23 June-19 Aug 2005. The festival maintains its successful formula of past years: 50 evenings of concerts and opera in the beautiful cloister of the Basilica di S. Clemente al Colosseo, plus an appendix at the Roman amphitheatre in Ostia Antica. For opera lovers the highlight is Mozarts Le nozze di Figaro with the Orchestra Sinfonica del New Operafestival conducted by Stefano Vignati and the soloists and choir of the International Lyric Academy in Rome directed by Gordon Ostrowski (23-30 July). Other lyrical performances include excerpts from La Traviata (24 June-12 Aug), Tosca (25 June-13 Aug), La Bohme (26 June-14 Aug) and Rigoletto (29 June-10 Aug). The programme also includes guest orchestras and musicians in a varied programme of symphonic and chamber music. A special evening also takes place at the Roman amphitheatre in Ostia Antica where Il Trovatore will be performed (19 Aug).