 With Paul Findlay, Downes planned a Verdi festival for the Royal Opera House which would cover all Verdi's operas from 1995 to 2001, performing four each year, starting each five-week festival with a large, grand work, then a revival of a repertoire piece then rarities.The plans included using variant arias and ballets.However, the full plans were not completed and Downes expressed regret that he had never conducted "Alzira", "Un giorno di regno" or, especially, "Les vêpres siciliennes".