The 88th Arena Festival 2010 presents some of the most beautiful Operas, best-loved by both Italian and foreign audiences. The summer season opens on 19th June with Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot (18June – 1,16, 24, 30 July – 13, 20 August). Following this, on 19th June is Aida by G. Verdi (19, 25, June – 3, 8, 13, 18, 22, 25, 27, 31 July – 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 26, 29 August), while on 26th June the performance will be Madama Butterfly by G. Puccini (26 June – 2, 9, 14, 17, 21, 28 July – 6 August). Carmen by Georges Bizet will debut on 10th July (10, 15, 20, 23, 29 July – 12,18, 21, 24, 27 August) and finally the first night of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore will be held on 7th August (7, 11, 14, 19, 25, 28 August). All sets are of Franco Zeffirelli.

The International Opera Awards is the first award for the world of the Opera and is promoted by Foundation Verona for Arena. The event will take place on the 31st of August in the breathtaking frame of the Arena. On the prestigious stage of the city of the Scaligeri some of the protagonists of the international music panorama will take turns in an ideal journey of the opera of the past, present and future. Carlo Bergonzi e Mirella Freni –Honorary Award for the Career -, Eleonora Abbagnato e Benjamin Pech (étoilles at the Teatro of the Opéra in Paris), and the musician Giovanni Allevi will take part to the event. Other guests of the event will be: the tenors Celso Albelo, Franceso Demuro, Francesco Hong; the sopranos Hui He, Kristin Lewis, Maria Laura Martorana, Elena Mosuc and Desirée Rancatore; the mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti; the baritone George Petean; the Choir of the Teatro Regio of Parma, The Orchestra "I Virtuosi Italiani" conducted by Corrado Rovaris. Patroness of the Opera Awards will be Katia Ricciarelli.

Art Verona is the fair that best represents the outline of the first-rate Italian art galleries.
170 exhibitors among the best in Italy and more than 1000 Italian and international artists, world-famous names together with the most promising ones, but also events, exhibitions, performances not only at the Fair but also in the city. Important highlights on photography, videoart and on theatre (with Antonio Albanese performing on the stage of the Teatro Nuovo on Saturday the 16th and the revelation troupe Babilonia Teatri on Sunday the 17th ) and much more. The Fair will be the right occasion to spend a pleasant weekend in Verona, where you will not only enjoy culture and art but also taste the delicious wines and food of the city.