The Metropolitan Opera
on All Classical Radio
Saturdays at 10:00 AM PT
Launched in 1931, the Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday Matinee broadcasts are the longest-running continuous classical music program in radio history. From beloved works by Puccini, Verdi, and Wagner, to groundbreaking new compositions and productions, the Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday Matinee broadcasts have something for everyone.
All Classical Radio’s Met Opera broadcasts are made possible in part by generous support from the Buckmaster Trust, honoring the life and legacy of Duane Buckmaster, who reveled in the magic of opera, and fly-fishing for the wily trout. Buck loved both in full measure.
Your Host
Dylan Bodnarik
While music has always been my central focus, classical music became a large part of my life in college. While attending Indiana University, I hosted a weekly show centered on all things experimental and avant-garde. I love hosting the Met Opera because it exposes me to so much new music. Growing up, I never had the opportunity to see live opera, and it has been a joy to spend my Saturdays discovering and enjoying these great works with you.
2024-25 Met Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts
All opera broadcasts begin at 10:00 AM PT unless otherwise noted.
December 7, 2024
Strauss: DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN
Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Elza van den Heever (Empress), Lise Lindstrom (Dyer’s Wife), Nina Stemme (Nurse), Michael Volle (Barak), Russell Thomas (Emperor), Ryan Speedo Green (Spirit Messenger)
December 14, 2024
Jeanine Tesori: GROUNDED – Libretto by George Brant – New Production/Met Premiere
Performance from October 19, 2024
Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Emily D’Angelo (Jess), Ben Bliss (Eric), Ellie Dehn (Also Jess), Kyle Miller (Sensor)
December 21, 2024
Mozart: THE MAGIC FLUTE – Abridged English-language version
David Jackson; Duke Kim (Tamino), Emily Pogorelc (Pamina), Sean Michael Plumb (Papageno), Kathryn Lewek (Queen of the Night), Peixin Chen (Sarastro)
December 28, 2024
Humperdinck: HANSEL AND GRETEL
Performance from December 25, 1982
Thomas Fulton; Frederica von Stade (Hansel), Judith Blegen (Gretel), Rosalind Elias (Witch), Jean Kraft (Gertrud), Michael Devlin (Peter), Betsy Norden (Dew Fairy), Diane Kesling (Sandman)
January 4, 2025
Offenbach: LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
Performance from October 5, 2024
Marco Armiliato; Benjamin Bernheim (Hoffmann), Christian Van Horn (Four Villains), Vasilisa Berzhanskaya (Nicklausse/The Muse), Pretty Yende (Antonia/Stella), Erin Morley (Olympia), Clémentine Margaine (Giulietta), Aaron Blake (Four Servants)
January 11th
Verdi: RIGOLETTO
Daniele Callegari; Luca Salsi (Rigoletto), Erin Morley (Gilda), Pene Pati (Duke of Mantua), Soloman Howard (Sparafucile), Rihab Chaieb (Maddalena)
January 18th
Puccini: TOSCA
Performance from November 23, 2024
Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Lise Davidsen (Tosca), Freddie De Tommaso (Cavaradossi), Quinn Kelsey (Scarpia), Patrick Carfizzi (Sacristan)
January 25th at 9:30 AM PT
Verdi: AIDA – New Production
Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Angel Blue (Aida), Piotr Beczała (Radamès), Judit Kutasi (Amneris), Quinn Kelsey (Amonasro), Dmitry Belosselskiy (Ramfis), Morris Robinson (King)
February 1st
Verdi: LA TRAVIATA – Artist’s Choice
Chosen by Angel Blue: Renée Fleming in a performance from November 7, 2007
Marco Armiliato; Renée Fleming (Violetta), Matthew Polenzani (Alfredo), Dwayne Croft (Germont)
February 8th
