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Original poster

Verona

21 replies

thisisasurvivor · 16/08/2024 17:19

Hello all

Just wondering if anyone had experience of opera in Verona?

I heard it mentioned on the radio today and it would be amazing

Just wondering how to go about booking the tickets etc?

Thank you

OP posts:
HippyKayYay · 16/08/2024 17:27

I was in Verona last year and would have loved to see an opera. The link above is the official website. Have a wonderful time if you go!

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 16/08/2024 19:09

Fab

How did you find Verona?
Would you stay for long or is it a small enough city?

OP posts:
Whatineed · 16/08/2024 19:24

I was in Verona last week. We couldn't attend the opera as we travelled with the dog. Although knowing the Italians they probably allow them there too. 😅 The Arena is an absolutely beautiful setting and I'm eyeing up a few concerts, outside of the Opera Festival for later in the year, to drive down without the doggo for a weekend. (I'm not UK based btw). Prices are reasonable too. The whole calendar year is here... www.arena.it/calendario/

You could spend a few days there meandering, and we love to do our shopping there before heading to the coast, but a lot of visitors also combine a Verona visit with a Lake trip to Garda too, if that was an option?

Another amazing experience I did a few years ago, was the Bregenz festival, in Austria, where the stage is on the lake. They only have one opera rotated every two years if I recall. I saw The Magic Flute. Was absolutely amazing.

bregenzerfestspiele.com/de/vorverkauf-2025

If you've ever scene the Bond Film Quantum of Solice it features a scene from there, where they are performing Tosca.

Powderblue1 · 16/08/2024 20:44

It's a lovely place but I don't think you'd want to stay too long in just Verona. If you hire a car it's a short drive to Lake Garda

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 16/08/2024 22:40

Thank you all

Oh I can not wait

Would be an amazing trip xxxxx

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 16/08/2024 22:45

Verona itself isn't worth seeing but I've always wanted to go to outdoor opera. Take a travel bum cushion!

Agree with staying in lake garda. You could also do Venice and a tour of a winery in veneto/brescia. I recommend trying sparkling Franciacorta.

Whatineed · 17/08/2024 08:00

Follow their Instagram page if you can OP, it'll give you an idea of all the things with seeing...

www.instagram.com/visitveronaofficial?igsh=YjZ2OWNreWxleG83

ZoeyBartlett · 17/08/2024 09:00

Love the opera in Vienna. It's nice for a few nights then as pp have said grab a train up to somewhere on Lake Garda for a few days.

We always stay here in Verona - v nice and central and not too expensive usually www.operarelais.it/

Buttalapasta · 17/08/2024 09:04

I've been a couple of times, more for the experience than for the opera as you can see/hear better in a theatre. Still amazing though.

AnnaMagnani · 17/08/2024 09:10

I'd say Verona is great for a weekend although expensive as the prices go up for opera season.

I've been a few times to the opera - my top tips would be:
Bring a cushion, it's a long time on a stone seat

Try to book something that is going to have fab sets and look good on a big stage like Turandot or Aida. They did their best with La Boheme but honestly it's an opera with a small cast set in a Parisian garrett

They don't perform in the rain. Usually this is fine but if it's a bad year for weather it's a disaster. If you get 1 act there isn't a refund and they will try v hard to get one act done for this reason. There is a v short time that doing Mexican wave while wearing plastic ponchos in the pouring rain remains fun. They also won't cut to the good bits just to show you something when the whole thing is clearly not going to happen - am I still bitter? Yes I am.

AnnaMagnani · 17/08/2024 09:14

@Whatineed We went to Bregenz having seen the Quantum of Solace.

Spent a lot of time looking at previous productions which all looked stunning.

It was the first year of the Magic Flute so we couldn't see what the staging would look like.

I was sooo disappointed, no fab stage, just some crappy inflatables.

If you are going, defintely do Year 2 of a production so you have an idea what you are getting.

Whatineed · 17/08/2024 12:24

AnnaMagnani · 17/08/2024 09:14

@Whatineed We went to Bregenz having seen the Quantum of Solace.

Spent a lot of time looking at previous productions which all looked stunning.

It was the first year of the Magic Flute so we couldn't see what the staging would look like.

I was sooo disappointed, no fab stage, just some crappy inflatables.

If you are going, defintely do Year 2 of a production so you have an idea what you are getting.

Wow I'm quite surprised. Yes they were inflatables but we thought the walkways over the stage, zip lining of characters, pyrotechnics etc were great. Certainly compared to the stage set for Madam Butterfly, Carmen and West Side story, for example.

Horse for courses I guess.

It was the whole experience for us, we chose the VIP option and arrived by boat, visited the festival lounge for an aperitif and had dinner beforehand, covered seating, followed by a farewell drink. All round a lovely experience.

LIZS · 17/08/2024 12:33

Been twice. A great experience and quite touching moment as they do a dedication to those who died in the Roman amphitheatre.

PolaroidPrincess · 17/08/2024 12:36

I did Verona many years ago as part of an Italian tour. Lovely ad it is I think you can do a fair chunk of what you want to see in one day and night.

LIZS · 17/08/2024 12:36

And agree with comment above on production and staging, we saw Carmen and Turandot which both had large casts and sets. Carmen had live horses,

PaminaMozart · 17/08/2024 12:41

Verona is lovely and the opera is a fantastic experience, but 2 days is probably enough.

It's easy to get to Vincenza (architecture), Padova (Giotto Chapel - extraordinary) and Venice (it's Venice!!).

Envious... want to do this again!

AnnaMagnani · 17/08/2024 14:14

Saw the sets for Aida at Verona - they looked amazing
The staging for Turandot is very beautiful but sadly we were stuck with Ping, Pang and Pong, who I am sure were v funny in the 19th century but now hit as a bit racist. They seemed to go on for ever, then they showed us the gorgeous set for the next scene, it pissed down with rain and we were done.

They did their best with La Boheme with a massive street scene and a guy going round and round on a penny farthing but given the choice, it's not the real Verona experience.

ThePure · 17/08/2024 14:20

Just been for a day trip to Verona last week and saw them setting up the stage for Aida. I would have loved to see an opera (had huge extended family in tow so not possible). The set looked amazing.

AnnaMagnani · 17/08/2024 15:10

@Whatineed we are all different!

I've just looked at the set for Carmen and feel I was robbed. A big dramatic set that speaks to the story of the opera.

We also stayed across the lake and went over by boat. Halfway back they announced they had not picked up some passengers who were late so we were going back to pick them up. Was not a popular decision and there were cries of 'Let them swim.' Took forever to get back, they slunk onto the boat and hid from the rest of us who were now tired, fed up and had had one too many Aperols.

Original poster
thisisasurvivor · 17/08/2024 22:09

These are AMAZING

Many thanks had no idea how to start searching

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