Opera - I Pagliacci by Ruggiero Leoncavallo was the first opera broadcast on television. The Metropolitan Opera Company of New York City performed a "condensed" version of this opera on March 10, 1940 over station W2XBS. Performing from a Radio City studio, the cast included tenors Armand Tokatyan/Alessio de Paolis, baritones Richard Bonelli and George Cehanovsky, and soprano Hilda Burke. The performance was conducted by Francis St. Leger.

The play told the tale of Canio who discovered his wife Nedda was having an affair with a villager, Silvio. At the play's conclusion, Canio killed his wife and lover and pronounced "La Commedia e finita" (The comedy is over).

Hansel & Gretel by Humperdinck was the first "complete" opera televised. It aired December 23, 1943 on the General Electric Company station WRGB in Schenectady, New York. Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian-Carlo Menotti was the first "written for television" opera performed by the NBC Opera Company on Christmas Eve December 24, 1951 from WNBT, New York City.

Sponsored by Hallmark Greeting Cards, this gentle holiday fantasy became an annual Yuletide tradition in the 1950s. It was the story of a twelve year old crippled boy (Soprano Chet Allen) who befriended the three Kings searching for the baby, Jesus in the town of Bethlehem. The program was conducted by Thomas Schippers. Carmen by Bizet was the first "major" opera to be televised in "color."

Sung in English, the one-hour broadcast originated from WNBT-TV in New York City on October 31, 1953. The NBC-TV Opera Theater performers included Vera Bryner as Carmen; Robert Rounseville as Don Jose; and Warren Galjour as Escamillo. The performance was directed by Peter Herman Adler.