Music in Scandinavia , , &

MAY 11-27, 2022 TOUR LEADER: ROBERT GAY PRELIMINARY ITINERARY

Royal Danish Opera House, Copenhagen MUSIC IN Overview

SCANDINAVIA Academy Travel’s 17-day tour explores the capitals of , Sweden, and . These northern lands have a strong and distinctive Tour dates: May 11-27, 2022 musical tradition, not only through their composers – such as Grieg and Sibelius – but in the many fine conductors, singers and instrumentalists Tour leader: Robert Gay who hail from these parts.

Tour Price: $12,295 per person, twin share As always, the itinerary is based on a series of excellent performances. You will have the opportunity to enjoy opera, orchestral concerts and Single Supplement: $3,250 for sole use of perhaps a chamber music recital. These take place in some of the most double room stunning venues in Europe – modern concert halls and opera houses which exhibit the very best in Scandinavian design. The long days will Booking deposit: $3000 per person contribute to this unique travel experience.

Recommended airline: Finnair Scandinavian music often reflects nature, literature and folk traditions. Travelling through the landscapes that inspired these sounds will enhance Maximum places: 20 your appreciation of this evocative and haunting music. The itinerary takes in some truly memorable sightseeing, including fine architecture in Itinerary: Helsinki (4 nights), Ferry (1 night), Helsinki, Stockholm’s magnificent harbour, examples of Viking culture in Stockholm (4 nights), Oslo (3 nights), Norway, and pockets of the charming traditional architecture of Copenhagen (4 nights) Copenhagen.

Date published: May 19, 2020 Centrally located four-star hotels, many meals, tipping and best-available tickets to performances are all included. Touring is by coach, on foot and by boat with museum and art gallery visits rounding out the program. Pre- performance talks by music educator Robert Gay enhance your understanding and enjoyment on the musical program.

Your tour leader

For over 30 years, Robert Gay has presented music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. Over the same period, he has designed and escorted more than 90 musical and cultural tours to Europe and America.

On tour, Robert will provide a thorough introduction to the performances you see, with detailed pre-performance talks and post- performance reviews. Robert’s approach to music is multi-faceted. First and foremost, he links the music to the biographical, historical and social context in which it was created. Secondly, he explains in plain Enquiries language technical aspects of the music – how the composer and bookings communicates through sound. Finally, as a trained singer who attends dozens of performances each year, he offers great insight into the For further information and to qualities of the performances you see on tour. secure a place on this tour please contact Jamal Robert’s enthusiasm is infectious, and his skills as a music educator and Fairbrother at Academy Travel tour leader are exceptional. Since 2010, he has led tours exclusively for on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 Academy Travel. (outside Sydney) or email [email protected]

Performance program

Eight performances are included. Details of performances will be announced in October 2021.

HELSINKI FINLAND  Orchestral concert at the  Opera at the Finnish National Opera

STOCKHOLM SWEDEN  Ballet at the Royal Swedish Opera  Opera at the Royal Swedish Opera

OSLO NORWAY  Opera at the Oslo Opera House  Ballet at the Oslo Opera House

COPENHAGEN NORWAY  Opera at the Royal Danish Opera House  Chamber music concert or recital

Detailed itinerary

Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.

Tour start & finish time

The tour begins at 6.00pm on Wednesday May 11, at the

Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza, Helsinki.

The tour ends after breakfast on Friday May 27, at the Hotel Admiral, Copenhagen.

Wednesday May 11 Arrive Helsinki The tour begins this evening at the Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza Helsinki when you meet your tour leader Robert Gay for drinks and canapes. (C)

Thursday May 12 Above: a detail of Saarinen’s 1919 Helsinki Railway Station Exploring the City Centre – Performance I Below: the Sibelius Monument by Eila Hiltunen, simulating 600 organ pipes in honor of the Finnish composer ; and the unique After a talk on this evening’s performance, we take a guided architecture of Oodi, otherwise known as the Helsinki Central Library orientation walk through central Helsinki. We see Helsinki railway station, the 1919 masterpiece of Eliel Saarinen, and stroll through magnificent Senate Square and along , the city’s beautiful boulevard-park, which is lined with National Romantic buildings and design shops. This is followed by a welcome lunch in a local restaurant before returning to our hotel where the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening we enjoy a performance at the new Helsinki Music Centre. (B, L)

