The Barber of Seville and Aida return at the Arena on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July

The month of July opens with the most popular titles of the 101st Arena di Verona Opera Festival, anticipating the start of the performances by a quarter of an hour. Friday 5 July, at 9.15 p.m., will see the debut of Carmen, while Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 will see the staging of The Barber of Seville and Aida, both with new artists in the cast.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

On Saturday 6 July, at 9.15 pm, there will be a lively Rococo feast in the large garden designed by Hugo De Ana for Rossini's masterpiece, a labyrinth of hedges and red roses that become magical indoor and outdoor sets for the story. The cunning barber Figaro will help the Count of Almaviva, who is incognito in Seville, to win the heart of the beautiful Rosina, held captive by his old guardian Bartolo, with the complicity of the servants and Basilio, the music teacher. In the title role, Nicola Alaimo, who was acclaimed at the worldwide broadcast gala on 7 June, makes his season debut, as does tenor Dmitry Korchak's Count and baritone-buffo Misha Kiria's Bartolo. The much-appreciated Vasilisa Berzhanskaya is confirmed as Rosina while, for one exceptional evening only, the perfidious Basilio is played by the young Riccardo Fassi. Marianna Mappa, Nicolò Ceriani and Domenico Apollonio complete the cast. To accompany the sparkling acting and to conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of the Fondazione Arena, the Hellenic conductor George Petrou.

AIDA

On Sunday, 7 July, at 9.15 p.m., the opera queen of the Arena closes the week, at the fifth recital of the original "crystal" staging created for the 100th Festival by Stefano Poda, the director winner of the Italian music critics' Abbiati Prize for the best performance in 2023. Alongside the protagonist, Maria José Siri, the mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine makes her season debut as Princess Amneris, Aida's rival in love. In the centre is Radames, an Egyptian general, here played by tenor Yusif Eyvazov, already applauded in Turandot. Igor Golovatenko returns as Amonasro, Ethiopian king and father of Aida, and Rafał Siwek as high priest Ramfis, while bass Marko Mimica makes his debut as King of the Egyptians. Completing the cast are Francesca Maionchi (priestess) and Riccardo Rados (messenger). The alternation in the international cast also touches the podium: for two evenings Maestro Alvise Casellati conducts. In addition to the artistic ensembles of the Fondazione Arena, for the visionary staging the work of more than three hundred mimes, extras, minors, dancers and technicians is added to recreate an Egypt suspended between ancient symbols and innovative materials, haute couture and contemporary art, plays of light and unprecedented transparencies that enhance the very lines of the Amphitheatre, in a Dantean journey from war to peace.

The Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2024 is supported by numerous sponsors, headed by UniCredit, which boasts a longevity of more than 25 years of collaboration, followed by Calzedonia, Pastificio Rana, Volkswagen Group Italia, DB Bahn, Forno Bonomi, RTL 102.5, Genny, which once again this year signs the uniforms of audience reception staff, and Müller which, this year too, supports the accessibility projects dedicated to people with disabilities. Official partners include historic brands such as Veronafiere, Air Dolomiti, A4 Holding, Metinvest, SABA Italia, SDG Group, Sartori di Verona, Palazzo Maffei and Mantova Village. New supporters include Poste Italiane, ManPower Group and Consorzio di Tutela dell'Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP. In addition to companies, private individuals, and professional associations that make up the ranks of the Membership 67 Columns for the Arena di Verona, founded by Gianluca Rana from the namesake pasta factory, and Sandro Veronesi, patron of the Oniverse Group, with Gruppo Editoriale Athesis as media partner.