Ascoli Piceno Opera Season

Opera in the Heart of Ascoli Piceno

The Ascoli Piceno Opera Season is one of the most anticipated cultural events of autumn and spring in the capital of the Piceno region. It is staged at the Ventidio Basso Theatre, an 18th-century gem located on Via del Trivio, in the heart of the city's historic centre. It is promoted by the Marche Opera Network Foundation, the organisation that networks the three traditional theatres of Ascoli Piceno, Fano, and Fermo to produce and share high-level opera productions.

An Opera Network for the Marche Region

The Marche Opera Network model allows for the co-production of important operas, distributing them across the region's three theatres: each title debuts in one venue and is then performed in the others. For the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno and the entire Marche Region, this means being able to host large-scale productions with renowned directors, carefully crafted sets, and professional orchestras, keeping alive the precious heritage of Italian-style theatre.

The 2025/2026 Season Programme

The 2025/2026 season at the Ventidio Basso features two titles from the great repertoire:

• The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, a comic masterpiece, in the production by Damiano Michieletto (15 November 2025), with the FORM - Marche Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ventidio Basso Theatre Choir;
• Carmen by Georges Bizet, with direction, sets, and costumes by Filippo Tonon (21 March 2026), accompanied by the G. Rossini Symphony Orchestra.

Completing the programme are the traditional previews dedicated to young people on the afternoons preceding the evening performances, designed to introduce students and new audiences to musical theatre.

The Ventidio Basso Theatre

Named after the Roman general Publius Ventidius Bassus, a native of Ascoli, the theatre is one of the most elegant in the Marche region, with its horseshoe-shaped auditorium, boxes, and frescoed ceiling. Its acoustics and intimate atmosphere make every performance an intimate and highly evocative experience, within the context of an art city renowned for its travertine Renaissance squares.

The Opera Network Academy

Alongside the season, the Foundation has launched the Opera Network Academy, a training and advanced study program dedicated to young opera singing talents, combining high artistic training, production experience, and professional opportunities. This demonstrates the festival's commitment not only to staging opera but also to nurturing new generations of artists.