This weekend it was hard to pick five operas to see as there are many great performers and works being shown around the world.

As a result, we have chosen eight works both popular and some rarely performed that we believe are must-sees. Here is a look and enjoy!

Norma – Teatro Colón, Argentina

Anna Pirozzi stars in the Mount Everest of soprano roles with Annalisa Stroppa as Adalgisa. Héctor Sandoval rounds out the cast in a production by Mario Pontiggia. Renato Palumbo conducts Bellini’s masterpiece.

Don Giovanni – National Centre for the Performing Arts, China

Vittorio Prato sings the title role of Mozart’s famed work alongside international star sopranos Davinia Rodriguez, Marina Monzo, and Francesca Dotto. Juan Francisco Gatell and Carlo Lepore round out the international cast, which will be conducted by Lu Jia. In the second cast, an all Chinese cast will headline.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia – Dutch National Opera, Denmark

Nino Machaidze ends her run as Rosina in what OperaWire called the “centerpiece.” Davide Luciano stars as the Barber while René Barbera is the Count in Lotte de Beer’s lavish production. Maurizio Benini conducts Rossini’s most popular score.

Hippolyte et Aricie – Staatsoper Berlin, Germany

Anna Prohaska, Magdalena Kožena, Adriane Queiroz, and Elsa Dreisig star in Rameau’s masterwork. Aletta Collins directs the new production which will be conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Reinoud Van Mechelen rounds out the cast as the title character of Hippolyte.

Carmen – Oper Leipzig, Germany

Wallis Giunta makes her highly anticipated role debut in the title character. Rising star Leonardo Caimi is Don Jose while Olena Tokar sings Michaela. Matthias Foremy conducts the production by Lindy Hume.

Così Fan Tutte – Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli, Italy

Riccardo Muti returns to San Carlo in more than a decade to conduct one of Mozart’s greatest operas. Chiara Muti directs the new production which stars Maria Bengtsson, Paola Gardina, Alessio Arduini, Pavel Kolgatin, Emmanuelle de Negri, and Marco Filippo Romano. The new production marks the first co-production between Teatro di San Carlo and the Wiener Staatsoper.

Rigoletto – Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Italy

Lisette Oropesa headlines a new production of Verdi’s classic to inaugurate the 2018-19 season.  Daniele Abbado directs the new production, which also stars  Ismael Jordi and Roberto Frontali. Daniele Gatti conducts opening night.

María del Pilar – Teatro la Zarzuela, Spain

Gimenez’s rarely performed Zarzuela will get two concert performances headlined by Carmen Solis and Iwona Sobotka. Óliver Díaz conducts the performances.