A fantasy for some opera lovers would be basking in arias by composers whose complex and memorable characters spring to life at the conductor’s downbeat. This dream will be realized Wednesday when some of the world’s most acclaimed artists, all alumni of Wolf Trap Opera Company, perform Opera’s Greatest Hits on the Filene Center stage to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary. From the astounding number of alumni who have become household names, WTOC Director Kim Witman has assembled more than a dozen to perform arias and ensembles from operas by Bellini, Rossini, Delibes, Gounod, Wagner, Puccini, Verdi and others. As the WTOC alumni crisscross the world, they run into each other on numerous stages. This performance will be a happy reunion.

“We have so many outstanding alumni that I could have planned a program like this many times over,” Witman said. “We were fortunate to find a nice range and vocal distribution from those available on this date. Most are performing elsewhere this summer, like Ron Raines, who went from the Kennedy Center production of ‘Follies’ to Broadway with the show, and Nathan Gunn, who is teaching a class in Colorado.”