The first one I remember as a child was Fidelio that was broadcast on television. I remember years later asking my mother about some concert we'd watched and I described a woman singing outside a castle (or prison) walls - she was amazed I remembered it at all because I'd been about 4 when it was broadcast.

For sheer fun I always enjoy productions of Die Fledermaus over the holidays, just like I always enjoy The Nutcracker ballet. There are others that for various reasons - great music, interesting libretto, whatever. In no particular order, Tosca, The Daughter of the Regiment (of course I saw the Beverly Sills broadcast), La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie), The Bartered Bride, Don Giovanni, Marriage of Figaro (etc. - basically, any Mozart operas). I won't catalog them, and what I've done is list charismatic well-known operas that I enjoy in broadcast on the radio or on television. I don't get to live often because of the cost, but given the means, I would attend more often. They're also probably performed more frequently, giving a chance to know them better.

SRS