The 86th Arena di Verona Opera Festival will take place this year from June 20th to August 31st 2008. The first perforamance of the 2008 summer season is a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida. This new production of the famous opera is inspired by the very first stage design of Aida in 1913 and directed by Gianfranco De Bosio. Aida has been the most loved and performed opera in the Arena with 48 productions and 517 performances over the years sometimes featuring real elephants.
In a traditional stage design of gold or blue, with obelisks, pyramids and huge statues, Aida keeps to be the most popular opera in the repertoire of the Verona Opera Festival. This success is certainly due to its celebrated arias such as the ‘Marcia Trionfale’ or ‘Celeste Aida’ but above all, to the high drama and to the very light and smart way in which the mix of different styles has been presented. For the first time the Arena’s artistic groups will be directed by Renato Palumbo. The main interpreters will be Micaela Carosi, Amarilli Nizza and Isabelle Kabatu in the role of Aida; Dolora Zajick, Marianne Cornetti and Anna Smirnova in the role of Amneris; Marco Berti, Carlo Ventre, Piero Giuliacci and Walter Fraccaro will alternate in the role of Radames. The role of Amonasro will be played by Ambrogio Maestri, Alberto Mastromarino and Giovanni Meoni.
Aida performances will be held on 28 June, 6, 8, 11, 17, 20, 27 July and on 3, 8, 17, 21, 24, 26, 31 August 2008.