Modena's opera house carries the names of two of the 20th century's greatest singers — Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni — both born in the city within months of each other in 1934. The theatre dates from 1841, rebuilt after a fire in the late 18th century, and is a handsome neoclassical building in the city centre. Its programme runs from October to May, with opera, ballet, and orchestral concerts.
Pavarotti's connection to Modena was lifelong: he lived nearby, performed benefit concerts here, and founded a long-running international voices competition that gave early exposure to singers including Andrea Bocelli. When he died in 2007, thousands of Modenese lined the streets. Tickets for the season's opera programme can be booked through the theatre's website and are considerably cheaper than comparable performances at La Scala or the Arena di Verona.