Overview
The first magic moment comes well before the conductor raises his baton. Unless you have led a team onto the pitch at Wembley or won the New Hampshire primaries, you are unlikely to have experienced anything quite like the wall of heady high spirits which hits you as you emerge from the entrance tunnel into the arena.
Filling the vast ellipse of the almost 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre are 14,000 happy people, bubbling with joyous expectation of the spectacle to follow. Even the most dour of dusty-hearted opera purists cannot help but be uplifted.
Then the floodlights go down, the chaotic chatter quietens to a reverential whisper, and the enveloping dusk is pierced only by flickering candle flames as uncountable as the stars above. Magic again; for these special moments the Verona Festival remains without rival.
The list of unique assets continues. There is the inestimable advantage of the stage and auditorium, one of the largest of ancient amphitheatres which, though built for rather less refined spectacles (‘arena’ is Latin for sand, used in quantity to mop up the consequences of lacerations inflicted on animals and gladiators) provides miraculously sympathetic acoustics. The elliptical form also seems to instil a sense which can best be described as resembling an embrace, bonding the audience however distant or disparate the individual members might be.
Then there is the benefit of being at the heart of one of the most beautiful of Italian cities. Verona is crammed with magnificent architecture and dazzlingly picturesque streets and squares. Surprisingly, the city seems scarcely deflected from a typically Italian dedication to living well and stylishly by the annual influx of festival visitors.
Enough of the spectacle, what of the music? Most performances reach high standards, with patches of stunning singing. For the (largely Italian) casts, to perform at Verona is still a special event. The younger singers know that they will be judged by more agents, casting directors and peers in one performance than usually would see them in a season.
Opinions vary concerning the best place to sit. All the seats we have booked are numbered and reserved (no queuing for hours and elbowing to seize the best of what remains), and a proportion are poltronissime gold, cushioned stalls seats, which we offer for a supplement. The rest are on the lowest tiers, the gradinate numerate. While there are excellent sight lines, and plastic seating is mercifully interposed between you and the marble, by comparison with the poltronissime there is less leg room and you are further from the stage.
Day 1
Fly at c. 12.00 noon from London Heathrow to Milan Malpensa (British Airways). Drive to Verona where all four nights are spent.
Day 2
Take an introductory walk in Verona, passing through the beautiful streets and squares at the heart of the city, and visit the Romanesque church of San Fermo. The performance in the Arena this evening is Nabucco (Verdi).
Day 3
Another art history walk leads to the Romanesque cathedral, then crosses the River Adige to the well-preserved Roman theatre. In the afternoon, visit the church of San Zeno, a major Romanesque church with a Mantegna altarpiece Alternatively, there are bus and train services offering the opportunity to see more of the region, perhaps Lake Garda or Venice. The opera in the Arena this evening is Rigoletto (Verdi).
Day 4
The morning walk includes the Castelvecchio, a graceful medieval castle and fortified bridge now housing an excellent art museum. Lunch is at a privately owned villa in the countryside (by special arrangement). There is some free time before the final opera of the tour. Tosca (Puccini).
Day 5
Visit the church of Sant’Anastasia with its Pisanello frescoes, and the spectacular medieval tombs of the ruling della Scala family. Fly from Milan Linate, arriving London Heathrow c. 8.20pm.
Price, per person
Two sharing: £3,140 or £2,920 without flights. Single occupancy: £3,770 or £3,550 without flights.
Supplement for poltronissime gold seats: £290.
Included
3 opera tickets costing c. £350; flights (Euro Traveller) with British Airways (Airbus 320); travel by private coach; hotel accommodation; breakfasts; 1 lunch and 4 dinners with wine, water, coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Music
Tickets to 3 performances are included, costing c. £350.
Accommodation
Due Torri Hotel, Verona: a luxurious 5-star situated c. 20 minutes walk from the Arena (a shuttle is provided to and from the operas). Single rooms are double for sole use.
How strenuous?
To participate fully in the itinerary, a fair amount of walking is involved. It is often very hot in Italy at this time of year. Average distance by coach per day: 18 miles.
Are you fit enough to join the tour?
Group size
Between 10 and 22 participants.
Travel advice
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
'Our lecturer was outstanding, absolutely superb in all aspects.'
'A once in a lifetime experience.'
'The three operas were fantastic and the arena was a fabulous venue.'
'Three wonderful operas in a magical setting. What more can you ask for?'
'This was one of the happiest of our MRT holidays due to our lecturer and our interesting and friendly companions.'
'Fabulous combination of spectacular opera and wonderful trips to museums and churches.'
'The music was spectacular – an amazing experience.'