Venice: I Musici Veneziani Opera Concert & Three Tenors

Summary

Opera arias echo in 18th-century Venice costumes at Scuola Grande

You’ll slip into Venice’s Scuola Grande di San Teodoro for an evening surrounded by music and history. Hear I Musici Veneziani perform opera classics as The Three Tenors fill the hall with powerful voices. With your ticket ready at the door and musicians in full Venetian costume, you’ll feel part of something timeless — maybe even catch yourself grinning at an unexpected moment.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the hush — you know that old wood smell, kind of sweet and dusty, with everyone whispering and shuffling into their seats under these chandeliers? We’d barely sat down in the Salone Capitolare when the musicians of I Musici Veneziani came out, all dressed in these wild 18th-century Venetian costumes. Someone behind me let out this little gasp, which made me smile — it’s hard not to feel like you’ve fallen straight into a painting. Our tickets were waiting at the box office, no fuss, so we just wandered right in.

I didn’t expect to get goosebumps so fast. The Three Tenors started with something by Verdi (I think?), and honestly, their voices just filled the whole room — like you could almost see the sound bouncing off those painted ceilings. One of them winked at a little kid up front who was fidgeting, and his mom looked mortified but everyone just laughed quietly. Our guide earlier had told us that musicians here come from all over, but tonight it felt like they belonged to Venice alone. There’s something about live opera in Venice — maybe it’s the way the city feels after dark or how every note seems to hang in the air longer than it should.

Between arias, I caught myself staring at the violinists’ hands — so quick and sure — while outside I could hear faint church bells mixed with rain on old stone. The program jumped from Vivaldi to Puccini and back again; honestly, I lost track but didn’t really care. At one point Li tried to whisper some composer’s name in Mandarin (she loves showing off), but she cracked up halfway through and nearly got us shushed. It was that sort of night: formal but not stiff, grand but somehow warm too.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Attend I Musici Veneziani concert

• Arrive at Scuola Grande di San Teodoro
• Enter Salone Capitolare concert hall
• Watch I Musici Veneziani orchestra perform
• Enjoy operatic soloists' arias
• Experience 18th century Venetian costumes

Top questions

Where is the I Musici Veneziani concert held?

The concert takes place at Salone Capitolare of Scuola Grande di San Teodoro in Venice.

Are tickets included or do I need to buy them separately?

Your entry ticket is included; tickets are held at the theater box office for collection on performance day.

Is there a dress code for the concert?

The dress code is smart casual.

Are children allowed at this opera concert?

Yes, infants and small children can attend; prams or strollers are welcome.

What composers’ music will be performed?

The program includes arias by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Leoncavallo, Vivaldi, Mozart and others.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near Scuola Grande di San Teodoro.

Do I need to pay any extra fees?

No extra fees for the concert itself; all fees and taxes are included. On some dates visitors may owe a €5 Venice access fee if staying outside Venice.

What’s included

Your evening includes your entry ticket held for you at the theater box office and covers all fees and taxes for the live opera performance by I Musici Veneziani inside Venice’s historic Scuola Grande di San Teodoro.