TRAVELFOR THE ARTS SPRING, SUMMER & AUTUMN 2018

OPERA, BALLET CLASSICAL MUSIC HOLIDAYS

NEW TOURS FOR 2018

ROSSINI IN THE RING VENICE IN MUNICH page 7 page 12

SAVONLINNA DISCOVER OPERA FESTIVAL MONTENEGRO page 24 page 28

www.travelforthearts.com +44 20 8799 8350 [email protected] welcome

welcome to the world of OPERA, BALLET AND CLASSICAL MUSIC

Within this brochure you will find our selection of small group tours for Spring, Summer & Autumn 2018, carefully researched and created by our music and travel experts.

This year we present three new tours to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Gioachino Rossini, which can be found on the green pages. Our ever-popular Ring Cycles are marked by one of Wagner’s favourite colours, purple, while our traditional springtime visits to major opera houses and the summer and autumn opera and music festivals are listed in red. We are also pleased to continue our collaboration with Stephen Carpenter of Carpenter Holidays which can be found in the blue section, and, for further information on our à la Carte offering for individual travellers, please see the gold pages at the back of the brochure.

We hope you will enjoy wonderful opera, ballet and classical music on a relaxing and memorable holiday with us.

Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com BOOKING DETAILS SPRING, SUMMER All tours mentioned in this brochure (as well as additional tours) & AUTUMN 2018 are available to view online at www.travelforthearts.com Many of our holidays are taken up very quickly after the brochure We are delighted to present our selection of highlights from the launch. Sometimes they are fully booked after appearing on our Spring, Summer and Autumn Festival Season, featuring the best website or as advance information in our Newsletter, so we would of opera, ballet and classical music programmes across Europe. encourage you to book early if you are interested in one of our group tours. CONTENTS MAKE AN ENQUIRY You can make an enquiry about one of our tours in three ways: Tours 4 – 35 • Call us on 020 8799 8350 À la Carte information 36 – 37 • Email [email protected] Booking form 38 – 41 • Visit our website www.travelforthearts.com and make a booking enquiry by going into the tour and completing CALENDAR OF TOURS the Booking Enquiry Form. If space is available on the tour of your choice you will be Date Tour Page given a 7-day option. 27 – 30 Mar Discover Trieste 15 COMPLETE A BOOKING FORM 30 Mar – 3 Apr Dresden Belcanto Days 16 Once you have your option, we require a completed booking form. 11 – 15 Apr Roman Holiday 17 This is available at the end of this brochure, or you can download 12 – 15 Apr Spring Ballet in Vienna 18 one from our website http://www.travelforthearts.com/how-to-book/ 27 Apr – 1 May Mozart across the Baltic 19 When you return your booking form we require your deposit or 4 – 13 May The Ring in Karlsruhe 9 full payment (see Late bookings). You must read and agree to the Terms and Conditions. 17 – 21 May Chopin and Opera in Warsaw 20 28 May – 4 Jun The Ring in Odense 10 LATE BOOKINGS If you book within 8 weeks of departure, you will need to provide 12 – 16 Jun Riga Opera Festival 21 a credit/debit card number or send us a cheque for the full amount 21 – 24 Jun Arena di Verona 22 of the holiday. 4 – 11 Jul The Ring in Sofia 11 BOOKING REFERENCE 13 – 16 Jul Buxton Festival Opera 23 When you make an enquiry you will be given a booking 17 – 21 Jul Savonlinna Opera Festival 24 reference. Please quote your booking reference on all 19 – 28 Jul The Ring in Munich 12 subsequent correspondence. 25 – 28 Jul Dorset Opera Festival 25 MOBILITY 25 – 29 Jul Rossini in Wildbad 5 Please note that most tours involve walking tours of approximately 3 hours. If you have difficulty with mobility you may be asked to sit 25 – 30 Jul The Ring in Erl 13 out some of the activities on the itinerary. 1 – 5 Aug Opera de Baugé 26 9 – 13 Aug The Puccini Festival 27 PERFORMANCE TICKETS All performance tickets are subject to confirmation. This is due to 19 – 24 Aug The Rossini Festival in Pesaro 6 the differences in the way opera houses administer their ticket sales 21 – 25 Aug Discover Montenegro 28 and the limited availability of certain performances. We will inform 24 – 30 Aug Salzburg Festival 29 you at the point of booking when we expect to receive confirmation of the performance tickets; in most cases this will be 12 weeks prior 2 – 6 Oct The Verdi Festival in Parma 30 to departure, although this can vary depending on the destination. 18 – 21 Oct Rossini in Venice 7 1 – 5 Nov Wexford Festival Opera 31 SEATING ARRANGEMENTS For all included performances we obtain best available tickets TOURS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CARPENTER HOLIDAYS (as specified by the venue). However many of the older theatres in Europe have non-staggered rows, little rake, cramped legroom and 17 – 21 May The Somme - Do Not Forget Me Quite 33 sometimes poor sightlines. Please be assured that we do our best to 26 Jun – 1 Jul Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg 34 request the best available tickets for all performances but that, on occasion, allowances might need to be made for the age and layout 1 – 5 Aug Klosters Festival 35 of the venue.