Performance details Venue: Helsinki Music Centre Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Friday May 13 More Architectural Splendours Today we take a guided coach tour visiting some more of Helsinki’s architectural splendours beginning with , known as the ‘Rock Church’. Quarried out of natural bedrock, the unique architecture of this fascinating attraction, with its copper dome, exposed rocks and concrete beams, never fails to impress. We visit the Oodi, Helsinki’s Central Library. A striking building with glass and steel structures and wooden façade, this energy-efficient building is an architectural highlight. We continue our tour visiting the Church and Russian Orthodox . The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Saturday May 14 Harbour cruise – PERFORMANCE II This morning we take a guided cruise around Helsinki Harbour. Starting at Market Square, we pass Klippan Island and

Kaivopuisto Park, where many embassies are located, before reaching the island of , an important fortress used by the Swedes and Russians to protect their Finnish assets. After exploring the island, we continue past the King’s Gate and a fleet of ice-breakers moored in the harbour before returning to port. The afternoon is at leisure before our performance this evening. (B)

Performance details Venue: Finnish National Opera Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Sunday May 15 Overnight ferry to Stockholm This morning we check out of our hotel and depart by coach for Lake Jarvenpãã. In the early 20th century, the shores of this lake hosted an important community of artists and musicians whose houses reflected the nature-loving traditions of the Finnish. First we visit Ainola, Sibelius’s beautiful country home, before making an extended lunch stop at Villa Kokkonen, which was designed by for his composer friend Joonas Kokkonen. The current curators of the villa will host us to lunch and perform for us in the beautiful piano-shaped music room. We return to Helsinki this afternoon before boarding the overnight ferry to Stockholm. Our accommodation is booked in Above: the city of Stockholm on a beautiful day; and current owners of A-class sea-view cabins, and dinner is served onboard. (B, L, D) Alvar Aalto’s Villa Kokkonen, both accomplished musicians, hold a performance in the beautiful piano-shaped music room

Monday May 16 Below: a persevered 17th century warship, which capsized and sank in Stockholm 1628, on show at the Vasa Museum Arrival in Stockholm After breakfast onboard, we have a guided coach tour of Stockholm, beginning with the City Hall where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every year. We walk through Gustav Adolf’s Square, named after the hero-king of Sweden, to the Royal Opera House, and then tour the public areas of the Royal Palace to see the lavish decor of the Hall of State and the Royal Chapel. Mid-afternoon, we check in to our hotel and this evening we enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. (B, D)

Tuesday May 17 Vasa Museum – PERFORMANCE III Stockholm is a city spread across an archipelago of islands, making the ‘hop-on-hop-off’ boat a perfect way to explore the city. Today we visit the Vasa Museum which displays an almost fully intact 17th-century warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The salvaged ship is immaculately preserved, in spite of its having rested on the sea floor for over three hundred years. Following our visit, you may like to use your boat ticket to explore some of Stockholm’s myriad islands and attractions. This evening we attend a performance at the Royal Swedish Opera. (B)

Performance details Venue: Royal Swedish Opera Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Wednesday May 18 DROTTNINGHHOLM Today we travel to Drottningholm Palace by boat. After touring the royal apartments, we visit the beautifully preserved baroque theatre, one of the few 18th-century theatres in Europe where the original hand-driven stage machinery is still being used for performances. We return to Stockholm where the later afternoon and evening are at leisure. (B)

Thursday May 19 Stockholm – PERFORMANCE IV Today is at leisure to enjoy the many sites that this beautiful city has to offer. This evening we attend a performance at the Royal Swedish Opera. (B)

Performance details Venue: Royal Swedish Opera Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Friday May 20 To Oslo Today we travel by coach to Oslo. On arrival, we check in at our hotel. Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant. (B, D)

Saturday may 21 New National Gallery – PERFORMANCE V After a talk on this evening’s performance, we have a guided visit of the brand-new National Gallery, which houses Norway’s largest public collection of paintings. Our performance this evening is at the Oslo Opera House which is dramatically situated on the edge of Oslo fjord. It opened in 2008. (B)

Performance details Venue: Oslo Opera House Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Sunday may 22 Viking Ship Museum – performance vi This morning we take a short ferry ride across Olso Harbour to visit the impressive Viking Ship Museum which contains the 1200-year-old remains of several Viking boats and other decorative Viking artefacts. The afternoon is at leisure before this evening’s ballet. (B)

Performance details

Images left: Drottningholm Palace, a private Swedish residence of the royal family; The Scream at Oslo’s National Gallery; and the Oslo Opera House, appears as though it’s rising from the water Venue: Oslo Opera House Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Monday may 23 To Copenhagen This morning we depart for the airport and our early afternoon flight to Copenhagen. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel and check in. Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant. (B, D)

