Arena di Verona

Who we are

Here is who we are, the organization of the Arena foundation and the history of the oldest Opera Festival in the world

History of the Opera Festival 

The Opera Festival at the Arena di Verona began in 10th August 1913, with the first performance of Aida organized by Verona tenor Giovanni Zenatello and impresario Ottone Rovato to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi.

For over a hundred years (except for two short breaks during the two World Wars), every summer the Roman amphitheatre is transformed into the world’s largest open-air opera theatre.

The current organization is the result of the reform ratified by Decree-law N° 134 of 1998 and Decree-law 134 of 1998, which transformed enti lirici (opera institutions) into private law foundations, thus creating the current Fondazione Arena di Verona, and offering private members the possibility of joining. The current founding members of the Foundation are the Republic of Italy, the Veneto Region, the Municipality of Verona, the Province of Verona and Verona Chamber of Commerce. Fondazione Cariverona, Banca Popolare di Verona and the Accademia Filarmonica of Verona were founding members in the past.

The foundation’s institutional objective is to carry out non-profit cultural activity of a public utility nature, pursuing the spread of musical art and the musical education of the community.

 

Management

General Manager/Sovrintendente Cecilia Gasdia cecilia.gasdia@arenadiverona.it
sovrintendenza@arenadiverona.it 
General Manager Assistant and
Communication and Archives Assistant
Romy Gaida romy.gaida@arenadiverona.it
Artistic Director Cecilia Gasdia cecilia.gasdia@arenadiverona.it
direzione.artistica@arenadiverona.it 
Deputy Artistic Director Stefano Trespidi stefano.trespidi@arenadiverona.it
Production Manager Stefano Mazza stefano.mazza@arenadiverona.it
Director of Stage Design Michele Olcese michele.olcese@arenadiverona.it

Direction of Security

Matteo Salvetti sicurezza@arenadiverona.it

Director of Human Resources

Luca Migliore ufficio.personale@arenadiverona.it
Administration and Management Control Manager Andrea Delaini andrea.delaini@arenadiverona.it
Procurement and Logistic Manager   ufficio.acquisti@arenadiverona.it
Sales and Marketing Manager

Cecilia Gasdia ad interim

Andrea Compagnucci

commerciale@arenadiverona.it
Ticketoffice manager Teresa Dalla Val dallaval.teresa@arenadiverona.it
Person in charge for the corruption prevention Cecilia Gasdia sovrintendenza@arenadiverona.it 
Transparency Manager  Andrea Delaini andrea.delaini@arenadiverona.it
Data Protection officer
(Reg. Europeo 679/2016 - art. 37 par. 7 del RGPD)
Avv. Paola Finetto  

 

Partner

Major partner

Major partner Unicredit

Official sponsor

Official sponsor Calzedonia Official sponsor Giovanni Rana Official sponsor Forno Bonomi Official sponsor Metinvest Official supplier Genny

Automotive partner

Automotive partner Volkswagen

Mobility partner

Mobility partner Bahn

Accessibility partner

Mobility partner Muller

Media partner

Media partner RTL