OPENING HOURS All information is available on our website www.travelforthearts.com. Our office hours are Monday – Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially We are closed on UK public holidays. There is an answerphone and protected by the ATOL scheme under ATOL no.2178. When you pay for a flight we will return any out-of-hours telephone calls on the next working inclusive holiday you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other day if you leave your name and telephone number. services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

TOSCA BY THE TEATRO DELL'OPERA DI ROMA

COVER IMAGE: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO AT THE ESTONIAN NATIONAL OPERA Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 31 welcome

EXPERTS IN CULTURAL TRAVEL

All our tours are led by travel experts, and many of our tour managers are also professional musicians and music specialists. Below is a selection of the many people who work with us to ensure that you have the best experience possible.

Simon Rees is a freelance writer, lecturer Stephen Carpenter has planned and led and translator. For 23 years he was several tours in association with us over dramaturg at Welsh National Opera. the last three years and continues to offer tours to music festivals with his company, Carpenter Holidays.

Carol Savage is a professional concert Patrick Mylon will be familiar to many and opera singer, with a degree in History of our guests, having tour managed for of Art from London University. over 10 years. He is a true opera fan, particularly of Wagner, and has attended more than 10 Ring Cycles.

Zita Stockwell has been leading our Eva Gordon-Smith is a consultant, lecturer tours for over 25 years and is an expert and Blue Badge Guide. She has been on many destinations, particularly her managing concert tours in a number of native Budapest. She is a keen opera European countries for 25 years. and concert attendee.

David Waite is a professional Blue Badge Raffaella Golinucci is a freelance Tourist Guide and also the Founder & professional Tour Manager and has Director of Guiding You Ltd, a tour guiding worked in the music business for many and training company. years. She also often looks after well- known musicians.

TRAVEL FOR THE ARTS TEAM

Richard Savage Emma Benson Pablo Basombrio Vanessa Kyriacou Mark Saunsbury Juliet Manners C.E.O. General Manager Sales and Product Manager à la Carte Programme and Reservations Reservations Marketing Manager Manager Manager

SPECIAL FEATURES

We are delighted to offer special features on some of our tours, such as No Single Supplement, Meet the Artist and By Rail. Please look out for these in the introductions to each tour.

