Zorba il Greco at the Teatro Romano in Verona: Fondazione Arena adds a fourth date

A timeless success that wins the public’s hearts, year after year. Fondazione Arena adds a fourth extra date for Zorba the Greek, staged at the Teatro Romano in Verona. The most iconic and international ballet of the last century returns to the Scaliger city, from 26 to 31 August. It pays tribute to composer Mikis Theodorakis, in his centenary year of birth.

The ‘Grande Danza’ (Great Dance) is the summer protagonist in Verona, with the most important stars in the world. Following Roberto Bolle and Friends, in less than a month the spotlight of the 102nd Arena Opera Festival will be on the stage of the Teatro Romano, on the banks of the River Adige, thanks to a collaboration with the Municipality of Verona.

The scheduled dates of 26, 27 and 31 August are now joined by an extra performance on 30 August. The overwhelming energy of Zorba the Greek will feature Igor Tsvirko, principle dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, in the leading role. He will meet and clash with John, played by Julian Mackay, principal dancer of the Bayerische Staatsballet in Munich, both in their Veronese debut. With them are the female leads: Eleana Andreoudi and Virna Toppi, respectively prima ballerina of the Greek National Opera and prima ballerina of the Scala, will play Marina; Liudmila Konovalova, prima ballerina of the Staatsballett in Vienna, will play Hortense. Manolios, antagonist and Greek chorus voice who guides changes and emotions, will be played by Davide Buffone, principal dancer at the Slovenian Opera of Maribor. The Fondazione Arena Ballet Company will return to the stage with its fifty talented dancers, already applauded in recent weeks during the Opera Festival, coordinated by Gaetano Bouy Petrosino. Original choreographies are by Lorca Massine. The stage set is designed by Filippo Tonon (scenography) and Sergio Toffali (lights). Costume coordination is by Silvia Bonetti.

Since its debut in Verona in August 1988, Zorba the Greek has been on an international journey, reaching 35 different countries and millions of live spectators, returning to Verona in 2002 for a revival at the Philharmonic Theatre and Teatro Romano. And then, in a new production from 2023, it returned to the Scaliger stage, with sold-out performances and countless calls for encores.

Any seats left for the performances on 26, 27 and 31 August are now added to those available for the new extra performance on Saturday 30 August.

Tickets are on sale at www.arena.it, at the central ticket office of the Arena di Verona, and on the TicketOne platform. There are special reductions for under-30s and over-65s.

Mikis Theodorakis was a composer and essential point of reference in the civil and cultural life of contemporary Greece: imprisoned under the Regime of the Colonels, and exiled for a lengthy period, he later became a parliamentarian and minister. Prolific creator of symphonies, songs, operas and ballets, he became famous by composing soundtracks for film directors such as Cacoyannis, Litvak, Powell, Costa-Gavras and Lumet. His Zorba in Verona was also a symbol of a new era linked to the end of the Iron Curtain. Even today, this ballet in two acts based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis represents an ode to life, to the discovery of the other, to overcoming mourning, to inner strength. Developing the themes of the soundtrack written for the 1964 film of the same name with Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas, Theodorakis created an entirely new ballet choreographed by Lorca Massine; it was Massine who, with Anna Krzyskow, supervised the new production that has conquered international audiences at the Roman Theatre in Verona since 2023.

The 2025 Arena di Verona Opera Festival is supported by numerous sponsors, first and foremost UniCredit, whose partnership with the Festival goes back over 25 years. Other sponsors include Calzedonia, Pastificio Rana, Volkswagen Group Italia, DB Bahn, Forno Bonomi, Numia, RTL 102.5, Genny - providers of the uniforms worn by the staff that welcome the public - and Müller, which supports accessibility projects for people with disabilities. Official partners include historic brands such as Veronafiere, Air Dolomiti, A4 Holding, Metinvest, SABA Italia, SDG Group, Sartori di Verona, Palazzo Maffei and Mantova Village. Also on board are Caviar Service, ManPower Group, Consorzio di Tutela dell’Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP and Ferroli. In addition to companies and private individuals, the partners also include the professional associations that form part of 67 Colonne per l'Arena di Verona, founded by Gianluca Rana of the pasta company of the same name and Sandro Veronesi, patron of the Oniverse Group, with Gruppo Editoriale Athesis as media partner.