Tuesday may 24 Exploring COPENHAGEN – PERFORMANCE VII This morning we take a guided walking tour of Copenhagen, visiting Amalienborg – home of the Danish royal family – and Nyhavn, which was once a busy commercial port. Here the typical old gabled houses have been beautifully restored, and it’s especially here that people enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the old canals. This afternoon we enjoy a canal cruise before making our way back to the hotel. This evening, we attend a chamber music performance or recital. (B)

Performance details Venue: To be announced Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced

Wednesday may 25 MALMÖ Today, we drive across the spectacular Ørosund Bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden, to the city of Malmö. The third largest city in Sweden, Malmö revels in the contrast of the old and the new – gabled Dutch Renaissance buildings in the Old Town and modern Swedish architecture on the redeveloped waterfront. We return to the hotel in the later afternoon, and the evening is at leisure in Copenhagen. (B)

Thursday may 26 OPERA IN COPENHAGEN – PERFORMANCE VIII This morning we have a guided tour of the superb Copenhagen Opera House. Designed by Danish architect Henning Larsen, it is one of the best-equipped opera houses in the world and has one of the largest orchestra pits, comfortably accommodating 110 musicians. The complex stage machinery and backstage facilities are also outstanding. After the visit, we enjoy a farewell lunch in a restaurant by the harbour. The later afternoon is at leisure and this evening we attend a performance by the Royal Danish Opera. (B, L)

Performance details

Images right: the beautifully preserved and intact Oseberg Ship excavated form the largest ship burial in the world at the Viking Ship Museum; ballet taking place at the Royal Danish Opera House; and Nyhavn, a 17th century waterfront canal district lined with brightly coloured townhouses and bars

Venue: Royal Danish Opera House Program: To be announced Performers: To be announced Friday may 27 Departure The tour concludes after breakfast. Please consult your individual travel documents for your outbound journey. (B)

Hotels

Throughout the tour, we stay in centrally located four-star hotels.

 Helsinki, Radisson Blu Plaza (4 nights) www.radissonhotels.com/

 Ferry, Silja Line (1 night) www.tallinksilja.com/

 Stockholm, Hotel Elite Eden Park (4 nights) Above: Amalienborg, home to the Danish royal family in Copenhagen, overlooks the Royal Danish Opera House www.elite.se/en/

 Oslo, Radisson Blu Plaza (3 nights) Below: The foyer inside the Royal Danish Opera House, it is among the www.radissonhotels.com/ most modern opera houses in the world

 Copenhagen, Hotel Admiral (4 nights) admiralhotel.dk/en/

Weather on Tour

Temperatures in May can be cool in May throughout Scandinavia, as it’s the middle of Spring. Average day time highs are in the low 10s, and average night time lows are between 6-8 degrees Celsius. Some rain can be expected. We recommend dressing in layers, bringing a waterproof jacket and a good quality coat, gloves and beanie. It can be quite cold during the evenings.

Tour Price Fitness Requirements

The tour price is $12,295 per person, twin share (land of THIS tour content only). The supplement for a single room is $3,250 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $3000 per person is GRADE TWO required to secure a place on the tour. Please note, this deposit includes the cost to cover the tickets for the It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that performance program. When the final performance program you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this is released, you will have a 14-day period to withdraw from tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness the tour with a full refund of all monies paid, if you do not find required to participate on our tours, we have given them a the range and standard of performances satisfactory. star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. Tour Inclusions Participation criteria for this tour Included in the tour price This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of  All accommodation in selected four-star hotels physical activity per day on most days, including longer  Overnight ferry to Stockholm in A class sea view cabins walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing  All breakfasts, plus lunches and dinners as noted in the stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and itinerary by (L) and (D) a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or  Land travel by air-conditioned coach several internal flights.  Economy class air travel from Oslo to Copenhagen  Background talks on the performances You should be able to:  Services of Robert Gay throughout tour  keep up with the group at all times  All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary  walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only  Qualified local guides short breaks  Porterage of one piece of luggage at all hotels  stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums Not included  tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold,  International airfares, taxes and surcharges (see below) humidity and heat  Travel insurance  walk up and down slopes  Meals not mentioned in itinerary  negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites,  Expenses of a personal nature which are often uneven and unstable  get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or boat unassisted, possibly with luggage Air travel OPTIONS  move your luggage a short distance if required

The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour A note for older travellers we recommend Finnair which offers flights from Australia If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, direct to Helsinki and return from Copenhagen. Please it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. contact us for further information on competitive Economy, You will have to miss several activities and will not get the full Business and First-Class airfares. Transfers between airport value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we transfers. will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too Enquiries & bookings demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition. For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jamal Fairbrother at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email [email protected]

