At 9.30p.m., at the Arena of Verona :

ROBERTO BOLLE

U.K.: Choreographer

Roberto Bolle: Star dancer

Roberto Bolle is one of the legends of classical dance. At the age of twelve, he attended the Ballet School at La Scala in Milan. Rudolf Nureyev spotted his talent straight away, and it was at just 21 that he was appointed primo ballerino at La Scala. By his own admission, his favourite role was Romeo, which he performed with virtuosity, spontaneity and enthusiasm. So it’s only natural that Roberto Bolle should feel so at home in Shakespeare’s city of lovers! In the sumptuous setting of the Arena in Verona, dancer and choreographer Roberto Bolle presents a show in the company of his friends from the best companies in the world. A true deligh !

At 9.15p.m., at the Arena of Verona :

CARMEN, G. Bizet

Leonardo Sini: Conductor

Franco Zeffirelli: Staging

Clémentine Margaine : Carmen

Roberto Alagna : Don José

Aleksandra Kurzak : Micaëla

Luca Micheletti : Escamillo

Chiara Maria Fiorani : Frasquita

Alessia Nadin : Mercédès

Jan Antem : The Dancaïre

Vincent Ordonneau : The Remendado

Gabriele Sagona : Zuniga

Fabio Previati : Moralès

Carmen and the Verona Arena have a long-standing love affair. Bizet‘s opera was performed for the first time in 1914 (in other words, during the second edition of the Festival) and has since been performed several hundred times, making Carmen the second most performed opera at the Arena after Aïda. Among the many productions, Franco Zeffirelli‘s Carmen has taken pride of place. The famous Italian director recreates an ideal Spain with sumptuous sets and costumes. But it is in the genius of the movement that the show dazzles: every detail vibrates and breathes in a dazzling visual carousel. As always in Verona, the pleasure of the eyes is accompanied by the pleasure of the music. We don’t yet know the performer of the fiery gypsy, but Zeffirelli‘s setting is already sumptuous.

At 9.15p.m., at the Arena of Verona :

AÏDA, G. Verdi

Daniel Oren : Conductor

Stefano Poda: Staging

Maria José Siri : Aïda

Gregory Kunde : Radamès

Amartuvshin Enkhbat : Amonasro

Alexander Vinogradov : Ramfis

Ekaterina Semechuk : Amneris

Simon Lim : The King of Egypt

Francesca Maionchi : The high priestess

Carlo Bosi : A messenger

In the beginning was… Aida. In 1913, the very first Verona Arena Festival presented Verdi’s opera. Since then, Aida has established itself as one of the festival’s flagship works, with almost 500 performances in various productions. In 2023, to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the event (the war years explain the difference in dates!), the Arena presented a new production directed by Stefano Poda. Unanimously praised for its plastic beauty, it is this show that is being revived for this 101^st edition.

Although we still don’t know the vocal cast (last summer, Anna Netrebko sang the legendary Egyptian), we can already look forward to this performance led by the brilliant Stefano Poda, a veritable one-man band who directs, sets, costumes, lights and choreographs! A sumptuous, modern Aida, ideally suited to the excessiveness of the Verona Arena.

At 9.15p.m., at the Arena of Verona :

LA BOHÈME, G. Puccini

Daniele Oren : Conductor

Alfonso Signorini : Staging

Vittorio Grigòlo : Rodolfo

Juliana Grigoryan : Mimi

Luca Micheletti : Marcello

Fabio Previati : Schaunard

Alexander Vinogradov : Colline

Eleonora Bellocci : Musetta

Nicolò Ceriani : Benoît

Salvatore Salvaggio : Alcindoro

Ricardo Rados : Parpignol

La Bohème has always been particularly cherished at the Verona Arena. With its recreation of Montmartre during the Belle Époque, Puccini’s opera makes for an extraordinary setting and a spectacular production. After Frenchman Arnaud Bernard in 2005, the name of the director who will offer his vision of the moving story of Mimi and Rodolfo for the 101st edition of the Verona Arena Festival has yet to be announced. There are many demands in such a setting: to ensure a sumptuous spectacle, but also to stay as close as possible to the emotions of the characters. And in this respect, Puccini’s music remains as it has been since its creation in 1896: an incredible flood of human feelings and passions. There’s no doubt that the hearts of the ten thousand spectators in the Arena will beat in tune with the music…