What festivals are worth going to and I should not miss?? Staying near Radda.

When?

First week July, Zerlina.

Opera festivals are not all that thick on the ground, and they don't often have daily performances.

The only opera festival in that area during that time period is this one:
http://www.festivalopera.it/incms/op...rafestival_en/

Thks Zerlina. I saw the July 9th Aida performance in Florence but I was hoping there was something more informal, outside in a piazza.

You can't stage opera informally, outside in a piazza.

If you want informal opera, you can find it at a semi-professional level - inside - at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Florence:
http://www.classictic.com/en/Search/...nce/2009-07-01

Aida is performed in Verona's collisium (or used to be!) and public is invited to perform. I think it's in July. Anyone know for sure??

Or is that coliseum?

There are professional opera productions in Verona's arena every year from mid June until late August - http://www.arena.it/en-US/schedule-2009.html. There's also the Puccini festival in Torre del Lago - http://www.puccinifestival.it/eng/. Never heard of any amateur involvement anywhere.

It's Coliseum or Colosseum, and there's only one: in Rome. In Verona, it's the Arena. The public is *not* invited to perform. Verona would be a fair stretch from Radda in Chianti, even if there were tickets still available, which I doubt.

The performances at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome would be closer.

But neither is informal.

I stand corrected. Here's a site I found for Verona's arena:

http://www.arena.it/en-US/opera-fest...cert/aida.html

if you are interested in pursuing. I didn't see anything about public being invited to participate in 2009. We stayed in Verona some years ago and the bartender at our hotel said that a group of tourists was in the "crowd scenes".

BarbSG, is spending the night in another city an option for you?

You're too early. Puccini Festival starts mid-July: http://www.puccinifestival.it/eng/categorie.asp?idcat=1

And Rossini Festival starts August: http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/

Actually popera (popular opera) can be staged outside. The acoustics are.............somewhat challenging. BUT the ambience....well I guess that's why I'm asking.

Isn't Verona's arena uncovered?

Yes it is TD. The arena is of course designed for the opera performance but it is too far and again I was looking for something more informal. That's why I asked about anything going in one of the piazzas perhaps in Siena or Florence because the design of such can accommodate light opera and it's fun to sit outside to enjoy.

Good luck!

The Arena in Verona was not "designed for the opera performance"; it was built roughly 1500 years before opera was invented.

The design of piazzas in Siena or Florence *cannot* accommodate light opera or any other staged performance without the addition of a stage and, most often, of a shell. Which leads to a need for seating. Which destroys the "informality" you are seeking.

You are looking for something that exists in your own mind but not on the ground.

There are occasionally costumed street performers who perform opera arias in piazzas. If you happen upon them, it may come closest to what you're imagining. But don't call it opera.

Hi Barb,

There are often large scale free classical music concerts in the main piazzas in many of the smaller towns in Tuscany. Occasionally a “lite opera” is staged (meaning minimal sets and costumes – the music is all there though!), but more than likely you will see a concert of operatic arias (or a symphony) in the square (where they do set up chairs and quite often a stage and the musicians are not “street performers”). During the summer there are operas staged outdoors – outside of the festival realm - but you probably won’t stumble upon them in the town square while enjoying your post-dinner gelato. The larger productions usually take place just outside of town in a large park or a castle or something and are not free. Watch for posters plastered all over the town ...

Thx violoncellista. This is what I thought. I have heard of opera performances staged outside so I was hoping there would be some going on in Italy...of all places!! Not in the form of a festival it seems. I will watch for the posters! I stand corrected Zerlina....the arena was not designed for the acutal opera performance but forms of entertainment. I did not think a stage and seating constituted formality however. AND opera is again by definition an art form in which singers and musicians create a work with the use of text and music. Opera can be performed anywhere!

............and I suspect all along during the games and shows performed in the Verona way back in 30 A.D. some unsuspecting cast member was taken back when her fellow actor started to sing instead of speaking his lines!!!! I wish opera was more informal at times so there are less walls for people to be intimidated by.