Booking form Terms & Conditions

DEPOSITS an airline or main charterer, the alteration of return to your country of residence. Some A deposit is required to confirm your airline or aircraft type). countries require a visa to be issued before booking on a tour. Please refer to the CANCELLATION BY YOU you depart your country of residence. We will advise you of all passport and visa specific tour for the deposit amount If you decide to cancel your tour booking required. This deposit is used to pay for requirements, but it is your responsibility the following charges apply, based on the to be in possession of a valid passport, hotels, performance tickets and other land day we receive written notification: arrangements to be made on your behalf. to obtain all necessary visas, inoculations This deposit is non-refundable. > More than 75 days before departure: and preventative medicines as may be Forfeit of all deposits paid*† required for the duration of the tour. TOUR PRICES Information about these matters is given in Prices quoted in our itineraries, > 75-31 days before departure: 50% of total amount due for tour* good faith but without responsibility on the brochures, advertising and/or on our part of Academy Travel. website are based on exchange rates at the > 30 days or less before departure: time of publication. Prices may be subject 100% of total amount due for tour* PARTICIPATION IN TOURS to change due to significant currency All tours require a moderate level of physical fluctuations up until final payment is *You may also be liable to pay any fitness and mobility. Each tour itinerary received. We will advise you at the earliest cancellation charges imposed by specifies a level of physical fitness required. opportunity in the event of a price variation. third parties for flights and additional You are required to read these requirements You will have the option of accepting the accommodation and services. and acknowledge them at the time you amended prices or withdrawing from the † $1,000 per person of your deposit may be make a booking. We reserve the right to tour and receiving a full refund of all monies credited to another Academy Travel tour refuse admission to the tour for any reason paid, less an administration fee. departing within 12 months of the original before commencement of the tour. Further, tour you booked. if after the tour has begun it becomes PAYMENT apparent that you are unfit or unsuitable to Your final payment is due 75 days before CANCELLATION BY US travel on the tour, we reserve the right to the tour start date. Failure to make your Academy Travel reserves the right to require you to withdraw from the tour at the final payment by the due date may result cancel a tour for any reason (including earliest opportunity to do so. No refund will in the cancellation of your booking and failure to reach minimum tour participant be provided. It is also a requirement that loss of any payments made to date. numbers). Except for force majeure (as you do not cause any significant disruption Payment by cheque, direct deposit, outlined above) or your failure to pay the to the tour or the tour group, and we may American Express, MasterCard and Visa final balance, we will make a final decision require you to withdraw from the tour at any is accepted. A service charge applies to to proceed or cancel a tour no less than time if your participation causes significant final payments made by credit card. 60 days before departure. If you have paid disruption for other guests or the tour group CHANGES BY US in full, we will credit or refund all monies or there is any safety issue as a result of paid, excluding an administration fee and your ongoing participation in the tour. While we will use our best endeavours to any payment made for travel insurance. operate all tours as advertised, by entering No other compensation will be paid in the ILLNESS OR DISABILITY into this contract you acknowledge and event of cancellation by Academy Travel. Anyone suffering from illness or disability accept that it may prove necessary or The refund of monies paid for tour costs will or undergoing treatment for a medical advisable to vary or modify a tour or its be the full extent of our liability. Airlines may condition must declare the true nature of contents due to prevailing local conditions. impose up to 100% cancellation charges. that condition at the time of booking and We reserve the right at any time to cancel make arrangements for the provision of or change any of the facilities, services or CREDITS AND REFUNDS any medication or other treatment which prices described in the brochure (including Academy Travel will always attempt to may be required during the tour. Failure flights, transport, accommodation or other provide a cash refund of all amounts to make such disclosure will constitute a arrangements) and to substitute alternative paid but, depending upon the specific breach of these booking conditions and arrangements of comparable monetary value circumstances, which are outside our control, result in such persons being excluded from without compensation. If a service or facility you acknowledge that any credit or refund the tour in which case all monies paid will becomes unavailable due to circumstances may take the form of a substitution of a be forfeited. beyond our control (‘force majeure’) and similar tour at a later date, or a credit voucher no alternative arrangement of comparable for a tour with Academy Travel at a later date. THE LIMITS OF OUR LIABILITIES monetary value is available, we will attempt UNUSED PORTIONS OF THE TOUR We accept responsibility for all ingredients of your tour, except those to substitute the best alternative available We regret that refunds will not be given for and/or will refund you for any cost saving. to which the principle of force majeure any unused portions of the tour, such as prevails, as set out herein. Our FORCE MAJEURE meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights obligations and responsibilities are ‘Force majeure’ includes any event which or transfers. limited to those to which international Academy Travel or its suppliers could not, TRAVEL INSURANCE conventions apply in respect of air, sea even with all due care, foresee or avoid (e.g. Academy Travel requires all participants or rail carriers, including the Warsaw advice against travel from the Australian to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. Convention and its various updates. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade We offer a comprehensive policy with a Academy Travel advises it may vary its (DFAT), war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, reputable insurer if required. industrial dispute, epidemics, pandemic, terms and conditions from time to time. health risks, terrorist activity, natural or PASSPORT AND VISA Updated terms and conditions will be nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather A valid passport is required for all published on our website. Please contact conditions, technical or maintenance international travel. Usually this will require us if you would like to check if terms and problems with transport, changes imposed that your passport will not expire until conditions have changed. by cancellation or rescheduling of flights by at least six months after your planned Version 21.1 - Updated Apr 2020. 1/3

