Top 50 operas - The Guardian
1 L'Orfeo · 2 Dido and Aeneas · 3 Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar) · 4 Serse (Xerxes) · 5 Orfeo ed Euridice (Orpheus and Eurydice) · 6 Idomeneo · 7 Le ...
Opera
Pure, inane, fizzing delight, ferociously difficult to sing: The Barber of Seville, written in a fortnight by a composer who had penned 35 operas by the age of 37 then abruptly retired, tops the list of all operatic comedies. It includes the famous Figaro-here, Figaro-there Largo Al Factotum. Check out the Royal <anchor>Opera</anchor> House DVD with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
Opera | The Guardian
Opera \| The Guardian[Skip to main content](#maincontent) [Skip to navigation](#navigation)

[Print subscriptions](https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D)

[Search jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com)

[Sign in](https://profile.theguardian.com/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header)

Eur

- [Europe edition](/preference/edition/eur)
- [UK edition](/preference/edition/uk)
- [US edition](/preference/edition/us)
- [Australia edition](/preference/edition/au)
- [International edition](/preference/edition/int)

[The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian](/)

- [News](/)
- [Opinion](/commentisfree)
- [Sport](/sport)
- [Culture](/culture)
- [Lifestyle](/lifeandstyle)

Show moreHide expanded menu

- News

  - [View all News](/)
  - [World news](/world)
  - [UK news](/uk-news)
  - [Climate crisis](/environment/climate-crisis)
  - [Ukraine](/world/ukraine)
  - [Environment](/environment)
  - [Science](/science)
  - [Global development](/global-development)
  - [Football](/football)
  - [Tech](/technology)
  - [Business](/business)
  - [Obituaries](/obituaries)

- Opinion

  - [View all Opinion](/commentisfree)
  - [The Guardian view](/profile/editorial)
  - [Columnists](/index/contributors)
  - [Cartoons](/tone/cartoons)
  - [Opinion videos](/type/video+tone/comment)
  - [Letters](/tone/letters)

- Sport

  - [View all Sport](/sport)
  - [Football](/football)
  - [Cricket](/sport/cricket)
  - [Rugby union](/sport/rugby-union)
  - [Tennis](/sport/tennis)
  - [Cycling](/sport/cycling)
  - [F1](/sport/formulaone)
  - [Golf](/sport/golf)
  - [US sports](/sport/us-sport)

- Culture

  - [View all Culture](/culture)
  - [Books](/books)
  - [Music](/music)
  - [TV & radio](/tv-and-radio)
  - [Art & design](/artanddesign)
  - [Film](/film)
  - [Games](/games)
  - [Classical](/music/classicalmusicandopera)
  - [Stage](/stage)

- Lifestyle
  - [View all Lifestyle](/lifeandstyle)
  - [Fashion](/fashion)
  - [Food](/food)
  - [Recipes](/tone/recipes)
  - [Love & sex](/lifeandstyle/love-and-sex)
  - [Health & fitness](/lifeandstyle/health-and-wellbeing)
  - [Home & garden](/lifeandstyle/home-and-garden)
  - [Women](/lifeandstyle/women)
  - [Men](/lifeandstyle/men)
  - [Family](/lifeandstyle/family)
  - [Travel](/travel)
  - [Money](/money)
Search input

google-search

Search

  - [Support us](https://support.theguardian.com?INTCMP=side_menu_support&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22,%22componentId%22:%22side_menu_support%22%7D)
  - [Print subscriptions](https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D)

  - [Search jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com)
  - [Holidays](https://holidays.theguardian.com?INTCMP=holidays_int_web_newheader)
  - [Digital Archive](https://theguardian.newspapers.com)
  - [Guardian Licensing](https://licensing.theguardian.com/)
  - [About Us](/about)
  - [The Guardian app](https://app.adjust.com/16xt6hai)
  - [Video](/video)
  - [Podcasts](/podcasts)
  - [Pictures](/inpictures)
  - [Newsletters](/email-newsletters)
  - [Today's paper](/theguardian)
  - [Inside the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/membership)
  - [The Observer](/observer)
  - [Guardian Weekly](https://www.theguardian.com/weekly?INTCMP=gdnwb_mawns_editorial_gweekly_GW_TopNav_Int)
  - [Crosswords](/crosswords)
  - [Wordiply](https://www.wordiply.com)
  - [Corrections](/theguardian/series/corrections-and-clarifications)
- Search input

google-search

Search



  - [Search jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com)
  - [Holidays](https://holidays.theguardian.com?INTCMP=holidays_int_web_newheader)
  - [Digital Archive](https://theguardian.newspapers.com)
  - [Guardian Licensing](https://licensing.theguardian.com/)
  - [About Us](/about)

