Foto: Ennevi / Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona Carmen: Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2025
Verona, Arena di Verona
About the Event
Bizet's 'Carmen' comes to the Arena of Verona in a production directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
'Carmen' is one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the repertoire. Zeffirelli offers a spectacular staging, fitting to the grand stage at Arena di Verona.
'Carmen' is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, based on Prosper Merimee’s novella of the same name. Written in the opera comique tradition, musical movements are interrupted by spoken dialogue. When it premiered at the Opera‐Comique in 1875, this groundbreaking opera shocked a public unready for its realism, and unused to seeing the lives of the lower classes being shown on stage. However, within ten years the tragic and passionate 'Carmen' had taken its place at the centre of the operatic canon, forming a bridge between opera comique and the fast‐emerging verismo style.
Act 1
Seville, Spain. The provocative gypsy, Carmen, works in the cigarette factory. When the women take their break, Carmen sings a ‘Habanera’ attracting the attention of all the men in the square. Only a soldier, Don José, isn’t interested in her. Piqued, Carmen deliberately throws a flower to him. A quarrel breaks out between the women. Carmen is arrested, but seduces Jose into releasing her, and escapes. José is imprisoned for allowing her to escape.
Act 2
A month later, José has just been released, and goes to meet Carmen at a tavern. With her flower in his hand, José tells her his feelings. Carmen convinces José not to report for roll call, but to stay with her and join the smugglers.
Act 3
José regrets joining the smugglers. Carmen is already in love with another man — Escamillo, a bullfighter. Carmen reads the cards and forsees a dark future.
José's childhood friend, Micaela, comes to look for him to tell him that his mother is seriously ill. José decides to go home.
The following month, Escamillo, now Carmen’s lover, is welcomed by the spectators and enters the arena. Carmen remains in the square, and José appears. He demands Carmen leaves with him, but she refuses, throwing away the ring that José once gave her. In a jealous rage, José stabs Carmen to death with a dagger, and as the crowds exit the arena, confesses to his actions.
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Practical Information
Included are:
- Ticket to the opera performance in the chosen category
- One month's free access to a premium classical music streaming service
- self‐guided audio tour of Verona in English
Program
- Georges Bizet – Carmen
Cast / Production
Direction and set design: Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes: Anna Anni
Lights: Paolo Mazzon
Choreography: El Camborio
Conductor: Francesco Ivan Ciampa
Children's Choir: A.LI.VE.
Conductor: Paolo Facincani
Dance Company: Compañía Antonio Gades
Orchestra, Choir, Dance and Technicians: Fondazione Arena di Verona
Chorus Master: Roberto Gabbiani
Dance Company Coordinator: Gaetano Petrosino
Director of stage design: Michele Olcese
Carmen:
Aigul Akhmetshina 04/07 14/08 23/08 29/08 03/09
Alisa Kolosova 12/07 26/07
Anita Rachvelishvili 18/07
Micaela:
Aleksandra Kurzak 04/07
Mariangela Sicilia 12/07 18/07 26/07 23/08 29/08 03/09
Daniela Schillaci 14/08
Frasquita:
Daniela Cappiello 04/07 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08 23/08 29/08 03/09
Mercédès:
Sofia Koberidze 04/07 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08 23/08 29/08 03/09
Don Josè:
Roberto Alagna 04/07
Francesco Meli 12/07 03/09
Yusif Eyvazov 18/07 26/07
Piotr Beczała 14/08
Freddie De Tommaso 23/08
Paolo Lardizzone 29/08
Escamillo:
Erwin Schrott 04/07 23/08
Luca Micheletti 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08
Giorgi Manoshvili 29/08 03/09
Dancairo:
Jan Antem 04/07 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08 23/08 29/08 03/09
Remendado:
Carlo Bosi 04/07 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08
Vincent Ordonneau 23/08 29/08 03/09
Zuniga:
Gabriele Sagona 04/07 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08 23/08 29/08 03/09
Morales:
Giulio Mastrototaro 04/07 12/07 18/07 26/07 14/08 23/08 29/08 03/09
Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is the third largest Roman amphitheatre still standing. Built around 30 AD, the Arena is also among the best-preserved amphitheatres of the period. Its gigantic dimensions (140 meters long and 100 meters wide), and seating for over 30,000 spectators, ensure it dominates the northern part of Piazza Bra. Excellent acoustics and a fabulous location make it an ideal venue for large-scale opera performances. The monument was re-established as a theatre during the Renaissance, and in 1913 the tradition of opera at the Arena di Verona began with a production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Aida'.
Customer Reviews
4.7 of 5
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Carolyn D, United Kingdom
Jul 2025
Amazing experience. The performance of Carmen was spectacular. ❤️
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Alessio B, Italy
Jul 2025
All Wonderful
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Dieter W, Deutschland
Jul 2025
Sehr schöner Abend mit der Familie, die Oper und das Orchester sind sehr gut. Ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Dankeschön es war ein toller Abend.
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Isabelle G, France
Jul 2025
Très beau spectacle. Grandiose.
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antonin l, France
Jul 2025
La réalisation était remarquable, la mise en scène réussie, un très bon résultat.
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Eric Z, Schweiz
Jul 2025
Sehr gut
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Jean Benoit B, France
Jul 2025
Very good
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Yves M, Suisse
Jul 2025
Absolument splendide !
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Didier C, Suisse
Jul 2025
Magique!
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Hermona N, Israel
Jul 2025
Exellent
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Mark I, USA
Jul 2025
All I can say is wow! This was my first opera. The setting and staging was unbelievable. I would not miss seeing Any production in this arena.
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Sabine T, Deutschland
Jul 2025
Überwältigendes Hör‐ und Seherlebnis
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Sebastian H, Deutschland
Jul 2025
Einfach traumhaft ! Perfekt organisiert.
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ANITA M, France
Jul 2025
Son très médiocre pas de micro au dessus de la scène et les chanteurs principaux non plus
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Beatrice K, Deutschland
Sep 2023
Leider musste man sehr lange warten bis der Einlass begann, mit 1 Std Verspätung
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Aug 2022
la moitié vue etait tres bien car avec la pluie le spectacle a cessé
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Michael M, United Kingdom
Aug 2022
Wonderful performance of Carmen.
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Aug 2022
Hochwertige Künstler‐Besetzung, umwerfendes Bühnenbild, flexibles Orchester, dynamischer Dirigent (mit einem Blick für die Wetterlage😄), gute Einlassorganisation mit Sicherheitsvorkehrungen‐ ein Genuss
Address
Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra 28, Verona, Italy — Google Maps
