Sabbioneta Chamber Opera Festival

Opera where modern theatre was born

In Sabbioneta, in the province of Mantua, stands a building that made theatrical architecture history: the Teatro all'Antica, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi and completed in 1590. It is Europe's first permanent covered theatre built from scratch for stage performance. In this unique venue, part of the UNESCO 'Ideal City' site, the Sabbioneta Chamber Opera Festival takes place, dedicated to chamber opera and advanced training for young performers.

A festival that trains and stages

The festival has a dual identity: on one hand, high-level opera productions; on the other, an advanced artistic development program that guides young singers and musicians towards their debut. The artistic residencies are led by leading figures in the international opera scene, working side-by-side with emerging talents.

Mozart and Monteverdi at the heart of the programme

The festival's repertoire ranges from Viennese classicism to Italian Baroque. On one side, Mozart and the Da Ponte Trilogy; on the other, Claudio Monteverdi's Orfeo, a masterpiece marking the very birth of opera. Under the artistic direction of Andrea Castello, the festival features artists such as Barbara Frittoli and Sara Mingardo in its faculty, fostering constant dialogue between great masters and new generations.

Why it's worth the trip

Attending an opera in the Teatro all'Antica means experiencing music in the very space for which this genre was created. For opera lovers, as well as those who appreciate art and history, the Sabbioneta Chamber Opera Festival offers an unmissable opportunity to combine great music with Renaissance heritage.