If you’re a classical music enthusiast or an opera lover, you must have been to the Covent Garden or La Scala once or twice. But I discovered something that beats even the gilded interiors of Opera Garnier: the outdoor grandeur. Dream big: an ancient theater with view of the volcano, a huge lake stage or a musical terrace where you can see the sun rising 315 m over the sea.
THE FINDS
Arena di Verona Opera Festival
Witnessing world-class opera performed in a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater, with a cast of thousands and massive sets, is an absolute treat. The atmosphere is magical and the audience is electric
INTEL:
- Location: Piazza Bra, Verona, Italy.
- Access: Performances typically from June to September. Book tickets early, especially for popular operas. Check out the schedule of performances here and follow the pre-sales, as well as the last-minute offers. There are several seating categories and prices, with poltrone, which are comfy chairs/ seats, and gradinata, where you sit directly on the ancient stone steps.
- The luxury experience: some performances are labelled “star-roof experience” and are designed as exclusive packages including a gastronomic dinner offered by a Michelin star chef (Perbellini most likely) and the best seats in the arena. For Poltrone seats, a more refined welcome with refreshments (like Prosecco) is often part of the experience, with dedicated entry points at every performance
- Stone Steps (Gradinata): For the most authentic (and budget-friendly) vibe, grab unreserved seats on the stone steps. Arrive 2-3 hours early for the best spot. Bring or rent a cushion.
- Candle Tradition: Bring a small candle and get ready for magic. It’s the Arena tradition for the audience to light candles at dusk during the performance. Phone flashlight will do, too
- Dress Code: Smart casual is fine for the stone steps, though you’ll need to dress up for the reserved seats
Teatro Greco di Taormina
Classical music but also rock concerts are taking place in the ancient theatre of Taormina, Sicily. A large crack in the original arena wall offers a magnificent view over Etna and the sea and provides a unique backdrop for any performance. No need for additional stage set there, just book a show
The Bregenz Festival
This is one secret gem: the opera on the lake in Bregenz, on the Austrian side of Lake Constance. At the end of the WWII, in a town that did not even possess a theatre, the idea of mounting a festival seemed eccentric; but the initially temporary solution of choosing the loveliest part of the town – the lake – as the stage proved to be a hugely successful one and endured as the city emblem. Every summer, the Bregenz Festival features original shows with amazing lake stage contraptions and daily performances. http://bregenzerfestspiele.com/en
Ravello Festival
Ravello is by far the most beautiful thing on the already picture-perfect Amalfi Coast. But once you’ve seen the Alba Concert, you are among the happy few who literally touched heaven and lived to tell about it. The concert takes place at dawn on the overwhelming Rufolo terrace, watching the sun rise over the bay at 315m asl. http://www.ravellofestival.com/program
