The Verona Arena Opera Festival may be a mainstream event, but it is no joke when it comes to artistic standards. While conducting Puccini’s Turandot last August, Plácido Domingo deeply disappointed the members of the orchestra who criticised him for having botched the rehearsals and the performance.

Faced with the criticism, the singer and conductor was keen to apologise by sending a letter in which he recognizes that “the level of my artistic performance did not meet my expectations or yours” before apologising “to all the workers at the Arena”.

The Verona Arena Festival, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023, did not cancel the Gala of Plácido Domingo scheduled for 6 August 2023. A fault confessed is half redressed…

Tickets for the Arena of Verona

Photo : ©Greg Goman