2 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com BROCHURE HIGHLIGHTS

THE RING IN MUNICH 19 – 28 July Tour code: MUC2 Price from £3970 Andreas Kriegenburg’s revived production from the Bayerische Staatsoper will be conducted by Kirill Petrenko and boasts a cast of esteemed Wagnerian singers, including Jonas Kaufmann as Siegmund and Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde. page 12

THE RING IN ERL 25 – 30 July Tour code: ERL1 Price from £2095 Over the past 20 years, the Tiroler Festspiele Erl in Austria has become established as a pilgrimage destination for fans of Wagner from all over the world; we visit for their production of the Ring, directed and conducted by festival founder Gustav Kuhn.

page 13

THE ROSSINI FESTIVAL IN PESARO 19 – 24 August Tour code: PES1 Price from £2180 The festival marks the 150th anniversary of Rossini's death with new productions of Adina, Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Ricciardo e Zoraide starring Juan Diego Flórez and Pretty Yende. page 6

SALZBURG FESTIVAL 24 – 30 Aug Tour code: SZG2 Price from £2940 New productions of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades and Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea are joined by a concert performance of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs des Perles with Aida Garifullina and Plácido Domingo, and concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic and Daniel Barenboim. page 29

DAS RHEINGOLD AT THE TIROLER FESTSPIELE ERL © XIOMARA BENDER Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 3 rossini 2018

GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792 - 1868) 13 November 2018 will mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Gioachino Rossini, and to commemorate the composer's life and works, we are offering 3 tours to destinations important within his life. We visit the Belcanto Opera Festival in the Black Forest town of Bad Wildbad, where Rossini spent a short time, and his birth town of Pesaro for their annual summer festival. Finally, we make our way to Venice, a city of which Rossini was extremely fond and where some of his operas were first premiered.

“Give me a laundry-list and I'll set it to music.”

Gioachino Rossini

4 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com rossini 2018

ROSSINI IN WILDBAD

Price from £1795 pp

25 – 29 July Tour code: WIL1 ROSSINI 2018 & NEW PRODUCTION

We visit the charming Black Forest region of Germany for the Belcanto Opera Festival in Bad Wildbad, established in 1989 to celebrate the composer’s stay in the town. This year the festival presents productions of his early work L’equivoco stravagante and grand opera Moïse, as well as a concert performance of Zelmira, Rossini’s last opera premiered in Naples.

“We had a most enjoyable time at the festival - thank you! The productions and performers were all excellent.”

Mrs S, London

KÖNIGLICHES KURTHEATER, BAD WILDBAD

WED 25 JUL Late afternoon arrival in Stuttgart. FRI 27 JUL Today we make our way to the SAT 28 JUL Early morning at leisure. Just before Transfer by coach to Bad Herrenalb (approx. 2 picturesque spa-town of Baden-Baden. We take a noon we transfer to Bad Wildbad for lunch in a hours) to check in at the 4-star Schwarzwald walking tour of the city, passing through the pretty local restaurant, followed by a walking tour of Panorama Hotel, a spa-hotel located in the centre with its Kurhaus and Trinkhalle. We also make the town of Bad Wildbad itself. There will then town with views across the mountain landscape an exterior visit of the Festspielhaus, designed by be some free time for independent dinner before of the Black Forest, and just 45 minutes from the Viennese architect Wilhelm Holzbauer in the the final evening performance in the Trinkhalle. Bad Wildbad, where the festival takes place. mid-1990’s, and the foyer of which was built in the SUN 29 JUL Transfer to Stuttgart airport Welcome buffet dinner in the hotel. former Neo-classicist style railway station. Lunch for your homeward journey. will be served in a local restaurant before returning THU 26 JUL Join your guide to transfer to Bad to the hotel to freshen up. Transfer to Bad Wildbad Wildbad for the morning performance at the for the evening performance in the Trinkhalle. Königliches Kurtheater. After the performance we take the funicular railway to lunch in a local restaurant. Transfer back to the hotel after lunch for the afternoon and evening at leisure.

