The summer season of Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera, with performances at the famous Baths of Caracalla, this year features popular works such as Aïda, Tosca and Swan Lake.

The Caracalla productions are a huge attraction for music lovers, especially from Europe, Japan, the US and increasingly, Russia.

This year’s season opened with the well-known symphonic poems by Respighi, conducted by Charles Dutoit, and with creative and spectacular scenery by the highly prestigious theatre company La Fura dels Baus.

This ties in well with Teatro dell’Opera’s policy of presenting popular and well-loved works but in an innovative vein.

Over 50,000 tickets were sold for performances at the Caracalla Baths last year, which meant that for the first time this summer season they brokeeven.

This year, seating for anadditional 3,500 patrons has been created, with most of the seats at very affordable prices, designed to attract young audiences. Tickets may be obtained online and printed.

Swan Lake, which opened on July 7, is being performed for the last time on Wednesday at9 p.m.

Between Thursday and August 10 there will be performances of Puccini’s Tosca, with the title role sung by Csilla Boross and Nadia Vezzù, while that of Mario Cavaradossi will be interpreted alternately by Thiago Arancam and Kamen Chanev. The direction is by Arnhaud Bernard.

The spectacular production of Verdi’s Aïda will be performed – for the 50th time at Caracalla – between August 2 and 9, with the main role sung by alter-nately Hui He and Gabriella Georgieva.

Radames will be performed by Francesco Anile and Walter Fraccaro, while Amneris will be sung by Giovanna Casolla and Renata Lamanda.

The direction and sceno-graphy is by Micha van Hoecke.