1 Unusual Journey for Patrons of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with R
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1 unusual journey for patrons of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with R. Crusoe & Son Moscow. 1840. T wo countries. Two dramatic and compelling histories Dear CSO Patrons, and contemporary societies tied together on one journey by CSO Music Director Riccardo Muti leads the remarkable CSO concerts. Chicago Symphony Orchestra on an extraordinary In Russia, the CSO represents the United States with tour of Russia and Italy in April 2012. The Russian concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg as part of a special concerts are part of U.S.-Russia cultural partnership. Then the tour moves to a cultural festival Italy—CSO Music Director Riccardo Muti’s home called “American country—where we attend concerts in Rome, Naples, and at Seasons in Russia,” the Ravenna Festival, of which Cristina Mazzavillani Muti developed by a is chairman and artistic director. bilateral Begin in Moscow, landing in your club-level room at the presidential luxurious Ritz-Carlton, our homebase as we explore this Clark Pellett and Robert A. Kohl, commission. This transformed city. CSO Trustee and Vice Chairman. is the CSO’s first Patrons visiting Moscow for the first time: Prepare for trip to Russia since 1990, and it is the first time since an eye-popping cosmopolitan experience. Those who’ve been then that a major U.S. orchestra will perform in here before see a full-color version of what was once black Russia. The tour also visits Maestro Muti’s wonderful and white and home country of Italy and offers some special shades of gray. opportunities exclusively for CSO patrons. Along the We look forward to seeing you in Russia and Italy. way, indulge in delicious traditional and contemporary Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett food—washed Tour Chairs down with a bit of vodka. At home in Moscow: the Ritz-Carlton. The Hermitage. Three million works of art and artifacts. We have an appointment to see the Gold Room.The mind boggles. Our explorations start with an early entrance into the their history and Kremlin to see the Fabergé eggs and other architectural and dispel the myth art treasures. Within the Kremlin, we also view the of Anastasia. Diamond Fund, which houses Catherine the Great’s On to the stunningly lavish coronation crown and the world’s largest colorful Church sapphire. Then we exit and walk through the historic Red of the Spilt Square. Blood, with its Party with CSO musicians, then examine some key onion domes and Moscow art museums (a tough choice, as there are more here mosaics, followed than we have time for). by an evening at The Amber Room. Go behind the scenes to We are among the first to have a look at the long leisure. see the workshop where this was created. awaited and newly remodeled Bolshoi Theater (assuming The next day, we visit other key sites before our last this time it really is finished). evening in Russia, when the CSO performs in the St. Then a magnificent CSO concert at the Moscow Petersburg Philharmonia. Be moved by the history of the Conservatory. heroic performance of Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony, No overnight train anymore. We board a high-speed train played in this hall during the siege of Leningrad. from Moscow city center to downtown St. Petersburg. Our After the concert, have dinner with some CSO luggage is sent ahead so we don’t have to worry about musicians. schlepping it with us. The next morning, we check out of the hotel and take a We stay at the fabulous Grand Hotel Europe, across the trip to the Catherine Palace in Pushkin. The famous Amber street from the Room has been completely restored, and we take an insider’s concert hall. look at the amber workshop, where the work was In St. completed. Artisans here still create stunning amber pieces, Petersburg, we do some used as state gifts. highlights of the From Pushkin, we drive directly to the airport for our city’s highlights. flight to Italy and our next adventure. Start at the Rome. HQ of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and the Hermitage, with eternally engaging Italian culture. the “regular” We are joined by Judith Harris, an accomplished Moscow’s Kremlin. The Diamond Fund is works by the American author, journalist, and lecturer who lives in Rome. tucked inside and on our itinerary. great masters: da A Northwestern University alumnus, Judith gives us expert Vinci, Raphael, commentary on a fascinating Vatican exhibit. Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Tiepolo.We Then, a free afternoon in Rome to wander on your own also see the treasures in the Gold Room. before our next CSO concert. Cross the Neva River to the cathedral at Peter and Paul The following morning, we take the train to Naples. Fortress, burial site of the mighty Romanovs. We review Many Americans don’t realize that the old town here is a 2 UNESCO World two-Michelin-starred San Domenico Restaurant. Prepare Heritage site with a for food heaven. layered history. Then we drive to Ravenna to check-in to our hotel, a Get down to simple establishment conveniently located to enable our business—with a brick- very busy schedule in Ravenna. oven pizza lunch. (Pizza Exhale, change clothes, and we’re off to accept a was born in Naples, so gracious and generous invitation from Mrs. Cristina Muti why not?) for aperitifs in the Muti home. Then on to dinner at Al Continue to the San Gallo, one of the family’s favorite restaurants, for a light Pietro a Majella Music meal with a menu selected by Mrs. Muti. We’re joined by Conservatory, where local patrons of the noteworthy Ravenna Festival. Maestro Muti studied. Get ready to be wowed all over again. Ravenna is home to We tour the eight UNESCO World Heritage sites built in the fifth and Judith Harris, art and archaeology conservatory and see sixth centuries. They represent some of the world’s very best expert, makes Pompeii come alive. the archives that hold mosaics. Tonight we visit two of them, privately and after the historic Neapolitan the sites have closed to the public: the Basilica of San Vitale music that still captivates the Maestro. A student re-creates and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. the piano exam that Maestro Muti performed as a student There are no words after this experience so we’re off to here. bed before continuing our exploration of more stunning Then it’s gelato for everyone. mosaics the next morning. Check in to the hotel, and relax before dinner, followed Then a choice: see more world-famous art, or enjoy some by a CSO free time. concert at the The evening begins with our final CSO concert. After Teatro San the performance, CSO musicians and patrons are guests of Carlo. the Ravenna Festival for dinner. A very late night… and Next altogether unforgettable. morning kicks For those who don’t want to rush out the next morning, off a fascinating we offer a one-day extension to Bologna, a charming old examination of town of colorful porticos, an interesting music museum, and Pompeii. Judith scrumptious cuisine. It’s also close to the international Harris, whose airport. Visit Maestro Muti’s alma mater: San Pietro book Pompeii a Majella Music Conservatory. Naples. Either way, it’s back over the pond and home. Awakened has revealed a fresh look at this important chapter of history, gives us an overview lecture. Proceed to the Naples Archaeological Museum, one of Europe’s most important because it houses frescoes, mosaics, statuary, and even erotic art excavated from Pompeii. Many visitors to the architectural ruins of Pompeii never see the ancient city’s key treasures. To tempt us further, the museum’s director has promised to pull some items from the basement not on view to the general public. Time for a lunch of fresh local seafood with some CSO musicians before an option to visit Pompeii itself. Make sure to get some rest this evening. You’ll need the “It’s all about mosaics,” said Karl Lagerfeld, who traveled to Ravenna, Italy, to see the mosaics for inspiration for his Byzantine energy for tomorrow. show. “I thought it was an influence that could be very much Fly to Bologna, then drive to Imola for a lunch at the Chanel,” he said. “It’s also about a spirit.” 3 CSO RUSSIA &ITALY 2012. This itinerary is subject to change. Day 1: U.S. PRICES: Per person sharing room Sunday, 15 April 2012 Russia tour ................................. $8,690 Single supplement ........................... $2,680 Overnight flight to Russia. Italy tour ................................... $7,880 Day 2-4: Moscow, Russia Single supplement ........................... $1,890 Monday-Wednesday, 16-18 April 2012 Internal air estimate (economy) per person Arrival transfer, Kremlin tour with Armory Museum and St. Petersburg/Rome .......................... $780 Diamond Fund, party with CSO musicians, subway tour, Internal air per person Naples/Bologna ..........TBD additional sightseeing, CSO CONCERT. CSO ticket estimate per person per concert.......$250 Ritz-Carlton Moscow. CSO patron donation per person ...... $1,800 Day 5-7: St. Petersburg Thursday-Saturday, 19-21 April 2012 BOOKING DEADLINE: TUESDAY, Train to St. Petersburg, Hermitage and its 15 NOVEMBER 2011. After that date, Gold Room, Peter and Paul Cathedral, reservations are offered on a space-available Church of the Spilt Blood, additional basis. Upgrades are offered first-come, sightseeing, CSO CONCERT. first-served. The tour is sold as described. There Grand Hotel Europe. RUSSIA are no refunds for unused portions of Day 8: Pushkin; Rome, Italy, these segments. The tour price is or U.S. St. Petersburg tra based on a minimum number of 35 in Sunday, 22 April 2012 e m travelers as well as present currency o Catherine Palace, transfer to R o exchange and fuel rates.