Donizetti's unassuming comedy serves up magic elixirs and romance -- and a couple of solid insights. It demonstrates that, when it comes to love, the genuine article beats any potion-induced passion.

Beethoven's only opera is about a daring woman who dresses as a man, risking all to save her imprisoned husband. Read the story and hear excerpts from this Lucerne Festival production.

Set in 17th century Poland, the plot involves a somewhat inept young knight who tries to liberate his captive fiancé, and needs a lot of help along the way.

Alan Held makes an impression as the mysterious title character in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman, at the Washington National Opera.

Mozart's enigmatic story of a serial womanizer has both comic and dramatic elements.