2,500 people in front of Rouen Cathedral for a live and free opera

The Cathedral Square in Rouen is packed with people this Saturday evening. 500 people sat down in deckchairs in front of the giant screen. 2,000 spectators attend the performance of Aida standing. The Rouen Opera is organizing for the sixth time this opera broadcast live in the open air and free of charge.

This year it is Giuseppe Verdi’s late 19th century work, Aida. In the crowd, curious people joined the regulars. Pierre attends an opera for the first time. “Opera is not something that interests me at first glancebut discovering it outside is nice”confides this Rouennais.

Hind came with her children, for her, this open-air opera was an opportunity not to be missed: “It’s very interesting, because I’m a mother of three children, so for them to come with me to the opera is not cheap.” The little family will be able to enjoy this show again next year since the Rouen opera house ensures that there will be a seventh edition.

60,000 spectators in total

This opera was broadcast live on 26 screens in total including the one on the cathedral square in Rouen. 60,000 spectators attended the performance of Aida. It was broadcast not only in five EHPADs, three penitentiary centers and in the rooms of the Rouen University Hospital. Spectators were able to attend online on Youtube and Facebook, but also internationally, at the French Institute of Valencia in Spain.