Festival Verdi
Oct 2026
Always Included
Customized
Included
Giuseppe Verdi is one of the most brilliant opera composer of the nineteenth century. He is considered as the most famous Italian composer. The Verdi Festival is a very important music festival of Italian opera, it includes associated discussions, orchestral concerts, and other relevant presentations. It was founded in the mid-eighties and from the beginning of 2007, the Festival has been held each October in Parma, on Verdi’s birthday and right in the place where he was born.
Which is the most beautiful opera that Verdi composed? Nabucco? Aida? Or La Traviata? It is really impossible to say, each person can prefer one specific opera, which will surely be different from the opera preferred by somebody else. However, there is one thing that cannot be doubt: Verdi’s operas are among the most widely performed around the world, and his contribution to music is extraordinary and will always be well remembered.
For people who like Italian opera, the Verdi Festival would be a perfect choice, it will be a great show with a wonderful orchestra, top-notch performers and a very unique stage setting. Follow us to discover new pleasure and hidden gems in the Verdi’s operas, his music is never ever fails to be interesting!
Festival Verdi 2026
The 26th Festival Verdi in Parma and Busseto, taking place from 1 to 25 October 2026, is inspired by the theme “Distant Worlds”, evoking the 19th-century fascination with the exotic and the dialogue between cultures. The programme sketches a symbolic musical journey across three continents, bringing together three works that are rarely presented side by side: the opening with Alzira, the return to early Verdi with Nabuccodonosor, and the immersion into the imagined Egypt of Aida.
Completing the Festival, the Messa da Requiem offers a moment of profound spiritual and musical intensity, entrusted to distinguished performers and capable of turning every performance into an event of deep emotional participation. The programme thus offers a unique, intense, and immersive experience, celebrating the theatrical power and universal poetry of Giuseppe Verdi.
Program
Alzira
Lyric tragedy in a prologue and two acts, with a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on Alzire ou les Américains by Voltaire.
First performance on 12 August 1845 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Stefano Castelvecchi, Jonathan Cheskin, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor James Conlon
Director Manuel Renga
Set and Costume Design Aurelio Colombo
Lighting Emanuele Agliati
Alvaro Alessio Cacciamani
Gusmano Daniel Luis de Vincente
Ovando Federico Bonghi*
Zamoro Antonio Poli
Ataliba Agostino Subacchi*
Alzira Marta Torbidoni
Zuma Erica Cortese*
Otumbo Carlo Raffaelli
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Aida (Teatro Verdi in Busseto)
Opera in four acts with a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
World premiere on 24 December 1871 at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo
Italian premiere on 8 February 1872 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Giuseppe Mengoli
Director Franco Zeffirelli
Revival direction by Stefano Trespidi
Sets Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes Anna Anni
Revived by Lorena Marin
Lighting Andrea Borelli
Choreography Luc Bouy
Revived by Gaetano Petrosino
Aida Federica Vitali
Radamès Vincenzo Costanzo
Amonasro Hae Kang
Amneris Teresa Iervolino
Ramfis Aleksei Kulagin
The King Lorenzo Mazzucchelli
A Messenger Francesco Congiu*
A Priestess Elzbieta Maria Warcaba*
*former students of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
Production created for the Teatro Verdi in Busseto for the Verdian Centenary 2001
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Nabucodonosor
Lyric drama in four parts with a libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the drama Nabuchodonosor by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu, and on the ballet Nabuccodonosor by Antonio Cortesi.
First performance on 9 March 1842 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Roger Parker, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Francesco Lanzillotta
Director, Set, Costume and Lighting Design Pier Luigi Pizzi
Nabucodonosor Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar
Ismaele Ben Reisinger
Zaccaria Michele Pertusi
Abigaille Lidia Fridman
Fenena Laura Verrecchia
High Priest of Bel Adriano Gramigni
Abdallo Simone Fenotti
Anna Maria Kosovitsa*
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ORCHESTRA OF THE TEATRO COMUNALE DI BOLOGNA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
In co-production with
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Mezzogiorno in musica
With artists who are former students of the Accademia Verdiana, in collaboration with the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri.
Alzira
Lyric tragedy in a prologue and two acts, with a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on Alzire ou les Américains by Voltaire.
