At Aquardens‘ new Theatre-Sauna in Ospedaletto di Pescantina, Verona, a unique event is on the horizon. Scheduled to open in March 2025, this massive sauna—the largest in Europe, with seating for 300 people—will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opera “Carmen” in a truly groundbreaking way.
During the press preview, Flavio Zuliani and Federica Reani, the CEO and General Manager of Aquardens, shared the stage with Stefano Trespidi and Yamala Das Irmici, the Deputy Artistic Director and Director of the Arena di Verona. Together, they announced an innovative collaboration between the Fondazione Arena di Verona and Aquardens. This partnership will transform the classic opera into a steamy, immersive experience.
In this performance, traditional opera elements will be replaced with large, colorful fans used by infusion masters. These fans will help fully engage the audience, transporting them to the vibrant world of Carmen’s Spanish setting. The goal is to spark curiosity and encourage guests to explore the full opera at the Arena di Verona.
The sauna performance will be a brief but intense 12-minute show, reinterpreting Carmen’s story while maintaining the sauna’s wellness and safety standards. Characters like Carmen, Frasquita, Mercedes, Escamillo, and Don José will come alive in a captivating blend of art and ritual. Directed by Yamala Das Irmici from the Fondazione Arena, this show promises to be an enchanting experience.
“For Fondazione Arena, proximity and ties with the territory are fundamental, as is the synergy with excellences capable of attracting an international audience. We are proud to face the challenges of the future by working together and ideally uniting what are two places of entertainment and well-being of the soul. With this project we create added value, expanding the tourist offer especially for foreigners, who in the Arena, every summer, are almost 60% of the public. We are certain that these suggestions of Carmen in the sauna will encourage many people to see the Opera in our amphitheater, the largest open-air theater in the world.”
Stefano Trespidi , Deputy Artistic Director of Fondazione Arena
Whether you’re a long-time opera lover or new to the scene, the Theatre-Sauna at Aquardens offers a unique chance to enjoy the dramatic world of Carmen in a relaxing sauna setting. Mark your calendars for March 2025!