PROGRAMME FLIGHTS

26 Jul 11.15 L’EQUIVOCO STRAVAGANTE Rossini Inc British Airways D: Jochen Schönleber 25 Jul London Heathrow - Stuttgart dep: 15.40 arr: 18.20 C: José Miguel Pérez-Sierra 29 Jul Stuttgart - London Heathrow dep: 11.20 arr: 12.10 Venue: Königliches Kurtheater Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. 27 Jul 19.00 ZELMIRA Rossini Inc C: Gianluigi Gelmetti PRICE (PER PERSON) Venue: Trinkhalle Concert performance Tour price £1795 Single room supplement £180 28 Jul 19.00 MOÏSE – MOSES ET PHARON Rossini Inc Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 D: Jochen Schönleber Land-only tour price £1680 C: Fabrizio Carminati Deposit required £300 Venue: Trinkhalle Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers Casting to be confirmed in 2018. from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, three lunches, one buffet dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 5 rossini 2018

THE ROSSINI FESTIVAL IN PESARO

Price from £2180 pp

19 – 24 August Tour code: PES1 ROSSINI 2018 & NEW PRODUCTION

In 2018 the Rossini Festival presents three new productions in celebration of Pesaro’s local composer. Adina is staged in the jewel- like Teatro Rossini and Il barbiere di Siviglia and Ricciardo e Zoraide in the Adriatic Arena, the latter featuring Juan Diego Flórez and Pretty Yende in the title roles. There is also the opportunity to attend the Petite Messe Solennelle to mark the 150th anniversary of Rossini’s death.

ROSSINI IN PESARO

SUN 19 AUG Early evening arrival at Bologna airport wonderful examples of baroque architecture. Return and San Giuseppe. A farewell lunch will be served in a and transfer to Pesaro (approx. 2 hours) to check in to Pesaro for lunch in a local restaurant and the local restaurant before returning to Pesaro. Optional at the 4-star Hotel Cruiser Congress. Light welcome afternoon at leisure. Evening performance at the evening performance at the Teatro Rossini, or watch dinner in a local restaurant on arrival. Teatro Rossini. the concert from big screens in the Piazza. MON 20 AUG Join your guide this morning for a WED 22 AUG Day at leisure for independent shopping FRI 24 AUG Morning at leisure. In the afternoon walking tour of Pesaro ‘in the footsteps of Rossini’. and sightseeing. Transfer to the evening performance transfer to Bologna airport for your homeward flight. We see the Duomo which boasts uncovered mosaics at the Adriatic Arena. in its floor, and visit Rossini’s birth house where a large FLIGHTS THU 23 AUG Today we take a full-day excursion to collection of memorabilia is displayed. The afternoon British Airways Urbino, where we visit the Palazzo Ducale of the Dukes is free for independent exploration. In the evening 19 Aug London Heathrow - Bologna dep: 14.55 arr: 18.05 of Montefeltro, widely regarded as the pinnacle of 24 Aug Bologna - London Heathrow dep: 19.05 arr: 20.25 transfer to the performance at the Adriatic Arena. Renaissance architecture of the cinquecentro. The Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. TUE 21 AUG This morning we travel to Fano, an palace contains many art treasures including works

ancient town of the Marche region where we see sights by Piero della Francesca, Uccello and Botticelli. We PRICE (PER PERSON) including the Cathedral, the Augustus Arch and some continue to the adjacent churches of San Giovanni Tour price £2180 Single room supplement £375 Club Europe flight upgrade from £350 PROGRAMME Land-only tour price £2030 Deposit required £500 20 Aug 20.00 RICCIARDO E ZORAIDE Rossini Inc 22 Aug 20.00 IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA Rossini Inc D: Marshall Pynkoski D: Pier Luigi Pizzi Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers C: Giacomo Sagripanti C: Yves Abel from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, one light dinner, Cast includes: Juan Diego Florez, Cast includes: Aya Wazikono, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance Pretty Yende, Sergey Romanovsky Davide Luciano, Pietro Spagnoli, fees, best available ticket for each included performance, opera Venue: Adriatic Arena Michele Pertusi, Maxim Mironov synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local New production Venue: Adriatic Arena representative or tour manager. New production 21 Aug 20.00 ADINA Rossini Inc D: Rosetta Cucchi 23 Aug 20.30 PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE Rossini £130 À LA CARTE C: Diego Matheuz Venue: Teatro Rossini For an independent, tailor-made quotation, Cast includes: Lisette Oropesa, please contact Mark on 020 8799 8354 Vito Priante, Levy Sekgapane Tickets are on request and will not be confirmed until Venue: Teatro Rossini Spring 2018. ROSSINI FESTIVAL PESARO New production RICCIARDO E ZORAIDE Rossini Aug 11, 14, 17, 20 ADINA Rossini Aug 12, 15, 18, 21 “We've enjoyed every holiday we've taken with Travel for the Arts IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA Rossini Aug 13, 16, 19, 22 IL VIAGGIO A REIMS Rossini Aug 15, 17 and are looking forward to many more!” Mr and Mrs P, Devon PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE Rossini Aug 23

