Baritone Sebastian Catana is set to return to the Arena di Verona for productions of Verdi’s “Nabucco” and “Aida.”

The baritone will sing the role of “Nabucco” on July 1 under Daniel Oren. He will be joined by Ewa Plonka as Abigaille in her Arena debut, Abramo Rosalen as Zaccaria, Francesca Di Sauro as Fenena and Samuele Simoncini as Ismaele.

The baritone will sing in Arnaud Bernard’s production which transports the biblical-historical events of the Babylonian exile to the Five Days in Milan during
March 1848, where the Habsburg oppressors fought the insurgents in the shadows of La Scala.

Then on July 3, 24, August 21 and 28, Catana sing the role of Amonasro in Verdi’s “Aida” in the iconic production designed by Franco Zeffirelli.

Catana will perform under Oren on July 24 and then under Marco Armiliato on July 24.

Catana will sing with such performers as Liudmyla Monastyrska, Monica Conesa, Maria Teresa Leva will share the role of Aida, Clémentine Margaine, Anna Maria Chiuri, Oleysa Petrova, Yusif Eyvazov, and Samuele Simoncini.

Regarding his return to the Area, Catana said, “The Arena is a dream for every artist: the echoes of the legendary nights that made its history and the iconic singers who performed on this stage, represent a fantastic feeling to all of us singing for the present extraordinary audience. I made my debut in the Arena in 2015 with the title role of Nabucco, in the beautiful and historic staging designed by the late Gianfranco De Bosio, and since that year I have had the great honor of returning here several times during the following seasons with extraordinary characters such as Amonasro in Aida, Nabucco, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Tonio in Pagliacci. Every performance that I faced in this huge space I have been overwhelmed by the unique sensations of this atmosphere. I feel an incredible happiness for returning again this year under the stars, for the third time as Nabucco and Amonasro, to offer my voice and artistry while humbly adding my name to the monumental history and tradition of this place.”