The history of Kuressaare Opera Festival (artistic director Ludmilla Toon) dates to 1999. Since 2008, Saaremaa Opera Days has been organised by Eesti Kontsert and the artistic director of the festival is Arne Mikk. The central venue of the festival is a well-known and valued landmark situated in Western Estonia, the medieval Kuressaare Episcopal Castle, whose garden and ancient walls are home to the summertime opera hall with a capacity of approximately 2000 viewers. The festival has cooperated with both Estonian opera houses (Vanemuine (2009, 2010, 2012) and the Estonian National Opera (2008, 2010, 2011)), as well as with opera houses from all over the world.