Is it necessary to introduce the Arena di Verona Festival? For over 100 years, every summer in the Roman amphitheater, the opera productions remain fabulous. Under the stars and in the warmth of the Italian nights, the 2016 Festival program presents, as usual, the big hits of the repertory. Although the organizers take their time to announce the cast distributions, we can trust in this great institution that always engages the greatest artists or wait a little longer to buy tickets (knowing that the best seats always go first).

After the splendor of the centenary celebrations, the Arena regains its stride with six productions: five operas and a ballet evening. The sublime dancer Roberto Bolle returns with his “Friends” to the delight of many fans and spectators. The new program is specifically designed for the arena stage, reputed to be the largest in the opera world. Building on the success two years running, this evening full of surprise has been scheduled on July 18 to offer a new chance to the audience that was unable to attend the previous representations. You should book seats without delay because demand is already strong!
In 2016, the festival opens with the return of Carmen and the breathtaking stage setting of Franco Zeffirelli. All of Spain is present in this show which is a classic of its genre, with a beautiful fidelity to the libretto. Another great production from the Verona Arena, Verdi’s Aida, is signed by Gianfranco de Bosio who reproduces the historical production of the opening of the Festival in 1913. Aida is an opera perfectly suited for the immensity of the plateau that, however, has a way to create a more intimate ambiance. Hugo de Ana has managed to recreate the atmosphere of the Parisian salons where the plot of La Traviata unfolds, the masterpiece of masterpieces.

The last two productions once again appeal to the wonderful Franco Zeffirelli who always flirts with the grandiose. Puccini’s Turandot is one of those operas where the audience expects extraordinary productions. With Verdi’s Il Trovatore, the Arena di Verona Festival offers another colorful stage setting that beautifully suits the vastness of the stage.

The 2016 edition is shaping up to become yet another page in the beautiful history of the Festival that remains an absolute must in the world of classical music.

It’s time to book your tickets for the Verona Opera Festival !