Festival opera vs season opera
Major opera houses run season programming September–June (Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Bavarian State Opera, La Scala). Summer opera festivals add specific dramatic productions in distinctive venues. Below: the festivals most worth flying for.
Salzburg
Salzburg Salzburg Festival (late July–end August). Festspielhaus + Felsenreitschule + Mozarteum. World-class orchestras, internationally famous singers. €30–600 per performance. Premiere productions of Mozart, Wagner, modern. Hotels 3–4x normal rates.
Verona
Arena di Verona Opera (June–August). Roman amphitheatre 14,000 seats. Aida (with elephants), Tosca, Carmen, Rigoletto traditional. €25–250. Touristy but spectacular outdoor experience.
Aix-en-Provence
Festival d'Aix-en-Provence (July). Less famous than Salzburg but operatic premieres. Théâtre de l'Archevêché outdoor in old archbishop's palace courtyard. €80–350.
Glyndebourne
UK Glyndebourne Festival Opera (East Sussex). Garden picnic + black-tie + opera tradition. £100–280. 80 min train from London + bus shuttle. Mozart and rare opera specialty.
Munich
Munich Munich Opera Festival (mid-July to early August). Bavarian State Opera (Nationaltheater) extends regular season into summer. World's elite singers. €15–450.
Bregenz
Austrian Bregenzer Festspiele (July–August) — opera staged on floating stage in Lake Constance. €40–250. Stage built each season; visually spectacular.
Bayreuth
German Bayreuth Festival (late July–end August). Wagner-only at Festspielhaus designed by Wagner. Lottery booking 6–10 years ahead. €100–400.
Pesaro (Italy)
Rossini Opera Festival (August). Pesaro is Rossini's hometown. €40–200. Niche destination for Rossini enthusiasts.
Strategy
Reserve tickets 6–12 months ahead. Festival accommodation 12+ months Salzburg/Bayreuth. Off-season opera (October–May at major houses) much more accessible. Opera classical guide for year-round seasons.