Which Opera would you recommend, for a first timer?

[piddocktrumperiness]

I'm hoping to take my partner to an opera as he has never been. I've been once before many years ago and saw Carmen but I was quite young and didn't really formulate much of an opinion that time. My partner and I love the theatre and live orchestra. He's not been to the Opera or Ballet and so I am hoping that this something we can do together.

I'm looking for an Opera that can entice us to go again. I would be very grateful for any recommendations.

Thank you :)

I recommend La Boheme

L'elisir d'amore

Tosca is coming to the Royal Opera House - great one to start with. Even my gaming teenage boy was gripped

Good advice. Even better if OP would come back and say where she lives. It’s heartening that people are recommending Nixon in China and L’Elisir d’Amore but realistically, unless OP has a 20 year timescale, they might not be practical suggestions.

Any Mozart opera.... lighter soundscape and beautiful melodies with decent storylines.

Gilbert and Sullivan is really operetta rather than opera, so I wouldn't recommend that for a first time.

Romantic and post romantic opera is longer and possibly more heavy to digest.

Rossini is a halfway house maybe.

I would go for Aida

I did Barber of Seville and Marriage of Figaro as plays for A level French, and just can't get my head round their being operas!!

I would suggest finding a New York Metropolitan Opera screening Look up NY Met website or arts type cinemas.
Usually an opera singer hosts/introduces the opera live from NY. The screenings include subtitles which makes it more interesting for newbie's. Standard of performance is excellent, usually top international singers.
Screenings are live from NY, on Saturday at 6pm and are held during winter.
Bolshoi ballet screenings are also worth attending.