Donizetti's comically boisterous tale of innocent love and boundless devotion, The Elixir of Love is the flirtatious tale of the shy, love-struck Nemorino and his reliance on a "love potion" to help him win the heart of the beautiful Adina. Ramón Vargas and Inva Mula headline a brilliant cast. Director James Robinson ingeniously updates this classic Italian tale to the delightful innocence of a Napa Valley county fair circa 1915. Bruno Campanella conducts.

Repeated on:
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Sat, Sep 24, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 -- 7:01 PM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 -- 2:00 AM on KQED 9

A great dramatist as well as composer of some of opera's greatest melodies, Puccini brings to life a tempestuous world of cruelty and deception through the tragic story of Tosca, a beautiful yet volatile singer; Mario, the idealistic painter that she loves; and Scarpia, an amoral police chief who uses his power to satisfy his lecherous appetite. Adrianne Pieczonka appears as Tosca opposite tenor Carlo Ventre as Cavaradossi and baritone Lado Ataneli as Scarpia. Italian conductor Marco Armiliato leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus and Jose Maria Condemi directs this San Francisco Opera production. Filmed in high definition.

Repeated on:
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 -- 2:00 AM on KQED 9

Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti's famed saga of a woman driven mad by her arranged marriage, features celebrated French coloratura soprano Natalie Dessay, whose vocal agility and dramatic charisma have established her as one of the role's foremost interpreters. Tenor Giuseppe Filianoti is Lucia's beloved Edgardo and baritone Gabriele Viviani is her brother, Lord Enrico. The striking Teatro del Maggio Musicale production, conceived by Graham Vick, is led by French conductor Jean-Yves Ossonce.

Repeated on:
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 -- 2:00 AM on KQED 9

La Boheme, Puccini's moving tale of starving artists falling in and out of love in 19th-century Paris is a seamless mix of romantic passion, poignant tragedy and some of opera's best known arias. Superstar soprano Angela Gheorghiu and Polish tenor Piotr Beczala star with Nicola Luisotti, San Francisco Opera's music director and master of the Italian repertoire, conducting this beautiful San Francisco Opera production that is directed by Harry Silverstein.

Repeated on:
Tue, Sep 6, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Mon, Sep 5, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 -- 1:00 AM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 -- 7:00 PM on KQED Life
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 -- 2:00 AM on KQED 9