First performance on 12 August 1845 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Stefano Castelvecchi, Jonathan Cheskin, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor James Conlon
Director Manuel Renga
Set and Costume Design Aurelio Colombo
Lighting Emanuele Agliati
Alvaro Alessio Cacciamani
Gusmano Daniel Luis de Vincente
Ovando Federico Bonghi*
Zamoro Antonio Poli
Ataliba Agostino Subacchi*
Alzira Marta Torbidoni
Zuma Erica Cortese*
Otumbo Carlo Raffaelli
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Aida (Teatro Verdi in Busseto)
Opera in four acts with a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
World premiere on 24 December 1871 at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo
Italian premiere on 8 February 1872 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Giuseppe Mengoli
Director Franco Zeffirelli
Revival direction by Stefano Trespidi
Sets Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes Anna Anni
Revived by Lorena Marin
Lighting Andrea Borelli
Choreography Luc Bouy
Revived by Gaetano Petrosino
Aida Federica Vitali
Radamès Vincenzo Costanzo
Amonasro Hae Kang
Amneris Teresa Iervolino
Ramfis Aleksei Kulagin
The King Lorenzo Mazzucchelli
A Messenger Francesco Congiu*
A Priestess Elzbieta Maria Warcaba*
*former students of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
Production created for the Teatro Verdi in Busseto for the Verdian Centenary 2001
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Gala Verdiano
213th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi
Conductor James Conlon
TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
Program
Il Corsaro, Act II
Tragic melodrama in three acts and seven scenes, with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on The Corsaire by George Byron.
First performance on 25 October 1848 at Teatro Grande, Trieste
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Elizabeth Hudson, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi
Gulnara Alessia Panza*
Eunuch / A Slave Carlo Raffaelli
Seid Daniel Luis de Vicente
Corrado Galeano Salas
Giovanni Agostino Subacchi*
*former students of the Accademia Verdiana
Il Guarany, Overture
Opera-ballet, with a libretto by Antonio Scalvini and Carlo d’Ormeville, based on the novel O Guarani by José de Alencar.
First performance on 19 March 1870 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music ANTÔNIO CARLOS GOMES
Jérusalem, Act III, Scene I
Grand Opéra in four acts with a libretto by Temistocle Solera, with the French translation by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz.
First performance on 26 November 1847 at the Académie Royale de Musique, Paris
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Jürgen Selk, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Un Officier de l’Èmir Carlo Raffaelli
L’Èmir de Ramla Agostino Subacchi*
Hélène Alessia Panza*
Gaston Galeano Salas
Le Comte de Toulouse Daniel Luis de Vicente
*former students of the Accademia Verdiana
Nabucodonosor
Lyric drama in four parts with a libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the drama Nabuchodonosor by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu, and on the ballet Nabuccodonosor by Antonio Cortesi.
First performance on 9 March 1842 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Roger Parker, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Francesco Lanzillotta
Director, Set, Costume and Lighting Design Pier Luigi Pizzi
Nabucodonosor Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar
Ismaele Ben Reisinger
Zaccaria Michele Pertusi
Abigaille Lidia Fridman
Fenena Laura Verrecchia
High Priest of Bel Adriano Gramigni
Abdallo Simone Fenotti
Anna Maria Kosovitsa*
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ORCHESTRA OF THE TEATRO COMUNALE DI BOLOGNA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
In co-production with
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Mezzogiorno in musica
With artists who are former students of the Accademia Verdiana, in collaboration with the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri.
Fuoco di gioia
Charity lyric gala organized by the Gruppo Appassionati Verdiani – Club dei 27
Zenobia Regina
Musical theatre for actress, vocalist, mezzo-soprano, female vocal ensemble, string ensemble, and percussion.
With fragments from Zenobia, regina de’ Palmireni by Tommaso Albinoni, libretto by Antonio Marchi (1694)
Libretto by Mohammad Al Attar
Music LUCIA RONCHETTI
Casa Ricordi, Milan
World premiere of the Italian and Arabic version
Conductor Susanne Blumenthal
Mezzo-soprano Silvia Regazzo
Voice Mais Harb
Percussionist Elias Aboud
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ENSEMBLE
In collaboration with the Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta
Aida (Teatro Verdi in Busseto)
Opera in four acts with a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
World premiere on 24 December 1871 at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo
Italian premiere on 8 February 1872 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Giuseppe Mengoli
Director Franco Zeffirelli
Revival direction by Stefano Trespidi
Sets Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes Anna Anni
Revived by Lorena Marin
Lighting Andrea Borelli
Choreography Luc Bouy
Revived by Gaetano Petrosino
Aida Federica Vitali
Radamès Vincenzo Costanzo
Amonasro Hae Kang
Amneris Teresa Iervolino
Ramfis Aleksei Kulagin
The King Lorenzo Mazzucchelli
A Messenger Francesco Congiu*
A Priestess Elzbieta Maria Warcaba*
*former students of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
Production created for the Teatro Verdi in Busseto for the Verdian Centenary 2001
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Alzira
Lyric tragedy in a prologue and two acts, with a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on Alzire ou les Américains by Voltaire.
