I will be on a three-week multicity trip to Italy starting 9/21 and want to see an opera, but need help on what to choose as I am no opera buff.

Using the calendar at SelectItaly.com, it seems I can choose from the following:

Pergolesi, Vivaldi (Venice, Interpreti Veneziani) 9/24
Rigoletto (Venice, Teatro La Fenice) 9/25

La Traviata @Auditorium al Duomo (Florence, Musica in Maschera Florence) 9/27
La Boheme (Florence, St. Mark's Anglican Church) 9/28

Enchanting Opera Arias at Teatro Salone Margherita (Rome, I Musici Veneziani Roma Concert) 10/7-9
Focus Kavakos - Omaggio a Bach (Rome, Accademia di Santa Cecilia Concert) 10/8
Quadri d'Opera (Rome, I Musici Veneziani Roma) 10/8
Romeo e Giulietta (Rome, Teatro dell'Opera) 10/8 **this is a ballet***

It seems like the Rigoletto in Venice is the costliest ticket and therefore the one to pick especially since it's at La Fenice. I not only want to see a good opera but also at a great venue so any help from the Italian opera lovers would be greatly appreciated.

Your only choice of that bunch for an actual full opera is Rigoletto. And it is a very good opera.

The Bach is not an opera, one is a ballet as noted, I suspect the Boheme and La Traviata performances are Am-Drams. The others are "best of" concerts.

La Fenice is a lovely venue and appropriately named.

Having said that - and depending on where you are going in Italy - there are some very good opera houses that will have performances not listed on that website. I'm sure your hotel in those cities can assist.

Via this very website I received this link: http://www.classictic.com/en/

I have seen a lesser known opera at La Fenice. It is a lovely theatre. Even though I booked the tickets almost 6 months ahead, but there were hardly any tickets remaining with a view of the stage perhaps because it was right after the restoration. If you end up in box seats, only the front row has full view. Rigoletto is a well known opera. It was premiered at La Fenice. You will recognize its music even if you are not an opera buff.

Pick Rigoletto and read City of Falling Angels before you go so you understand the recent history of the theatre where you will be sitting. It burned down completely several years ago and then was rebuilt completely. It is an interesting story.

http://www.amazon.com/City-Falling-A.../dp/0143036939

I would choose Rigoletto at La Fenice. A fun read is "Death at La Fenice", a mystery by Donna Leon.

Rigoletto at La Fenice!

opting for Rigoletto? you should know that the production is a very modern one.. the costumes are contemporary, and the sets resemble painted walls with doors. You can see clips from this production on You Tube. This may or may not be to your taste.

Yes, but I would opt for La Fenice (of the places offered) if they were acting in a set made of old washing machines.

That door thing is big in the US (vide Met's Barbieri a couple of years ago.)

I would choose Rigoletto at La Fenice -- as much for the venue as the opera itself.

Basing the choice solely on the music, my suggestions for a first opera would be, in order: La Boheme, La Traviata, Rigoletto.

Rigoletto is perhaps Verdi's best opera (or at least, among his five best operas). The music is superlative from beginning to end.

Rigoletto. I've sat in the orchestra at La Fenice and in the last row of the balcony. Both seats were great.... but in the balcony we had to stand and hang on to the back rail to get a really good look. But we were surrounded by Italian opera lovers. An experience not to be missed!