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

A timeless success that captivates audiences year after year. Fondazione Arena adds a fourth extraordinary date to Zorba il Greco, staged at the Teatro Romano in Verona. The most iconic and international ballet of the last century returns to the city of Verona from 26 to 31 August. A tribute to the author Mikis Theodorakis, in the year of his centenary.

Great dance is the star of the Veronese summer, with the world's most important stars. After Roberto Bolle and Friends, in less than a month the spotlight of the 102nd Arena Opera Festival will shine on the stage of the Roman Theatre, on the banks of the Adige River, thanks to the collaboration with the Municipality of Verona.

In addition to the already scheduled dates of August 26, 27, and 31, there will be a special performance on August 30.

The overwhelming energy of Zorba il greco will see Igor Tsvirko, principal dancer of the Bolshoi, in the lead role, who will meet and clash with John, played by Julian Mackay, principal dancer of the Bayerische Staatsballet in Munich, both making their Verona debut.

Joining them are the female heroines: Eleana Andreoudi and Virna Toppi, respectively principal dancer of the Greek National Opera and principal dancer of La Scala, will be Marina; Liudmila Konovalova, principal dancer of the Vienna State Ballet, will be Hortense. Manolios, antagonist and voice that rises from the Greek chorus, guiding its changes and emotions, will be played by Davide Buffone, principal dancer at the Slovenian Opera in Maribor.

The Fondazione Arena Ballet will return to the stage with its fifty talented performers, already applauded in recent weeks during the Opera Festival, coordinated by Gaetano Bouy Petrosino. Original choreography by Lorca Massine. The staging is by Filippo Tonon (sets) and Sergio Toffali (lighting). Costume coordination by Silvia Bonetti.

Since its debut in Verona in August 1988, Zorba the Greek has embarked on an international journey, reaching 35 different countries and millions of live spectators, returning to Verona in 2002 for a revival at the Teatro Filarmonico and the Teatro Romano. Then, in 2023, a new production returned to the Scala stage, repeating the sold-out performances and countless requests for encores.

In addition to the remaining seats for the performances on August 26, 27, and 31, seats are now available for the new special performance on Saturday, August 30.

Tickets are on sale at www.arena.it, at the central ticket office of the Arena di Verona, and on the TicketOne circuit. Special discounts are available for those under 30 and over 65. 

Mikis Theodorakis was a composer and a leading figure in the civil and cultural life of contemporary Greece: imprisoned by the colonels' dictatorship and long banned, he later became a member of parliament and a minister. A prolific creator of symphonies, songs, operas, and ballets, he became famous for composing soundtracks for 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 two-act ballet based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is a hymn to life, to the discovery of the other, to overcoming grief, to inner strength. Developing the themes of the soundtrack written for the 1964 film of the same name starring Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas, Theodorakis created an entirely new ballet choreographed by Lorca Massine, who, together with Anna Krzyskow, supervised the new production that has been captivating international audiences at the Roman Theatre in Verona since 2023.

The Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2025 is supported by numerous sponsors, first and foremost UniCredit, which boasts a collaboration spanning over 25 years, followed by Calzedonia, Pastificio Rana, Volkswagen Group Italia, DB Bahn, Forno Bonomi, Numia, RTL 102.5, Genny, which designed the uniforms for the staff welcoming the audience, and Müller, which supports accessibility projects dedicated to 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. As well as Caviar Service, ManPower Group, Consorzio di Tutela dell’Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, and Ferroli.