Verona opera?

[Behooven]

Anyone ever been? I've read up from trip advisor but would like to hear your experience.

I've been a few times and it is definitely not a ball gown kind of place!

Been in maxi dress or smart top and skirt. Frankly jeans would be fine

Aida is the perfect opera to see there as it's a great opera, the sets are fab and it lends itself to the arena setting. Aida is also a great first opera - I would recommend you read the plot first as it really helps. If you aren't in tears with the trio at the end you have a heart of stone or it was a really bad production There will be an English translation in the programme but these are quite overpriced.

Cushions are a must if you are in the cheap seats, there will be loads of vendors selling them. Also check the weather forecast - they don't play in the rain but will keep trying, if you get an act they don't reimburse the tickets. There will be lots of vendors selling plastic macs if rain is threatened and you pass the time doing Mexican waves in the downpour

There was a huge array of very posh frocks and dinner jackets - maybe it was special evening?
I wore a simple sundress (and a cardi for later!). Dress wise, it was very much 'them and us'. Don't worry about what you wear!!

Possibly - was it the first night?

Last time I went rain was definitely expected so no-one had made any sort of effort at all Everyone looks the same in a see through plastic bag with a hood

The 'them' group is v small and massively outnumbered by the tourists wearing whatever suits them.

Kundry - think it may have been a 'last weekend' performance? I was very jealous of the red carpet housing a fully-stocked Champers bar!

On another note OP, there are many cafes/restaurants over the road that you could nip to (in an IBS emergency) - quick drink in the intervals?

It sounds great and I'm really tempted to go this summer as we are staying at Peschiera. I have never been to an opera before but I've just checked the website and that says it starts at 8.45pm and lasts 3 hours! That's a lot of opera! Will we be ok getting the bus home afterwards? Also did you really take children with you? Did you book in advance or just buy tickets when on holiday.
Sorry for all the questions!

Wear something comfortable and take a light jacket or wrap for later, when it gets chilly, as you will be there and travelling home for hours. Wear flat shoes.

Glam up with a bit of sparkle on a tee shirt and some large earrings!! You can never wear too many sequins at night in Italy!!

Only a small group wear ball gowns. I always sit in the seats, and there is quite a mix of clothing styles.

If this is your first opera it will be mind blowingly stunning, get a DVD ASAP to listen to the music and discover the plot.

3 hours really isn't that much opera! There will be at least one interval. Plus Verona only does the big hits of opera, you won't be stuck watching something esoteric and tuneless. Some operas definitely work better than others - La Boheme is mainly set in a garret so an arena was rather unnecessary. Aida, Nabucco, Turandot all work really well and are easy to listen to.

I think it's OK for teenage children but not younger - it finishes v late, the seats are generally uncomfortable, helps if you've seen at least a show before if not opera/classical. I fell in love with opera as a teenager when they showed the Verona season on Channel 4 and would haved loved to go.

DH would recommend booking on the day if you are flexible on days to make sure you pick a non-rainy day - outside of the stalls they won't have sold out.

I'm really excited about it now.
elizabethcharlotte I'm staying in Peschiera too, really handy for Verona.

Dh is booking for us through this website and the itinerary has been sorted out by the lovely posters above (train there, collect tickets, eat, opera, booked on bus to come back) sorted!

Oh, I went 20 years ago when interrailing and it was amazing. Get a cushion and something to wrap round shoulders as got chilly later. Very we saw Turendot (the one with Nessum dorma in it

elizabeth - we booked our tickets at one of the banks in Peschiera the day before. Really quick on the train (15-20 min walk in centre), but so easy getting the late ATV bus back. I think we left the arena at midnight, and hopped on the bus on the other side of the Piazza (through the trees). The bus left around 12.30, and we were back in Peschiera in 45 mins!

We saw Aida in Verona a few years ago. I have no recollection of anyone being dressed up! Except them on stage of course The stone seats are hard and on a hot day they are like storage heaters so cushions do double duty.

It was all very delightful.

I'm beginning to regret mentioning the flippin' ballgowns now! As Kundry says, it was a tiny minority, (and was probably a special 'end of season' evening); the rest of us were very casual. It just very much stood out, and was a lovely sight to behold!

Actually, Behooven, I think you should go all out, and turn up in a ballgown, hoisting it up of course, to negotiate the stone steps, and embrace the sideways looks you get, whilst foraging in your cool bag for your butties!

Opera is v like that though - there will be some people in massive finery and most other people slumming it. Except in Germany where everyone makes an effort and you get people in cocktail dresses in the standing seats at the back!

Defo do....saw aida 15 years ago and still remember how lovely it was. But take cushions...my arse hurt for ages afterwards

I saw Aida there 2 years ago , and it was absolutely wonderful - a night to remember . You have been given all the right advice here ! I am sure you will find it an unforgettable event !

Yy 3cats, I'll just send the mink off to the dry cleaners!

We are going again this year. Saw Aida whilst inter railing many moons ago. Was not an opera fan before but the whole night was magical... Camels, donkeys, tiny babies all on stage. Whilst on holiday, pre children, went again and saw Carmen. This year we are going to Venice and Verona with DD (14) and have booked to see Don Giavanni and just had the credit card bill (£65 for 3 tickets - stone seats).

We are staying in a hotel just across the square and will smuggle out our pillows to sit on. Candles are given out as you enter the arena. It is spectacular when they are all lit and the locals start singing arias from the opera pre show. I loved people watching too as the posh frocks took to the expensive seats!

When we were inter railing 24 years ago, we sat waiting for the opera to start only for an announcement to be made. Suddenly all the Italians started booing, shouting and gesticulating;we were so confused thinking the opera had been cancelled. The same announcement then happened in German, French, Spanish and finally English. The announcement was about a Mafia bomb that had gone off killing a judge and 4 others. We were about to have a 2 minute silence in remembrance to those killed that afternoon. The Italians are certainly passionate and they love their opera.

We've booked for a Sunday performance of Aida, really quite looking forward to it - very different holiday activity for us.

Another question though - we received PDF tickets with a barcode on each via email. Are these the actual tickets or do we need to go in advance to the booking office and exchanged them for tickets?

I would think they would scan your barcode on the email - but hopefully someone will come along soon and confirm this!

Thanks again 3cats

Behooven - the bar coded PDF is your ticket. They scan it as you enter.

The PDF needs to be printed out on white paper and not folded across the bar code so it can be scanned.

You will love Aida!

Make sure you buy the English translation from the booths just outside the arena then you can follow the plot/dialogue as it is all sung in Italian.

I used to read the next act in the breaks so I knew what was coming up.

Blimey it's about 20 years since we saw Carmen there and the memory is really special. I'd love to go again - jealous! We had a coach trip then that went from our hotel to Verona (from Lake Garda) early in the day, and came back after the show finished. The ticket was included and it was all really easy. But my knowledge is pretty dated now

We arrived too late in Verona, thousands of people were heading the other way as it ended!
I wish we'd had a look inside the ancient arena though, one of the best preserved there is.
Probably won't be returning to Italy though, so many outright scammers and thieves in business and the authorities don't care (especially in Venice).

I saw Carmen there last year, a fabulous experience which I wouldn't have missed although on balance I do prefer opera in a conventional theatre. Cast of thousands so quite spectacular.

I went early in order to people watch, there was a huge mix of clothing styles, I was in linen trousers & top and didn't feel out of place. Do take a light sweater or jacket as it can get cool in the evening. The performance started late as it had rained earlier so be prepared for a late finish. Lots of people had picnics, I didn't bother as I hate having to trek to the loo.

Hope you have a wonderful time.