(Photo: Arena di Verona) There are few operas more congenial to the Arena di Verona than Verdi’s “Nabucco.” Its massed choruses, martial confrontations, religious fervor and rhetoric of tyranny and liberation seem almost purpose-built for the world’s most imposing open-air amphitheater. Yet the Arena’s colossal scale presents an equally formidable challenge: what magnifies spectacle can just as readily obliterate intimacy, {…}
(Photo: Arena di Verona) There are few operatic spectacles more perfectly suited to the Arena di Verona than Franco Zeffirelli’s “Turandot.” Puccini’s final opera demanded, almost from its inception, something larger than life: an imperial court, a condemned prince, a populace intoxicated by bloodlust, an icy princess elevated to quasi-divine status and, above all, the theatrical machinery of fairy tale. {…}
Italian conductor Sebastiano Rolli is known for his Italian and bel canto repertoire, having conducted all over the world at such theaters as Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Teatro La Fenice, among others. Over the years he has conducted such operas as “L’elisir d’amore,” “Giovanna d’Arco,” “La Cenerentola,” “Torquato Tasso,” “Maria de Rudenz,” {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced that tenor Jonas Kaufmann will sing in the performance of Verdi’s “Aida” on Sept. 10. Kaufmann sang the role of Radamès in Verona in 2022. He debuted with the festival in 2021 during a special gala and has since performed in gala concerts in 2023 and 2025 and in a production of “Tosca” in {…}
On Sept. 4 and 10, 2026, Maria José Siri will sing her 200th performance of the title role of “Aida.” The soprano will perform the role at the Arena di Verona, where she has sung for several years. Siri’s journey with “Aida” began in 2003 in Argentina, at the Teatro El Círculo in Rosario and later went on to perform {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced a cast change for its production of “Aida” by Stefano Poda. The company said that Maria José Siri will sing the performance on June 25. Siri is currently performing the production, which opened on June 19 and is set to perform in the production through July 24. She is also set to perform in {…}
On June 5, the Arena di Verona is set to open its 2026 season with “Campioni del mondo,” a concert honoring its UNESCO Heritage. The evening, which will be broadcast live worldwide by Rai 1, will showcase such singers as Plácido Domingo, Vittorio Grigòlo, Maria Agresta, Eleonora Buratto, Mihai Damian, Yusif Eyvazov, Saverio Fiore, Francesca Maionchi, Francesco Meli, Mattia Olivieri, Martina {…}
The Arena di Verona Opera Festival has revealed its 2027 season. Here are the vocal offerings. First up is a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Performance Date: June 11, 2027 Then comes “Aida,” in Gianfranco de Bosio’s 1913 production. Performance Date: June 12 – August 7, 2027 Next up is Paul Curran’s production of “La Traviata.” Performance Date: June 25 – Sept. {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced its 2026 season. The season will open with a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Michele Spotti and Francesco Ivan Ciampa conduct the new production starring Martina Russomanno, Gilda Fiume and Rosa Feola. The casts also include Yusif Eyvazov, Galeano Salas, Francesco Meli, René Barbera, Adam Smith, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Mihai Damian, Youngjun Park, Ludovic {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced the result of its 2025 season, which featured 52 evenings of performances. The company said that it made 35,619,000 euros, which was 2 million more than in 2024. Additionally, the festival saw 404,715 spectators from 130 countries, including the U.K., the U.S., France, Korea, and many more. Additionally, the festival saw 18 sold-out shows, {…}
Erin Morley has canceled her August 30 performance of “Rigoletto.” The soprano took to social media and said , “Dear friends, I am heartbroken to tell you all that I have an unforeseen medical situation that I have to take care of, and which makes it impossible for me to sing Gilda at the Arena di Verona right now. I’m {…}