Figaro, Aida and Carmen in Arena from 22 to 24 August
Three great classics and prestigious international performers.
On Thursday 22 August, Aida is staged in the historic 1913 production, conducted by Daniel Oren.
Friday 23rd August, Carmen last, conducted by Leonardo Sini. Margaine, Alagna and Kurzak are the protagonists of Zeffirelli's staging.
On Saturday 24 August, Il Barbiere di Siviglia conquers the Arena stage with its sparkling verve. Completely renewed cast directed by Maestro Petrou.
From 22 to 24 August, on the stage of the Arena di Verona, three different titles for three consecutive evenings under the banner of the great classics. The 101st Arena di Verona Opera Festival returns with Aida, Carmen and The Barber of Seville in the acclaimed productions by de Bosio, Zeffirelli and De Ana.
Three different batons at the helm of the artistic and technical ensembles of the Fondazione Arena, with great international artists making each evening a real premiere.
AIDA. On Thursday 22nd August, at 9.00 pm, the Arena will re-live the Ancient Egypt imagined by Verdi for his Aida, the opera queen of the Amphitheatre, in the staging curated by Gianfranco de Boso, whose centenary year falls. A historic edition that evokes the magic of the first night of opera in the Arena in 1913. And which returns to the stage conducted by Daniel Oren with great performers: Aida is Elena Stikhina while the rival Amneris is Ekaterina Semenchuk. In the role of the beloved Radames returns tenor Gregory Kunde, Lugo Prize 2024; the high priest Ramfis and the King are impersonated by basses Alexander Vinogradov and Riccardo Fassi; while the Ethiopian king Amonasro, father of the protagonist, is Youngjun Park. The cast is completed by Francesca Maionchi (priestess) and Carlo Bosi (messenger). With the artistic and technical ensembles of the Fondazione Arena, the ballet features original choreography by Susanna Egri with three international dance stars as soloists: Futaba Ishizaki, Gioacchino Starace and Denys Cherevychko. Last performances: 29 August, 5 September.
CARMEN. On Friday 23 August, at 9 p.m., Georges Bizet's masterpiece is staged in the classic grandiose and cinematic spectacle of director and set designer Franco Zeffirelli, with over 500 people on stage and an international cast of great performers. This is the last chance to hear conductor Leonardo Sini, a promising young conductor who met with public and critical acclaim in his Arena debut. The maestro from Sassari is expected at the Teatro Filarmonico in October to reopen Verona's winter opera season with Stiffelio. On Friday evening, the titular star is mezzo-soprano Alisa Kolosova, torn between Roberto Alagna's passionate dragon Jose and Dalibor Jenis' bullfighter Escamillo. Also a couple in life, the French-Italian star Alagna is joined in the role of the sweet Micaela by soprano Alexandra Kurzak. In the flank parts Alessia Nadin, Daniela Cappiello, Jan Antem, Vincent Ordonneau, Gabriele Sagona, Fabio Previati. Maestro Sini leads the Arena Foundation Orchestra, the Arena Chorus prepared by Roberto Gabbiani and the treble voices of A.Li.Ve. On stage, Bizet's Seville is enriched by the authentically Spanish choreography of El Camborio and the Antonio Gades Company. Last performance: 7 September.
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE. Saturday 24 August, at 9 p.m., after the success of the first dates in June and July, the brio of the barber and factotum Figaro returns to the Arena with a new cast for the most classic of comic operas, in the iconic Italian-style garden with large red roses designed by Hugo De Ana for the Veronese Amphitheatre. For the last three performances the protagonist will be baritone Davide Luciano, comic sidekick to the Conte di Almaviva of the young American tenor Jack Swanson (in his Arena debut) as he wins the love of Rosina, played by Vasilisa Berzhanskaya. Bartolo, the beauty's gruff guardian, will be played by Carlo Lepore, and his right-hand man Basilio, the music master, by Alexander Vinogradov. The cast is completed by Marianna Mappa's hilarious Berta, Nicolò Ceriani in the dual role of Fiorello and Ambrogio, the young man in the role of the Ufficiale. The Arena Foundation Orchestra, the Men's Choir and the Arena Ballet are conducted by George Petrou, another happy debut this season, who accompanies the sparkling recitatives of Rossini's comedy on the harpsichord. Last performances: 31 August, 6 September.
