Rome opera house moves outdoors to Circus Maximus for the summer.

Rome's 2020 summer opera season presented by the city's opera house will take place at the Circus Maximus, from 16 July to 13 August, the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma has confirmed.

The Circus Maximus will host a total of 21 shows under the stars, beginning with Verdi's Rigoletto conducted by Daniele Gatti, on 16 July.  

Construction work on the stage and seating began in recent days, and an added bonus of the prestigious location is being based right beside the workshop that makes the opera house's sets, scenery and costumes.

The programme includes The Barber of Seville (22 July-13 Aug) and The Merry Widow (31 July-12 Aug), both of which will be conducted by Stefano Montanari.

Also to look forward to are Le Quattro Stagioni, a ballet based on Vivaldi's Four Seasons (25 July-3 Aug), and Omaggio a Roma, with stars Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov (6-9 Aug).

Rome's summer opera season normally takes place at the Baths of Caracalla - since 1937 - but the historic venue was ruled out definitively for being "incompatible" with the new covid-19 social distancing rules, which allow for a maximum of 1,000 spectators.

Piazza di Siena in the central Villa Borghese park had been proposed initially as an alternative summer venue for 2020, however in the end the opera house settled on the Circus Maximus.

• Rome opera house cancels summer season at Baths of Caracalla

The move is part of the city's summer 'Romarama' programme which will be based mainly at four venues: the Cavea of the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the outdoor space of Teatro India, the city's parks, and the "piazza" at MAXXI.

Baths of Caracalla

All performances scheduled for the Teatro dell'Opera's cancelled 2020 summer season at the Baths of Caracalla have been moved to the 2021 season, with this year's tickets valid for next summer season. New dates and details are available on Teatro dell'Opera di Roma website.

For full details about the summer 2020 opera season, including tickets, see Teatro dell'Opera di Roma website.