The essential thing about the Arena is that it is outdoor opera that is not miked. This is the bane of outdoor opera. An opera singer singing thru a body mike has to moderate his or her voice to take full advantage of the sound system. Or their mike has to be turned down so low that the folks in the back can’t hear. But the acoustics of the Arena are so superb that no miking is used at all. There are dead spots on the stage (and these vary depending on where you sit). In fact, I would put listening to opera at the Arena on a par with the Met in NY (not quite as precise but louder in the cheap seats than the Met) and better than the old Kennedy Center Opera House acoustically.
If you plan on visiting the Verona Arena to catch an opera performance, than you have some advance research to do. First of all, the opera season in Verona takes place every summer, from approximately mid-June through the beginning of September. Different productions are part of the opera festival every year, so if you have your heart set on a certain opera, just because it isn’t on this year’s line up doesn’t mean you won’t see it there in the future. For instance, the 2011 summer season was offering six core productions, with a total of 49 performances spread throughout the summer.
2013 marks the 91st Opera Festival at Arena di Verona and has become one of the most highly anticipated seasons of the year for opera fans. Even those who have never been to an opera before can’t help but be fascinated by the history of the Verona Italy amphitheatre and the stunning surroundings. To reach Verona, it is possible to arrive by car, bus, or train. Public transportation has excellent connections to Lake Garda, Venice, Milan, and beyond. If you’re planning on attending the opera performances, it is essential to reserve your tickets far in advance. Some of the most beloved operas take the stage in Verona, including La Traviata, Aida, The Barber of Seville, and La Boheme.
The acoustics of the Verona Italy amphitheatre have been savored since productions returned to the stage in the 1850s. Opera performances began in 1913, and even Puccini himself watched an opera within this ancient walls. The open-air amphitheatre offers two choices for seating: cheaper seats on the stone steps or more expensive seats on the floor with padded chairs. Each performance welcomes 15,000 people to the candlelit Verona Arena, and each season over 500,000 people enjoy the magic offered by the acoustics of this Roman amphitheatre. Plan a trip to Verona in the summer, and you could be one of them.
Along with the arena, another reason Verona is famous for lovers of the arts is its being the setting of Romeo and Juliet. During a trip to Verona it is possible to see attractions such as Juliet’s House with its famous balcony. The Verona Arena isn’t the only historically significant attraction in town. Visitors travel to also see the Verona Duomo, Juliet’s Tomb, local museums, and Romeo’s house. Verona is a city that is known for romance, so if you’re planning a romantic getaway, spending a night at the Arena di Verona and checking into one of the local luxury hotels will be a trip you won’t soon forget.
The Arena is part of Piazza Bra that is framed by antique Roman “doors”, the city Hall and several other historical buildings, plus from that Piazza (square) it’s easy to walk down “Via Mazzini” that’s the commercial road where no cars are allowed and you can only walk looking at the most prestigious labels in fashion and arts in their "boutiques" (retail stores).
I could write an entire book of my memories of things I used to do with friends and those who still today have stores in that “via”, that I’m going to force myself to stop writing now.
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