Verona – 2011 Opera Festival programme
The 2011 Verona Opera Festival opens on 17 June with Verdi’s opera “La Traviata.” For several decades, the Verona Arena has been transformed into a breathtaking opera stage. The Verona Opera Festival is one of the biggest summer events in the Italian region of Veneto, attracting thousands of holidaymakers and opera enthusiasts to the area near Lake Garda every year.
Rund 20.000 Zuschauer können jeden Abend zu den Opernfestspielen in Verona in der Arena Platz nehmen.
Date: 30/09/2026
The Verona Arena
Around 140 metres long and just over 110 metres wide, the Arena dates back to Roman times and is one of Europe’s largest and, above all, best-preserved arenas. It was only about 100 years ago that people began to appreciate the Arena’s outstanding acoustics. Today, its 44 rows of seats accommodate around 22,000 spectators, and the venue is also used for major concerts in addition to the opera festival. This year, Zucchero was fortunate enough to perform at perhaps the best-known arena in the Province of Verona. Immediately after the Verona Opera Festival, two Zucchero concerts will take place at the Arena in September. Along with its acoustics and ancient architecture, the venue’s unique panorama lends every event a touch of romance.
2011 programme for the Verona Opera Festival
Without Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Aida,” the Verona Opera Festival would not enjoy the worldwide fame and recognition it has achieved today. In 2011, “Aida” is scheduled 15 times. Until 3 September, it is accompanied by other world-famous operas, including, as in previous years, “The Barber of Seville,” “La Bohème,” “La Traviata” and “Nabucco.” This year, the event has been expanded with another highlight: Charles Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” is also on the Verona Opera Festival programme for 2011. This work, however, will be performed in French.
Tips and event information for the Verona Opera Festival
As every year, the organisers recommend bringing seat cushions to the performances. There is no bad-weather alternative. This means that admission will be refunded if the weather is clearly poor, provided that the opera performance in Verona does not go ahead. Tickets are available by phone or in writing, in person or by email from the Fondazione Arena di Verona and from various event agencies. Holiday apartments and hotels for the Verona Opera Festival should be booked well in advance, including through these pages. Some airlines are still offering last-minute flights to Lake Garda.
Katja Elflein
