Star Roof Experience: Carmen | Arena di Verona
About the Event
Combine Georges Bizet's Carmen with the exclusive Star Roof Experience.
The Star Roof Experience takes place on the terrace of the stars, a hidden gem known by few, including the locals of Verona themselves. This unique setting is situated between the first ring of the Arena and the surviving wing, which has stood as a symbol of the amphitheater since the 1117 earthquake. From this vantage point, you will be treated to a breathtaking view of Piazza Bra and its historic Liston, perpetually bustling with visitors.
Before the opera, only 24 special guests will have access to this magical place, to enjoy a Michelin‐starred dinner before being taken directly to the ‘open‐air royal box’ to attend the opera.
The goal of this initiative is to collect funds, alongside Verona’s Municipality
and the Department responsible for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape
for the provinces of Verona, to preserve such a unique monument as the Arena.
Once the dinner concludes, you will be escorted to the coveted front‐row seats to savor the opera performance. During the intermission, you will have exclusive access to a designated area where a personalized courtesy service awaits you.
'Carmen' is one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the repertoire. Zeffirelli offers a spectacular staging, fitting to the grand stage at Arena di Verona.
'Carmen' is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, based on Prosper Merimee’s novella of the same name. Written in the opera comique tradition, musical movements are interrupted by spoken dialogue. When it premiered at the Opera‐Comique in 1875, this groundbreaking opera shocked a public unready for its realism, and unused to seeing the lives of the lower classes being shown on stage. However, within ten years the tragic and passionate 'Carmen' had taken its place at the centre of the operatic canon, forming a bridge between opera comique and the fast‐emerging verismo style.
Act 1
Seville, Spain. The provocative gypsy, Carmen, works in the cigarette factory. When the women take their break, Carmen sings a ‘Habanera’ attracting the attention of all the men in the square. Only a soldier, Don José, isn’t interested in her. Piqued, Carmen deliberately throws a flower to him. A quarrel breaks out between the women. Carmen is arrested, but seduces Jose into releasing her, and escapes. José is imprisoned for allowing her to escape.
Act 2
A month later, José has just been released, and goes to meet Carmen at a tavern. With her flower in his hand, José tells her his feelings. Carmen convinces José not to report for roll call, but to stay with her and join the smugglers.
Act 3
José regrets joining the smugglers. Carmen is already in love with another man — Escamillo, a bullfighter. Carmen reads the cards and forsees a dark future.
José's childhood friend, Micaela, comes to look for him to tell him that his mother is seriously ill. José decides to go home.
The following month, Escamillo, now Carmen’s lover, is welcomed by the spectators and enters the arena. Carmen remains in the square, and José appears. He demands Carmen leaves with him, but she refuses, throwing away the ring that José once gave her. In a jealous rage, José stabs Carmen to death with a dagger, and as the crowds exit the arena, confesses to his actions.
Practical Information
Includes:
- Dedicated concierge
- Exclusive area
- Placé dinner before the show
- Courtesy gift
- 'open air royal box'
- Opera ticket 1st row
- Early Entry: priority access to the venue
A minimum of 2 tickets must be booked.
Included are:
- Ticket to the opera performance in the chosen category
- One month's free access to a premium classical music streaming service
- self‐guided audio tour of Verona in English
Cast / Production
to be announced
