(Credit :Joel Jöggu Schweizer/ Prague State Opera)

This weekend is all about classic operas from Verdi, Donizetti, and Puccini. Many rising stars are performing this weekend so what better way to start the New Year than to focus on them.

Il Trovatore – Landstheater Linz, Austria

Federico Longhi leads Verdi’s popular work in his role debut as the Count de Luna with a cast that includes Izabela Matuła, Katherine Lerner, and Sung-Kyu Park. Enrico Calesso conducts the premiere in a production by Gregor Horres.

Viva la Mama – Prague State Opera, Czech Republic

Donizetti’s rarely performed work  continues its run at the Estates Theater with a cast that includes Jiří Hájek, Jana Sibera, Jiří Brückler, Roman Janál, Roman Hoza, Marek Gurbaľ, Josef Moravec, Michaela Zajmi,  and Igor Loskar, among others. The ensemble cast is led by Enrico Dovico.

La Sonnambula – Teatro Sociale, Italy

Veronica Marini sings the title role in Bellini’s melodic masterpiece alongside Edoardo Milletti and Davide Giangregorio. The production by Raúl Vázquez will be conducted by Leonardo Sini.

Giovanna D’Arco – Stadttheater, Switzerland

La Bohème – Royal Opera House, United Kingdom