ACADEMY TRAVEL TAILORED SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS Email: [email protected] academytravel.com.au Booking form NAME OF TOUR Submission DEPARTURE DATE

TO SUBMIT YOUR BOOKING FORM: OPTION 1: Complete the form on screen. Simply click in the box to fill in your details and press “Tab” to progress to the next box. Save the completed form and email it to us at [email protected] OPTION 2: Print the form, complete the fields and send it back to us at Academy Travel, GPO Box 5057, Sydney NSW 2001 YOUR DETAILS This is my/our first tour with Academy Travel I/we have previously travelled with Academy Travel PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 Your title: Your full name (as it appears on your passport): Your title: Your full name (as it appears on your passport):

Preferred first name: Date of birth: Preferred first name: Date of birth:

Postal address: Postal address:

State: Postcode: State: Postcode:

Email: Email:

Phone: Phone:

Mobile: Mobile:

Passport number: Expiry date: Passport number: Expiry date:

Frequent flyer number(s): Seating: (aisle/window) Frequent flyer number(s): Seating: (aisle/window)

Name of next of kin (not travelling with you): Name of next of kin (not travelling with you):

Relationship to you: Contact number: Relationship to you: Contact number:

PROOF OF IDENTITY Please provide a photocopy of the photo page of your passport(s) together with this booking form (international tours only). TRAVELLING PARTNER I am travelling: On my own With Passenger 2 With someone submitting their own form - Name:

ROOMING PREFERENCES I/we would like: A room for sole occupancy A twin-bedded room A double-bedded room 2/3

Academy Travel, GPO Box 5057, Sydney NSW 2001 Phone: + 61 2 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) ACADEMY TRAVEL YOUR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS MEAL REQUIREMENTS/ALLERGIES Please indicate below if you have any special dietary requirements. Appropriate meals will be requested for you on all flights and group meals based on this information. PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 I do not have any specific dietary requirements or allergies I do not have any specific dietary requirements or allergies I have the following specific dietary requirements/allergies: I have the following specific dietary requirements/allergies:

MEDICAL CONDITIONS Please indicate below if you have any serious health issue that may affect your travel insurance coverage, your physical capacity to undertake some activities on tour or may otherwise need to be considered by the tour leader/manager during the tour. PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 I have no specific medical condition I have no specific medical condition I have the following medical condition(s) I have the following medical condition(s)

YOUR TRAVEL PLANS I/we wish Academy Travel to arrange air travel from Australia. Economy Class Premium Economy Class Business Class I/we will organize our own air travel. I intend to take part in the extension tour offered in the itinerary (if applicable).

DEPOSIT PAYMENT A non-refundable deposit is required for each person listed on this booking form. YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF Please refer to your specifc tour information for the deposit payment due. BOOKING CONDITIONS Number of passengers: Total amount of deposit(s) due: I/we have read the information about the physical Please indicate below which method you have chosen to pay your deposit: requirements of the tour in the detailed itinerary and confirm Paid directly by cheque (Please make cheques payable to Academy Travel) that I/we am/are able to meet these requirements. Paid by direct deposit I/we accept the conditions on Bank Account Name: Academy Travel page 1 of this booking form. BSB: 082 024 Account Number: 189539033 Academy Travel reserves the right Reference: [Surname and Tour Name] to decline the booking or terminate the holiday of any traveller. Paid by credit card (Please complete details below) MasterCard Visa American Express AUTHORISATION By submitting this booking form, Card Number: you are agreeing to the terms and conditions on page 1 of this booking Expiry date: / 3 or 4 digit security code: form and on our website, and the inclusions and non-inclusions listed Name on card: Date: in the detailed itinerary for the tour.

AUTHORISATION Date: By submitting this booking form you are authorising us to charge the cost of deposits for booking on this tour. No further charges will be made without your prior authorisation. 3/3

ACADEMY TRAVEL TAILORED SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS Email: [email protected] academytravel.com.au