- [Books](/books)
- [Music](/music)
- [TV & radio](/tv-and-radio)
- [Art & design](/artanddesign)
- [Film](/film)
- [Games](/games)
- [Classical](/music/classicalmusicandopera)
- [Stage](/stage)

## Opera

## September 2024

- [‘Thrilling, unforgettable … there is nothing else like it!’: readers on their Proms highlights](/music/2024/sep/13/thrilling-unforgettable-there-is-nothing-else-like-it-readers-on-their-proms-highlights)



![Beethoven for Three – Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo Ma at the 2024 Proms.](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b6c73d16daa6abed85121655d4140a22a55b6ead/0_104_2048_1229/master/2048.jpg?width=240&dpr=1&s=none)













### ‘Thrilling, unforgettable … there is nothing else like it!’: readers on their Proms highlights







As 2024’s festival comes to a close, readers tell us about their favourite performances of the eight-week season that saw 90 concerts in the Royal Albert Hall and beyond, all live on BBC Radio 3



14.41 CEST

- [Sky in a Small Cage review – beauty and bafflement in opera inspired by Sufi mystic Rumi](/music/article/2024/sep/09/sky-in-a-small-cage-review-opera-sufi-mystic-rumi-barbican-rolf-hind)



![Mahogany Opera’s production of Rolf Hind’s Sky in a Small Cage at the Barbican, London.](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f0762d299e6e29114a738130e94340c13a5400a9/590_888_4201_2520/master/4201.jpg?width=240&dpr=1&s=none)













### Sky in a Small Cage review – beauty and bafflement in opera inspired by Sufi mystic Rumi















Rolf Hind’s opera about the 13th-century poet is mostly hard to follow, but countertenor James Hall and baritone Yannis François come into their own when the drama is clearer



9 Sept 2024 14.31 CEST

  - [Albert Herring review – Britten’s postwar comic opera sits surprisingly well in the 21st century](/music/article/2024/sep/08/albert-herring-review-britten-lammermuir-festival)









      ### Albert Herring review – Britten’s postwar comic opera sits surprisingly well in the 21st century











      8 Sept 2024 15.04 CEST

  - [The week in classical: The Marriage of Figaro; Proms 53, 54, 55 & 56 – review ](/music/article/2024/sep/07/the-week-in-classical-the-marriage-of-figaro-david-mcvicar-royal-opera-review-bbc-proms-53-54-55-56-bbc-symphony-orchestra-brabbins-ma-kavakos-ax-berlin-philharmonic-petrenko)









    ### The week in classical: The Marriage of Figaro; Proms 53, 54, 55 & 56 – review



    7 Sept 2024 14.00 CEST

  - [The Marriage of Figaro review – revival sparkles with young cast](/music/article/2024/sep/03/the-marriage-of-figaro-review-royal-opera-house-london-mcvicar-revival-julia-jones)









    ### The Marriage of Figaro review – revival sparkles with young cast











    3 Sept 2024 12.41 CEST

## August 2024

- [Opera Australia artistic director Jo Davies quits nine months into the job due to ‘differences of opinion’](/music/article/2024/aug/30/jo-davies-opera-australia-artistic-director-quits-nine-months-into-the-job-due-to-differences-of-opinion-ntwnfb)



![Jo Davies who has quit as Opera Australia artistic director](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ad6e1d217075f57f3546e8ece978f9f9a92ca876/1845_271_5515_3308/master/5515.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none)













### Australian arts in focus  Opera Australia artistic director Jo Davies quits nine months into the job due to ‘differences of opinion’



30 Aug 2024 07.59 CEST

- [Wolfgang Rihm obituary](/music/2024/aug/29/wolfgang-rihm-obituary)