Wagner: DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER – Artist’s Choice
Chosen by Ryan Speedo Green: George London in a performance from March 5, 1960
Thomas Schippers; George London (Dutchman), Leonie Rysanek (Senta), Karl Liebl (Erik), Giorgio Tozzi (Daland)
February 15th
Strauss: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS – Artist’s Choice
Chosen by Lise Davidsen: Jessye Norman in a performance from January 5, 1985
Andrew Davis; Jessye Norman (Ariadne), Gianna Rolandi (Zerbinetta), William Cochran (Bacchus), Maria Ewing (Composer), Dale Duesing (Harlekin)
February 22nd
Verdi: FALSTAFF – Artist’s Choice
Chosen by Yannick Nézet-Séguin: Leonard Bernstein conducting a performance from March 21, 1964
Leonard Bernstein; Anselmo Colzani (Falstaff), Gabriella Tucci (Alice), Regina Resnik (Quickly), Mario Sereni (Ford), Judith Raskin (Nannetta), Luigi Alva (Fenton), Rosalind Elias (Meg)
March 1st
Bizet: CARMEN
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Bizet’s opera with a performance from January 16, 2010
Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Elīna Garanča (Carmen), Roberto Alagna (Don Jose), Barbara Frittoli (Micaela), Teddy Tahu Rhodes (Escamillo)
March 8th
Puccini: LA BOHÈME
Alexander Soddy; Kristina Mkhitaryan (Mimì), Joseph Calleja (Rodolfo), Brittany Renee (Musetta), Luca Micheletti (Marcello), Nicolas Testé (Colline), Gihoon Kim (Schaunard), Donald Maxwell (Benoit/Alcindoro)
March 15th
Beethoven: FIDELIO
Susanna Mälkki; Lise Davidsen (Leonore), David Butt Philip (Florestan), René Pape (Rocco), Tomasz Konieczny (Don Pizarro), Ying Fang (Marzelline), Magnus Dietrich (Jaquino), Stephen Milling (Don Fernando)
March 22nd
Ravel: L’ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES / Poulenc: LES MAMELLES DE TIRÉSIAS
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ravel’s opera with a performance from February 28, 1981
Manuel Rosenthal; Hilda Harris (Child), Ruth Welting (Fire), Gail Robinson (Princess) / Catherine Malfitano (Thérèse, Fortuneteller), David Holloway (Husband)
March 29th
Jake Heggie: MOBY DICK
Libretto by Gene Scheer – New Production/Met Premiere
Karen Kamensek; Brandon Jovanovich (Captain Ahab), Stephen Costello (Greenhorn), Peter Mattei (Starbuck), Ryan Speedo Green (Queequeg), Janai Brugger (Pip), Malcolm MacKenzie (Stubb), William Burden (Flask)
April 5th
Osvaldo Golijov: AINADAMAR
Libretto by David Henry Hwang – New Production/Met Premiere
Performance from fall 2024
Miguel Harth-Bedoya; Angel Blue (Margarita Xirgu), Daniela Mack (Federico García Lorca), Elena Villalón (Nuria), Alfredo Tejada (Ramón Ruiz Alonso)
April 12th
Mozart: DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE
Evan Rogister; Ben Bliss (Tamino), Golda Schultz (Pamina), Thomas Oliemans (Papageno), Kathryn Lewek (Queen of the Night), Stephen Milling (Sarastro), Thomas Ebenstein (Monostatos), Shenyang (Sprecher)
April 19th
Rossini: L’ASSEDIO DI CORINTO
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Beverly Sills’s Met debut with a performance from April 19, 1975
Thomas Schippers; Beverly Sills (Pamira), Shirley Verrett (Neocle), Harry Theyard (Cleomene), Justíno Díaz (Maometto)
April 26th
Mozart: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Joana Mallwitz; Michael Sumuel (Figaro), Olga Kulchynska (Susanna), Federica Lombardi (Countess), Joshua Hopkins (Count), Sun-Ly Pierce (Cherubino), Elizabeth Bishop (Marcellina), Maurizio Muraro (Dr. Bartolo)
May 3rd
Verdi: IL TROVATORE
Performance from October 29, 2024
Daniele Callegari; Michael Fabiano (Manrico), Rachel Willis-Sørensen (Leonora), Jamie Barton (Azucena), Igor Golovatenko (Count di Luna), Ryan Speedo Green (Ferrando)
Learn more at metopera.org.
