There are hot tickets and hot tickets. Think smoldering Anna Netrebko as the enslaved Ethiopian princess, a part she likes to play in dark makeup, political correctness be damned. Think riveting Jonas Kaufmann as the studly Egyptian general she adores. Think glamorous Elīna Garanča as the spoiled pharaoh’s daughter who is in a position to boss them around. Then look at the calendar and despair. Only four performances, all sold out as we go to press! Pray for returns and pull any strings you can. The classic production is the late Nicolas Joel’s, very Ten Commandments. —Matthew Gurewitsch