The festival in numbers

► The 100th edition of the Verona Arena opera festival features 49 evenings until September 9 and expects 630,000 spectators.

► Fares range from €32 to €285 depending on the seat category.

► “Only 9% of spectators are opera fans, assures Superintendent Cecilia Gasdia (photo below). The others, 60% of whom are foreigners, are tourists who want to live the experience”. Each evening, 1,000 tickets are put on sale to meet last-minute demand.

►Alongside the opera stars, the festival gives young people a chance: “30% of the artists programmed are singers at the start of their career”, says Cecilia Gasdia.

►50% of the event’s budget is covered by ticketing, the rest coming from public subsidies and sponsorship.

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