When the most voluptuous, sought-after courtesan in the world meets an ascetic monk whose life is devoted to God, you know erotic sparks are going to fly. And when the clash takes place in a glorious, but rarely performed, opera by Massenet, it’s a delight to the ear just as much as to the eye. Renée Fleming is every inch the glamorous Thaïs, swathed in elegant gowns designed by Christian Lacroix. Thomas Hampson is Athanaël, the tortured man of God. This production by John Cox, which premiered in December 2008, brilliantly sets the stage for a confrontation as old as civilization itself.

Opera in one act, libretto by G. Forzano based on Dante's Divine Comedy. Third part of his opera Tri...
The writer Dario Fo applies his inventive genius to Rossini's comic opera in its premiere DVD releas...

1989 recording of the San Francisco Opera production of Mefistofele: Boito's retelling of Goethe's F...

Drama lyrique in five acts, after the play by Maruice Maeterlink

Running through Bartók’s disenchanted tale, whose haunting music was initially condemned as unplayab...

Last production staged by Patrice Chéreau, this Elektra will remain as the main and most striking ly...

Part folklore, part opera-ballet, this féerie presents local pagan traditions on the day of the summ...

The historic, original, live airing of what would become an annual Christmas tradition throughout th...

Teatro Alla Scala 1983 production of three one-act operas from Puccini.

Premiered in 1787, “Don Giovanni” exposes the timeless theme of a man hovering between vitality and ...

"Manon", wrote Puccini to his publisher Giulio Ricordi in 1889, "is a heroine I believe in and there...

Ten short pieces directed by ten different directors, including Ken Russell, Jean-Luc Godard, Robert...

"Orango" - prologue to an unfinished opera by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), conducted by Esa-Pekk...

Mozart's La Clemenza Di Tito was originally commissioned to celebrate the coronation of the Emperor ...

Charles Mackerras teases the romantic beauty from Gounod's score, which has been widely admired sinc...

Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this light hearted tale of political a...

A delightful fairy tale, Mozart's final operatic legacy remains a great work in the spirit of the En...

Taped live at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Valery Gergiev conducts this landmark product...

The celebrated three-act opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes to life in this dynamic performance ...