ARENA DE VERONA OPERA FESTIVAL 2023

100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival

As you may know, the Arena in Verona is a roman Amphitheatre built in 30 AD and is still used today for famous large-scale opera performances. It is one of the best-preserved ancient structures of its kind. In ancient times, the arena's capacity was nearly 30,000 people. The stage for concerts and opera performances decreases the available places to a maximum of 22,000.

The Arena di Verona Opera Festival is a summer festival performing the best Operas known worldwide. Performances traditionally begin at dusk and spectators on the stone seats of the arena bring small candles (the "mocoleto"), which are lit as darkness falls and the performances begin. This year the Festival will open on June 16 with a program never seen before as the Arena celebrates 100 years of Opera in the Amphitheatre.

Thanks to an agreement with the Arena Foundation, we will start offering this extraordinary program where the best operas will be perfor4med (see the top performances on the next page). That means, we will get your tickets without any extra fee. Moreover, we will be able to get your accommodation in or near Verona and organize your visits and excursions in the area, in Tuscany or in all Italy. We can also include wine tastings and gastronomy experiences, or other activities like hiking, kayaking, biking, etc..

If you have a group, we will be very happy to send you a quote with special conditions and prices. Even for choirs, bands, university groups, family events or others.

OUR SUGGESTION:

Day 1. Pick up from Milan Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city center. If you want to visit La Scala Opera House, we can get your tickets as well.

Day 2. Guided city tour in Milan and transfer to Lake Como for a stunning visit of the area. Short cruise on the lake after check-in at the hotel.

Day 3. Leave to Verona visiting Garda Lake. Accommodation and transfer to the Arena for your selected Opera.

Day 4. Guided visit in Verona after breakfast and transfer to the airport/train station for continuation of your tour and visit in Italy.

All this program can vary according to your needs and expectancies, just let you know your plans.

100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival TOP PERFORMANCES

The Barber of Seville

«Largo al factotum della città» (Make way for the city's jack of all trades) and to the most famous comic opera by Gioachino Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, dedicated to cunning Figaro, Count Almaviva, vivacious Rosina, and surly Don Bartolo. Between 24 June and 22 July, four nights of guaranteed fun, thanks to Hugo de Ana’s pyrotechnic and floral set-up.

La Traviata

«Libiamo, libiamo ne’ lieti calici» (Let’s drink, let’s drink from this chalice of joy) in hour of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, the most performed opera in the world, which, for six nights (between 8 July and 9 September) will captivate the Arena, with the sumptuous 19th century production by Franco Zeffirelli, with costumes by Maurizio Millenotti and sets by Giuseppe Picone.

Nabucco

«Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate» (Take flight, thought, on golden wings) and rekindle the fire of Giuseppe Verdi’s first masterpiece, which will be back at the Arena on four nights (between 15 July and 17 August), with the set-up created in 1991 by Gianfranco de Bosio, and the massive set imagined by Rinaldo Olivieri, dominated by a giant Tower of Babel.

Rigoletto

«Sì, vendetta, tremenda vendetta!» The first opera of the so-called “popular trilogy” by Giuseppe Verdi, Rigoletto will be staged at the Arena from 1 July to 4 July. Four dates to (re)discover an absolute masterpiece of Italian melodrama, with airs such as «Caro nome», «Cortigiani, vil razza dannata» and «La donna è mobile»

Madama Butterfly

«Un bel dì, vedremo» (One fine day, we shall see). The famous “Japanese tragedy” by Giacomo Puccini) come back to the Arena, in the suggestive set-up by Franco Zeffirelli, embellished by Oscarwinner Emi Wada’s costumes. We will admire it on four nights, from 12. Aug. to 7. Sept. Get your kimono... and your tissues ready.

Carmen

«Près des remparts de Séville» and in the heart of Verona, Franco Zeffirelli’s historical Carmen makes its comeback (23 June - 6 September), with costumes by Anna Anni and sets by El Camborio. Five shows to be captivated by the allure of a breathtaking Seville, and by Carmen, the rebel gypsy who chases freedom.