I'm thinking of taking my kids to the opera in Verona - am I crazy? They are very well-behaved kids, ages 7 and 10 and I would like to expose them to it. Has anyone done this who could share the experience? From what I've read, Aida is probably a good opera for beginners, and sitting up in the stands is somewhat preferable. It sounds as though the opera goes until 1am or so so it definitely makes for a long evening. Am I better off leaving the kids at home?

Do it...but dress them in layers, because it can get cool in the stands. Italians love their opera, and what better way to first expose kids to opera than with people around you shouting "BRAVO Maestro!" and "Viva Puccini!"and getting to explain why they are doing it. You are NOT crazy...its a great, historical experience in an incredible setting with 25,000 opera loving people who light candles and your kids may very well end up loving it. (Your key phrase is well behaved...non well behaved kids would not be tolerated here). And its pretty affordable up in the stands.

We went to Madame Butterfly in July in Verona (parents and 2 teen boys, sitting in stands). My older boy is an opera fanatic, my younger boy was very reluctant, but it was a trip highlight. My younger one (the sports jock) "hated it"...he still talks about having to sit through 4 hours with people dressed up in Japanese clothes singing only in ITALIAN only no less. But he tells everyone about going to the opera...and he now listens to opera when my older son plays it...so I think something may have clicked!

I don't have kids so I may be completely out of touch with what interests 7 and 10 year olds, but I'll have a go at answering!

If you're going to go, I'd definitely recommend Aida, because it has good tunes and a lot to look at. There's dancing in it and the staging is spectacular, which could help keep the kids interested.

There are two intervals so if the kids get bored you can always leave before the end - in comparison to most European opera houses, Verona tickets are cheap, so I wouldn't feel I had to stay right to the end to get my money's worth.

Verona is a good place to start with opera because the setting and atmosphere are great (the trade-off is less than perfect acoustics). If you tell them the story beforehand, play them the best bits of the opera so that they'll know what's going on when they hear them, and maybe get them a fun book on Egypt, they might understand it more and be more interested.

Hi bethinmilan,
I just got home from a trip with 4 kids which included Aida in Verona. Memorable, fabulous, and no problems, BUT:
1. take pillows, or rent them (in the stands). We had self-inflating air mattresses; no one looked askance and the youngest child simply lay down at midnight. Your butts will thank you!
2. Go through the story and some of the music in advance. The opera gets dull very quickly for kids who don't know who the two women are, for instance. There are libretti for sale (5 euros) in 4 languages, but it's too dark to read them and the translation is appalling.
3. Take something to drink and eat. You can buy drinks and ice cream there, but only in the break.
4. Take at least one pair of opera glasses or binoculars!!! From the stalls it's often difficult to see who's singing.
5. Make sure you get several of the little candles when you go in. People in the stalls light them and hold them, and it's magical. Kids love it.
6. Be sure to check out the outside of the arena during the day - the sets and scenery are stored outside, and you can see an Italian chandelier propped up next to a Japanese house under a huge palm tree - the contrast and variety is great!
7. Remember that people go into the stalls as soon as the doors open, since you will get a section number but no assigned seats. You will probably not have much leg room, since someone will be sitting on the same step as the one where you put your feet. Most people can't lean back, which is a surprise if you're not prepared. Nevertheless, the music and the action take your mind off the less than comfortable 'seats'. (Did I mention pillows?)

Agree with previous posters....there were plenty of kids around the area we sat in, and all we observed seemed engaged in the experience. I also heartily agree that the stone seating is the liveliest. DO rent seat cushions as you enter the arena if you buy stone seating tickets. And, especially for the kids, get in a section as close to the stage on one side (but not BEHIND the scenery) as you can. The kids can then have more to watch. The scenery changes, the conductor & orchestra, and the singers at their "curtain" calls taking their bows to the side & right in front of you, often with big smiles. The sound there is fine, too.

I also recommend printing out the synopsis to the opera from the Veona website or others on the 'net, and having your kids get some familiarity with the story before they attend the opera. Perhaps even get a single CD of excerpts from that opera so they recognize the "big tunes" when the arena will first get very quiet in anticipation, and then scream for a "bis" (encore) afterwards. Often, the bis is granted at Verona. Enjoy!

I would second the "take pillows" idea - it can get really uncomfortable on the stones. I don't know when you are intending to go as well but it can be really hot at the beginning of the evening - as the stone steps have absorbed the summer heat all day so even if it cools off later, take the advice to dress in layers and take something to drink. It is a magical evening though so I hope you have a wonderful time.

Just don?t take them to Salome. That would be an interesting plot to explain.

any other hotel suggestions? Romeo & Juliet is booked, Verona house does not have a cancellation policy which scares me. Any other hotels nearby? I can't seem to locate any on the Internet. What about a BandB?

You might want to check out this hotel, which is very close to the Arena:

http://www.hotelbologna.vr.it/eng/hotel.html