![Wolfgang Rihm Portrait Session<br>VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Wolfgang Rihm poses for a portrait session at Ca' Giustinan on Grand Canal on September 29, 2010 in Venice, Italy. The German composer and director was awarded today with La Biennale Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (Photo by Barbara Zanon/Getty Images)](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/71b087ab53581c8028c39ba6da5c89a1c21dc5ef/0_166_4500_2700/master/4500.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none)













### Wolfgang Rihm obituary



29 Aug 2024 18.36 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/2024/aug/29/wolfgang-rihm-obituary#comments)

- [Huw Montague Rendall: Contemplation album review – young opera star justifies the buzz](/music/article/2024/aug/29/huw-montague-rendall-contemplation-album-review)



![Heartbreakingly engaging as Britten’s Billy Budd … Huw Montague Rendall.](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d947296df09b44a3b5b096430cd1908ac0bfb84b/0_1419_11102_6662/master/11102.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none)













### Huw Montague Rendall: Contemplation album review – young opera star justifies the buzz











29 Aug 2024 16.00 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/29/huw-montague-rendall-contemplation-album-review#comments)

- [Die Fledermaus review – Strauss’s perennial classic is slickly realigned ](/music/article/2024/aug/29/die-fledermaus-review-belcombe-court-bradford-on-avon)



![From left: Marie Cayeux, Annie Fassea, Bethany Horak-Hallett, Galina Averina and Felix Kemp in Die Fledermaus.](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/eaab6c1d6a64bf90f9f945b1ef5afedd907350af/25_51_5204_3122/master/5204.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none)













### Die Fledermaus review – Strauss’s perennial classic is slickly realigned











29 Aug 2024 13.26 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/29/die-fledermaus-review-belcombe-court-bradford-on-avon#comments)


- [Alexander Goehr: composer who brought European avant garde sensibilities to stuffy 50s Britain](/music/article/2024/aug/27/alexander-goehr-death-composer-whose-influence-on-20th-century-british-music-cannot-be-underestimated)









### Alexander Goehr: composer who brought European avant garde sensibilities to stuffy 50s Britain

Andrew Clements

27 Aug 2024 12.27 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/27/alexander-goehr-death-composer-whose-influence-on-20th-century-british-music-cannot-be-underestimated#comments)

- [The week in classical: Prom 37: Britten’s War Requiem; The Turn of the Screw – review](/music/article/2024/aug/24/the-week-in-classical-prom-37-britten-war-requiem-review-royal-albert-hall-lso-pappano-the-turn-of-the-screw-waterperry-opera-festival-oxfordshire)









### The week in classical: Prom 37: Britten’s War Requiem; The Turn of the Screw – review



24 Aug 2024 14.00 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/24/the-week-in-classical-prom-37-britten-war-requiem-review-royal-albert-hall-lso-pappano-the-turn-of-the-screw-waterperry-opera-festival-oxfordshire#comments)

- [Benjamin Luxon obituary](/music/2024/aug/16/benjamin-luxon-obituary)









### Benjamin Luxon obituary



16 Aug 2024 18.47 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/2024/aug/16/benjamin-luxon-obituary#comments)

- [Der Vampyr review – feminist reboot has plenty of blood, camp and tears](/music/article/2024/aug/15/der-vampyr-review-feminist-arcola-theatre-london)









### Der Vampyr review – feminist reboot has plenty of blood, camp and tears











15 Aug 2024 12.31 CEST


- [Oedipus Rex review – an unmissable and inclusive update of Stravinsky](/stage/article/2024/aug/14/oedipus-rex-review-scottish-opera-national-museum-scotland-edinburgh)









### Oedipus Rex review – an unmissable and inclusive update of Stravinsky











14 Aug 2024 13.58 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/stage/article/2024/aug/14/oedipus-rex-review-scottish-opera-national-museum-scotland-edinburgh#comments)

- [The Rape of Lucretia review – British Youth Opera goes subterranean for a rip-roaring Britten](/music/article/2024/aug/13/the-rape-of-lucretia-review-thames-tunnel-shaft-london-british-youth-opera-britten)









### The Rape of Lucretia review – British Youth Opera goes subterranean for a rip-roaring Britten











13 Aug 2024 16.40 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/13/the-rape-of-lucretia-review-thames-tunnel-shaft-london-british-youth-opera-britten#comments)

