Italian opera and classics are the kind of music that instantly takes you to La Scala or the stage of Verona. We’ve gathered 7 online radio stations where Verdi and Puccini meet Bellini and Donizetti, where you can hear rare recordings, fresh live concerts and arias that always make the heart skip a beat.
Rai Radio 3 - a state channel with a thousand-year panorama of music
The flagship of the Italian classical scene from RAI is available 24/7 and covers everything - from medieval chants of the 11th century to premieres of the 21st century. On air you’ll hear symphonies, operas, chamber ensembles and archival recordings from the RAI phono library. Here you can easily catch “Aida” in a rare production or listen to Italian conductors in their best interpretations.
Venice Classic Radio - a Venetian emphasis on the Italian school
This station from Venice focuses on Italian composers: Vivaldi, Verdi, Puccini are heard here alongside baroque serenades and 20th-century symphonies. The station creates the feeling of a walk through Cannaregio, where music drifts from every window.
Rete Toscana Classica - Tuscan broadcast with Rossini and Vivaldi
This station from Tuscany is fully dedicated to classical music. The schedule often includes entire operatic works, festival recordings and concerts from local theaters. Around the clock you’ll hear baroque, romanticism, and Italian bel canto – the perfect backdrop for those who love to listen in full, not selectively.
Radio Classica - where classical music meets the news
The project combines overtures and concerts with short news breaks. During the day the broadcast features dynamic instrumental pieces, and in the evening special shows and interviews with musicians. It’s the perfect solution for those who want to stay informed about cultural events without stepping away from the music.
Classicnl - Opera - a stream for bel canto lovers
The Dutch network Classicnl has launched a dedicated opera stream, where arias, duets and scenes from Italian and world operas play non-stop, from bel canto to Wagner. If you don’t want to wait for your favorite fragments among symphonies, this channel delivers opera in its pure form right away.
WETA VivaLaVoce - vocal classics from Washington
The American station WETA offers a 24/7 stream of vocal classics, where chorales sit alongside arias and full opera scenes. A special highlight is the daily feature "Opera at 8", where a complete opera is broadcast at 8:00 pm. It’s a great way to hear different versions of "La Traviata" and compare performers.
Radio Art - Opera - Greek stream of arias and gems
The Greek project Radio Art has dedicated a separate channel to opera: playlists include baroque arias, romantic scenes and bel canto masterpieces. Here you can hear Farinelli, Verdi and rare recordings that are seldom found on air. This station is a real treasure for evenings with a libretto in hand.
Italian opera and classical music today sound not only in theaters but also in your headphones. Rai Radio 3 Classica and Rete Toscana Classica provide academic depth, Venice Classic Radio adds the refinement of the Italian school, Radio Classica brings the rhythm of the big city, Classicnl Opera and WETA VivaLaVoce delight with opera marathons, while Radio Art - Opera adds unexpected arias to your collection. Turn it on and enjoy – let Verdi sound in your home as if the curtain has just risen.
