On June 16, the Arena di Verona inaugurated its 100th anniversary season with a new production of “Aida.” The evening was one of the most anticipated events of the opera season and drew a crowd of 20,000 spectators. It also brought a number of very important world figures including Sophia Loren, who arrived on the red carpet and was received {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Aida” on June 17, 2023. The company said that Olesya Petrova will replace Anita Rachvelishvili in the role of Amneris. Petrova is currently rehearsing for the opening night performance of “Aida” in Verona on June 16. She is set to sing the role throughout July and {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced a time change for its opening performance on June 16. The company said, “the Aida Premiere on June 16, 2023 will start at 9:00 pm instead of at 9:15 pm. The event will be broadcast worldwide by RAI television so audiences should take their seats by 8:40 pm.” The June 16 performance of “Aida” {…}
The Fondazione Arena di Verona has reelected Cecilia Gasdia as Superintendent. On March 2, the board of directors voted in the majority. Gasdia beat out other candidates Lyndon Terracini, Artistic Director of Opera Australia, Maurizio Roi, President of the Fondazione Toscanini di Parma, and superintendent of Carlo Felice di Genova. Gasdia has been General Manager and Artistic Director of the Arena {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced that it will present a new production of “Rigoletto” for its 2023 season. The new production will be an homage to the Italian neorealist cinema of the 50s. It will be directed by Antonio Albanese, who has previously directed at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Teatro Petruzzelli di Bari, {…}
The Ministero della Cultura has presented a series entitled “VIVA Verdi,” for the acquisition and valuation of the composer’s house/museum Sant’Agata di Villanova sull’Arda. The Foundation Arena di Verona will begin the series with Verdi’s “Aida.” Massimiliano Stefanelli conducts the Franco Zeffirelli production which is set to star Monica Conesa, Ivan Magrì, Ketevan Kemoklidze, Youngjun Park, Antonio Di Matteo, and {…}
Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov are set to open the 100th anniversary with a new production of Stefano Poda. The opera will performed on June 16 and will be broadcast on Rai worldwide. Poda will direct the production as well designing the costumes and sets. In a statement Poda said, “The story of Aida is that of a world at {…}
(Photo by Catherine Ashmore) Plácido Domingo has issued a statement apologizing to the Arena di Verona for his recent performances, which resulted in an onstage protest from the orchestra and a subsequent letter from the local union lambasting the showcases as “humiliating.” During performances at the end of August, Domingo left the stage early during scenes of “Macbeth” that he {…}
Credit: Michele Monasta Over the past years, María José Siri’s status in the opera world has grown due to her historical performances all around the world. At the Ópera de Palmas, she became the first soprano to encore with the company. She subsequently became the first soprano in the Arena di Verona’s history to perform both roles in “Cavalleria Rusticana” {…}
Following performances at the Arena di Verona headlined by Plácido Domingo, the members of orchestra refused to stand during the final ovations in protest of the quality of the showcases. Per several reports, the performances, which celebrated the music of Verdi across several scenes from his operas, received a very negative response from audience members. During the opening performance, the {…}
(© Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical) Details regarding Jonas Kaufmann’s 2023 gala at the Arena di Verona have been announced. During a press conference in anticipation of the tenor’s stage debut as Radamès in “Aida,” the Arena said that the 2023 gala will feature three acts of different operas, as is the tradition for major events in the great open-air {…}