World’s Greatest Opera Singers

The opera season in Verona draws 500,000 visitors a year to this fabled city where Shakespeare set his immortal love story, Romeo and Juliet. Each night during the season, which runs through Sept. 3, 15,000 opera-lovers gather under the stars to hear the voices of such greats as Renata Tebaldi, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.

The line-up for 2000's summer season includes:

Aida, an opera by Antonio Ghislanzoni directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi; music by Giuseppe Verdi; choreography by Gheorghe Lancu; orchestra conducted by Daniel Oren (July 15, 18, 21, 25; August 1, 8, 15, 18, 24, 29)

Tosca, a melodrama by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa; directed by Giuliano Montaldo; music by Giacomo Puccini; orchestra conducted by Keri Lynn Wilson (July 17, 24).

Carmen, lyric drama from the novel written by Prosper Mérimée; directed by Franco Zeffirelli; music by Georges Bizet; choreography by El Camborio; orchestra conducted by Renato Palumbo (July 16, 23; August 3, 6, 11, 14, 20, 26).

La Verdova Allegra, operetta by Victor Léon and Leo Stein directed by Beni Montresor; music by Franz Lehar; choreography by Brian Bullard; orchestra conducted by Anton Guadagno (July 22, 31; Aug 5, 19, 27).

Madama Butterfly, Japanese tragedy by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa; directed by Paolo Micciché; music by Giacomo Puccini ; orchestra conducted by Giuliano Carella (July 30; August 4, 7, 13, 21, 25, 28).

Orchestra and Chorus of Ballo dell'Arena di Verona Gala Concerts - Placido Domingo celebrates his 30th year in the Arena (Aug. 12) - Katia Ricciarelli celebrates her 30-year career (Aug. 17). — Patrick Totty

For more information, visit www.arena.it/ or phone 39-45-805-1811. Visitors can book tickets online.