From Moulin Rouge to the Verona Arena: the nights of the new Traviata near the Colomba d’Oro

There’s a common thread—actually, a Red Mill!—that since 2026 has linked Paris to Verona, the city of the Colomba d’Oro, the 4-star hotel closest to the Arena.

Directed by Scottish director Paul Curran and presented as the main new entry at the 2026 Verona Arena Opera Festival, the new production of “La Traviata” has captivated audiences since its debut thanks to an idea as bold as it is consistent with the spirit of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera: since the story starring Violetta Valéry is set in Paris and the opera was composed by Verdi in the 1850s (inspired by the French novel The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas fils), Curran’s stroke of genius lies in moving the opera forward by just about thirty years and adopting as its main location one of the iconic landmarks of the Belle Époque: the famous Moulin Rouge.
A fun fact: Paul Curran worked as an assistant to director Baz Luhrmann on the famous 2001 musical film Moulin Rouge! (whose plot indeed bore several similarities to Verdi’s « La Traviata »).
Another interesting fact: when “La Traviata” premiered in 1853, the Colomba d’Oro had already been in business for 16 years, having opened in 1837.

Paul Curran’s “La Traviata” at the Verona Arena

The 2026 premiere was a record-breaking one: twelve minutes of nonstop applause and a sold-out Verona Arena with 12,000 spectators.
The stage is dominated by reproductions of the famous mill, as well as the big elephant that was installed at the Moulin Rouge after being exhibited at the 1889 Universal Exhibition (the one for which the Eiffel Tower was built), lighting up the Veronese night with the lights of cabaret and can-can.
The choice of the Moulin Rouge allows for a new and powerful portrayal of the contrast between the splendor of high society and the fragility of the protagonist, further highlighting the opera’s central theme: the gap between appearances and reality.

The artistic collaboration with the Parisian cabaret also represents a unique project, creating a dialogue between two iconic venues of European entertainment: the Verona Arena, the temple of open-air opera, and the Moulin Rouge, aclassic icon of French entertainment.
This production is destined to become a must-see at the Festival in the coming seasons, so much so that it will also be a highlight of the 2027 Opera Festival.

Verona Arena as the Paris of the Belle Époque

Those familiar with the amphitheater near the Colomba d’Oro know how its stage demands large-scale productions. In this La Traviata, the space becomes part of the story: costumes, lighting, and stage movements create an experience in which the audience, too, enters a visual universe that accompanies the narrative from beginning to end.

It is precisely this ability to exploit the immensity of the Roman amphitheater that makes the production particularly effective: rich, imposing, custom designed for the Verona Arena and highly unlikely to be replicated anywhere else.

When is La Traviata performed at the Verona Arena?

Every summer, for over 100 years, the Verona Arena has presented some of the most famous operas in the operatic repertoire, but not all productions have the same visual power.

This new Traviata was conceived from the outset to showcase the monumental dimensions of the amphitheater, combining the great Italian musical tradition with a scenic language that speaks to even those attending opera for the first time. This makes it an ideal choice for both enthusiasts and those seeking a new cultural experience during their stay at the Colomba d’Oro in Verona.

The dates for La Traviata in 2026 are:

• July 5;
• July 9;
• July 16;
• July 31;
• August 6;
• August 22;
• August 29;
• September 5;
• September 12.

The dates for the Arena Opera Festival 2027 are:

•  June 25;
•  July 3;
•  July 10;
•  July 16;
•  July 22;
•  July 31;
•  August 14;
•  August 26;
•  September 4;
•  September 11.

The Colomba d’Oro, the ideal place to stay for Opera at the Verona Arena

The Colomba d’Oro, the closest 4-star hotel to the Verona Arena, in the very heart of the historic center, with private, secure parking, awaits you.