US, Mexico and More Drive Asunción Cultural Tourism With International Opera Festival, Free Events and Global Artists: All You Need to Know

US, Mexico and More Drive Asunción Cultural Tourism With International Opera Festival, Free Events and Global Artists: All You Need to Know. The festival brings international artists, world premieres, workshops and free access to venues across Asunción. It connects Paraguay with Italy, Brazil, Mexico and the United States through opera, training and cultural exchange. As a result, visitors gain more reasons to explore the capital while Paraguay strengthens its international cultural profile and supports wider cultural tourism today.

Paraguay Uses Opera Festival to Expand International Cultural Cooperation

The festival is designed as more than a sequence of stage performances. Official organisers describe it as a platform for artistic exchange, professional training, new creation and international cooperation.

Its objectives include strengthening opera in Paraguay, creating new opportunities for Paraguayan artists and encouraging young composers to work with contemporary opera. It also aims to connect Paraguay more closely with the wider international opera and lyrical circuit.

Artists and creative professionals linked to Paraguay, Italy, Brazil, Mexico and the United States are involved in the programme. They include composers, directors, singers, musicians and other artistic specialists.

International Artists Bring Wider Global Reach

Italy has a major presence at the festival. Officially confirmed participants include composer Girolamo Deraco, stage director Alessandro J. Bianchi, baritone-bass Theodoros Zogopoulos and actor and librettist Giuseppe Nicolo.

The United States is represented by composer Julie Herndorn. Brazil is represented by baritones Marcelo Silva and Saulo Iervolino, along with soprano Tayana Roverso. Paraguayan singers, musicians and composers also form a central part of the festival.

Opening Night Brings World Premieres to Asunción

The festival opens on 29 September 2026 at 20:00 at the Teatro Tom Jobim of the Embassy of Brazil in Asunción.

The opening programme is titled “Nuevas latitudes líricas. Ópera contemporánea de Paraguay, Italia y México.”

It includes music by Girolamo Deraco, Andrea Tinacci, Horacio Viñales Méndez, Eduardo Caballero and Diego Sánchez Haase. The official programme confirms that the opening night includes world premieres.

Gastón Gadin Receives World Premiere in Paraguay

One of the most important works in the programme is “Gastón Gadin. Monólogo de un fusilado”, composed by Diego Sánchez Haase.

The opera receives its world premiere in Asunción on 29 September at 20:00 at Teatro Tom Jobim.

The work is based on the historical case of Gastón Gadin, who was 18 when he was executed in Paraguay in 1917 after being convicted of murdering his parents. The case is remembered as the last application of the death penalty in Paraguay.

The opera consists of 10 short scenes and an epilogue and lasts around 35 minutes. Sánchez Haase began developing the work in 2021 and completed it in February 2026.

Paraguayan Opera Continues to Italy After Asunción Premiere

The international journey of “Gastón Gadin” continues after its Paraguay premiere.

The production is scheduled to appear in Lucca, Italy, on 23 October at the Puccini Chamber Opera Festival.

It is then scheduled to travel to Reggio Calabria on 31 October as part of the Cilea Opera Festival. This creates a direct artistic link between Paraguay and Italy and gives the new Paraguayan work international exposure beyond Asunción.

Italian Diptych Arrives on 6 October

Another major event takes place on 6 October at 20:00 at the Teatro Municipal Ignacio A. Pane.

The programme, titled “Díptico italiano”, features Livietta e Tracollo by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Michele by Girolamo Deraco.

“Michele” will be presented as a world premiere, adding another new production to the festival calendar.

Mozart’s Don Giovanni Takes Centre Stage

On 16 October at 20:00, the Teatro Municipal Ignacio A. Pane will host a semi-staged production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

The official programme lists performers from Brazil, Paraguay and Italy, including Marcelo Silva, Saulo Iervolino, Tayana Roverso, Mustafa Dujak, Alba Álvarez, Aldana Salinas and Agustín Barboza.

They will perform alongside Alessandro J. Bianchi, Diego Sánchez Haase and the Orquesta Sinfónica del Congreso Nacional.

Workshops and Masterclasses Add a Training Dimension

The festival also has a strong educational component.

Italian director Alessandro J. Bianchi will lead a stage dramaturgy workshop from 8 to 10 October at the Casa Bicentenario de la Música.

Italian composer Girolamo Deraco will then lead an opera composition workshop from 12 to 14 October at the same venue.

American composer Julie Herndorn will present a composition masterclass on 20 October. The official programme lists the Casa Bicentenario de la Música as the venue, with the exact time still to be confirmed.

Multidisciplinary Performance Expands Beyond Traditional Opera

The programme also includes “Moratoria revocada”, a multidisciplinary installation and performance scheduled for 17 and 18 October at 19:30 at Espacio E.

The production combines music, visual arts, photography, choreography, movement, mapping and video.

Music is by Julie Herndorn. Visual art and photography are by Luis Vera. Edith Correa and Paola Ferraro contribute choreography and movement. Mapping is by Nicolás Domínguez and Elvis Gauto, while Juanchi Franco contributes video work.

Paraguay International Opera Festival 2026 Schedule

The official Cabildo programme confirms the dates, venues and principal activities.

Italy and Brazil Play Major Supporting Roles

Italy has a particularly important role because the festival grew from nearly a decade of artistic cooperation involving Italian institutions and artists.

The relationship with the Puccini Chamber Opera Festival in Lucca and Girolamo Deraco has already helped Paraguayan singers and musicians participate in Italian productions, premieres and artistic exchanges.

Brazil also has a significant role. The opening performance takes place at the Teatro Tom Jobim of the Brazilian Embassy, while Brazilian artists participate in several parts of the programme, including Don Giovanni.

Free Entry Makes the Festival Accessible to Visitors

The official programme states that access is free, making the festival accessible to residents and visitors in Asunción during the event period.

However, the official information does not provide specific forecasts for tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy, visitor expenditure or economic impact linked directly to the festival. The verified tourism relevance therefore lies in its international artistic participation, multiple Asunción venues, cross-border cooperation and connection with major opera institutions in Italy.

The Festival Internacional “Caminos de la ópera lírica” gives Paraguay a substantial cultural programme across late September and October. With free performances, international artists, world premieres, training programmes and links with Italy, Brazil, Mexico and the United States, Asunción is using opera as a platform for cultural exchange, artistic development and stronger international connections.

US, Mexico and More Drive Asunción Cultural Tourism With International Opera Festival, Free Events and Global Artists: All You Need to Know. The festival supports Asunción’s cultural tourism by bringing international performers, world premieres, workshops and free access into one programme. Its impact comes from cultural exchange, professional training and stronger links between Paraguay and artistic networks. Italy, Brazil, Mexico and the United States contribute to the event’s international character. Therefore, US, Mexico and More Drive Asunción Cultural Tourism With International Opera Festival, Free Events and Global Artists because the programme gives visitors richer cultural experiences and Paraguay international visibility.