- [The week in classical: Carmen; Yuja Wang; Leonore Piano Trio; Tristan und Isolde – review](/music/article/2024/aug/10/the-week-in-classical-carmen-festival-theatre-edinburgh-opera-comique-paris-andreas-homoki-scottish-chamber-orchestra-yuja-wang-usher-hall-leonore-piano-trio-queens-hall-review-tristan-und-isolde-glyndebourne-stuart-skelton-miina-liisa-varel-robin-ticciati)









### The week in classical: Carmen; Yuja Wang; Leonore Piano Trio; Tristan und Isolde – review











10 Aug 2024 14.00 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/10/the-week-in-classical-carmen-festival-theatre-edinburgh-opera-comique-paris-andreas-homoki-scottish-chamber-orchestra-yuja-wang-usher-hall-leonore-piano-trio-queens-hall-review-tristan-und-isolde-glyndebourne-stuart-skelton-miina-liisa-varel-robin-ticciati#comments)

- [Prom 25: BBC Philharmonic/Storgårds review – the best new work of the season?](/music/article/2024/aug/08/prom-25-bbc-philharmonic-storgards-review-rpoyal-albert-hall)









### Prom 25: BBC Philharmonic/Storgårds review – the best new work of the season?











8 Aug 2024 13.57 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/08/prom-25-bbc-philharmonic-storgards-review-rpoyal-albert-hall#comments)

- [April Cantelo obituary](/music/2024/aug/06/april-cantelo-obituary)









### April Cantelo obituary



6 Aug 2024 18.37 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/2024/aug/06/april-cantelo-obituary#comments)

- [Carmen review: magnetic performances ramp up the showstoppers](/music/article/2024/aug/05/carmen-review-edinburgh-festival-theatre-andreas-homoki)









### Carmen review: magnetic performances ramp up the showstoppers











5 Aug 2024 14.38 CEST […\
\
…\
\
comments](/music/article/2024/aug/05/carmen-review-edinburgh-festival-theatre-andreas-homoki#comments)

- [All eyes on Auld Reekie: Edinburgh festival 2024 begins – in pictures](/stage/gallery/2024/aug/05/edinburgh-festival-2024-begins-in-pictures)









### All eyes on Auld Reekie: Edinburgh festival 2024 begins – in pictures







5 Aug 2024 08.51 CEST


About 5,149 results for Opera

1 [2](/music/opera?page=2) [3](/music/opera?page=3) [4](/music/opera?page=4)...

Explore more on these topics

- [Classical music](https://www.theguardian.com/music/classical-music-and-opera)
- [Proms 2024](https://www.theguardian.com/music/proms-2024)
- [Proms](https://www.theguardian.com/music/proms)
- [Festivals](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/festivals)
- [Edinburgh festival 2024](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/edinburgh-festival-2024)

- [Books](/books)
- [Music](/music)
- [TV & radio](/tv-and-radio)
- [Art & design](/artanddesign)
- [Film](/film)
- [Games](/games)
- [Classical](/music/classicalmusicandopera)
- [Stage](/stage)

- [News](/)
- [Opinion](/commentisfree)
- [Sport](/sport)
- [Culture](/culture)
- [Lifestyle](/lifeandstyle)

Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning

[Sign up for our email](https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/sep/20/sign-up-for-the-first-edition-newsletter-our-free-news-email)

- [Help](https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre)
- [Complaints & corrections](/info/complaints-and-corrections)
- [SecureDrop](https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop)
- [Work for us](https://workforus.theguardian.com)
- [Privacy policy](/info/privacy)
- [Cookie policy](/info/cookies)
- [Terms & conditions](/help/terms-of-service)
- [Contact us](/help/contact-us)

- [All topics](/index/subjects/a)
- [All writers](/index/contributors)
- [Digital newspaper archive](https://theguardian.newspapers.com)
- [Tax strategy](https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2024/08/27/TAX_STRATEGY_FOR_THE_YEAR_ENDED_31_MARCH_2025.pdf)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/theguardian)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/guardian)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian)
- [X](https://x.com/guardian)
- [Newsletters](/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_INTERNATIONAL)

- [Advertise with us](https://advertising.theguardian.com)
- [Search UK jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com)

[Back to top](#top)

© 2024 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (dcr)