The History of the Opera at the Arena di Verona

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GIOVANNI ZENATELLO

Once upon a time there was the Arena, built by the Romans as a place for events, shows, sharing, and combat. Then, for centuries, almost unused.

There is a man who, with his resourcefulness, tenacity, and an extraordinary vision, managed to give his beloved Verona an invaluable treasure to manage and enhance.

Opera was born in the Arena in 1913, when Giovanni Zenatello conceived and financed the first opera performance inside the monument. Since then, Opera has enlivened the seasons of this city, starting from that epic Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, still performed today before an increasingly curious and international audience.

THE FIRST OPERA

The first performance on August 10, 1913 was promoted, as we have seen, by the tenor from Verona Giovanni Zenatello, who took on the financial risk, and by the theater impresario Ottone Rovato, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. An idea born from the discussions of Rovato, Zenatello, Cusinati and Fagiuoli, which saw various great singers and artists on stage.

The amphitheater was completely full: among the audience were Americans, Argentinians, Russians, and many Germans. At the premiere important figures such as Giacomo Puccini, Arrigo Boito, Pietro Mascagni and Franz Kafka were present.

THE ARTISTS AND THE SCENOGRAPHY

In that first great Event, at the baton was Tullio Serafin, Aida was Ester Mazzoleni, Amneris was Maria Gay, Radames was Giovanni Zenatello, Ramfis Mansueto Gaudio and Amonasro Giuseppe Danise. 

The premiere was an important event as it marked the birth of a new scenographic style introduced by the architect Ettore Fagiuoli: the painted scenes typical of traditional theaters were abandoned, adopting instead new three-dimensional elements. This innovation was well received by the public, and indeed contributed to its success. The invention is still used today for almost all the operas performed in the amphitheater.

THE HISTORY UP TO TODAY

From the following year, various private individuals managed the opera seasons, including Zenatello again, the company Lyrica Italica Ars (1919-1920), the publisher Sonzogno (1921-1922), and the impresario Gino Bertolaso (1923-1926).

A change in the stage settings occurred with the management of the Ente Fiera di Verona (1930-1931), while in 1934 the Ente Comunale degli Spettacoli was founded, which organized that year's Festival.

In 1936 the Ente Autonomo Spettacoli Lirici Arena di Verona (Ente Lirico Arena di Verona) was created, still active today.

The Festival stopped for ten years during the two world wars, and then during the Covid years