First performance on 12 August 1845 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Stefano Castelvecchi, Jonathan Cheskin, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor James Conlon
Director Manuel Renga
Set and Costume Design Aurelio Colombo
Lighting Emanuele Agliati
Alvaro Alessio Cacciamani
Gusmano Daniel Luis de Vincente
Ovando Federico Bonghi*
Zamoro Antonio Poli
Ataliba Agostino Subacchi*
Alzira Marta Torbidoni
Zuma Erica Cortese*
Otumbo Carlo Raffaelli
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Nabucodonosor
Lyric drama in four parts with a libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the drama Nabuchodonosor by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu, and on the ballet Nabuccodonosor by Antonio Cortesi.
First performance on 9 March 1842 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Roger Parker, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Francesco Lanzillotta
Director, Set, Costume and Lighting Design Pier Luigi Pizzi
Nabucodonosor Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar
Ismaele Ben Reisinger
Zaccaria Michele Pertusi
Abigaille Lidia Fridman
Fenena Laura Verrecchia
High Priest of Bel Adriano Gramigni
Abdallo Simone Fenotti
Anna Maria Kosovitsa*
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ORCHESTRA OF THE TEATRO COMUNALE DI BOLOGNA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
In co-production with
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Mezzogiorno in musica
With artists who are former students of the Accademia Verdiana, in collaboration with the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri.
Concerto di gala dell'Accademia Verdiana
Pieces performed by students of the Accademia Verdiana and distinguished guests.
Messa da Requiem
For chorus, solo voices, and orchestra
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by David Rosen, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Daniele Rustioni
Soprano Eleonora Buratto
Mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk
Tenor Saimir Pirgu
Bass Roberto Tagliavini
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
Nabucodonosor
Lyric drama in four parts with a libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the drama Nabuchodonosor by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu, and on the ballet Nabuccodonosor by Antonio Cortesi.
First performance on 9 March 1842 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Critical edition edited by Roger Parker, The University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Francesco Lanzillotta
Director, Set, Costume and Lighting Design Pier Luigi Pizzi
Nabucodonosor Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar
Ismaele Ben Reisinger
Zaccaria Michele Pertusi
Abigaille Lidia Fridman
Fenena Laura Verrecchia
High Priest of Bel Adriano Gramigni
Abdallo Simone Fenotti
Anna Maria Kosovitsa*
*former student of the Accademia Verdiana
ORCHESTRA OF THE TEATRO COMUNALE DI BOLOGNA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
New production
Teatro Regio di Parma
In co-production with
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Aida (Teatro Verdi in Busseto)
Opera in four acts with a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
World premiere on 24 December 1871 at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo
Italian premiere on 8 February 1872 at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Music GIUSEPPE VERDI
Casa Ricordi, Milan
Conductor Giuseppe Mengoli
Director Franco Zeffirelli
Revival direction by Stefano Trespidi
Sets Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes Anna Anni
Revived by Lorena Marin
Lighting Andrea Borelli
Choreography Luc Bouy
Revived by Gaetano Petrosino
Aida Federica Vitali
Radamès Vincenzo Costanzo
Amonasro Hae Kang
Amneris Teresa Iervolino
Ramfis Aleksei Kulagin
The King Lorenzo Mazzucchelli
A Messenger Francesco Congiu*
A Priestess Elzbieta Maria Warcaba*
*former students of the Accademia Verdiana
ARTURO TOSCANINI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHORUS OF THE TEATRO REGIO DI PARMA
Chorus Master Martino Faggiani
Production created for the Teatro Verdi in Busseto for the Verdian Centenary 2001
Performance with Italian and English surtitles
Mezzogiorno in musica
With artists who are former students of the Accademia Verdiana, in collaboration with the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri.
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