of opera means almost endless choices. So in picking this week’s major selections, we recommended a mix of new and old works across the States and Canada.

Otello – Austin Opera

Verdi’s great masterpiece gets a concert production at the Austin Opera with Marina Costa-Jackson headlining the cast as Desdemona. She will be joined by Issachah Savage in the title role and Michael Chioldi as the villainous Iago. Steven White conducts the showcase, which kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.

Iolanta – Chicago Opera Theater

The Chicago Opera Theater kicks off its season with Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta,” featuring conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya in her first time in the pit since taking over the Music Directorship of the company.

The opera will be featured in a new production designed by Alan Muraoka, Discoll Otto, and Jenny Mannis with a cast that includes Katherine Weber in the title role. The first performance is slated for Saturday night and it marks the Chicago premiere of the opera.

Enemies, A Love Story – Kentucky Opera

Nahma Sandrow and Ben Moore’s new work gets two performances on Friday and Sunday. Director Mary Birnbaum makes her debut at Kentucky Opera, as does maestro David Stern. They will lead a cast that includes Morgan Smith, Catherine Martin, Emily Albrink, and Danielle Pastin. If there’s one new work that piques your interest, this is one to check out.

Silent Night – Minnesota Opera

On Saturday and Sunday, audiences in Minnesota will get another chance to see Mark Campbell and Kevin Puts famed masterpiece “Silent Night” as it returns to where it made its debut. The opera has had a sensational run and is looking like a repertory staple set to return for years to come. Still, any chance to see it is a major opportunity.

Das Rheingold – Opéra de Montréal

The first episode in Wagner’s famed tetralogy kicks off on Saturday with a solid cast that includes Ryan McKinney as Wotan, Nathan Berg as Alberich, Aidan Ferguson as Fricka, Julian Close as Fasolt, Soloman Howard as Fafner, and Carolina Bleau as Freia. It’s not that often that Wagner’s “Ring” heads north of the border, making this an essential opportunity.