6 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com opera rossiniand ballet 2018

ROSSINI IN VENICE

Price from £2095 pp

18 – 21 October Tour code: VCE1 ROSSINI 2018 & NEW PRODUCTION

An autumn visit to Venice, a city for which Rossini had a lifelong fondness. The Teatro La Fenice marks the 150th anniversary of the composer’s death with a new production of Semiramide, his final Italian opera which premiered at La Fenice on 3 February 1823, and a revival of Il barbiere di Siviglia, now one of the composer’s most popular operas.

TEATRO LA FENICE, VENICE

THU 18 OCT Late afternoon arrival at Venice airport SAT 20 OCT Today is free for independent and transfer to the 4-star Duodo Palace Hotel, a shopping and sightseeing. Walk to the Teatro short walk from St Mark's Square and the Teatro La Fenice for the matinee performance, followed La Fenice. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant. by a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. FRI 19 OCT This morning meet your guide for a SUN 21 OCT Transfer to the airport for the walking introduction of the centre of Venice, around homeward journey. St Mark’s Square. Visit the Doge’s Palace, the symbol of Venetian power, and discover the formal rooms decorated by Tintoretto and Veronese behind the pink and white marble façade. We continue to the “The performances at La Fenice Basilica San Marco, decorated in awe-inspiring lived up to all expectations.” mosaics depicting the old and new testaments. VENICE Afternoon at leisure and evening performance. Mr N, London

ST MARK'S BASILICA PROGRAMME AT TEATRO LA FENICE FLIGHTS

19 Oct 19.00 SEMIRAMIDE Rossini Inc British Airways D: Cecilia Ligorio 18 Oct London Gatwick - Venice dep: 13.05 arr: 16.15 C: Riccardo Frizza 21 Oct Venice - London Gatwick dep: 15.15 arr: 16.30 Cast: Jessica Pratt, Teresa Iervolino, Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Alex Esposito, Edgardo Rocha, Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. Simon Lim, Silvia Frigato New production PRICE (PER PERSON) 20 Oct 15.30 IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA Rossini Inc Tour price £2095 D: Bepi Morassi Single room supplement £240 C: Gregory Kunde Club Europe flight upgrade from £300 Cast: Chiara Amarù, Francisco Brito, Land-only tour price £1930 Julian Kim, Omar Montanari, Deposit required £400 William Corrò Please note that single rooms at the hotel are single only, not double for single occupancy. Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers to and from airport and for included performances where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two dinners, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket to each included performance, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 7 wagner's ring

“I write music with an exclamation point!”

Richard Wagner

WAGNER'S RING Ring Cycles abound in 2018, with revivals of acclaimed productions in Munich, Erl, Leipzig and Sofia, and new stagings in Odense and Karlsruhe. We are delighted to be the only UK tour operator offering escorted tours to all of these destinations and hope that you will find a Cycle to suit you.

8 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG AT THE TIROLER FESTSPIELE ERL © XIOMARA BENDER wagner's ring

THE RING IN KARLSRUHE

Price from £2095 pp

4 – 13 May Tour code: KAR1 NEW DESTINATION & NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Final places are now available for our tour to the new Ring Cycle from the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, which has a distinguished Wagner performance history. Each opera in the cycle is staged by a different director, reflecting the diversity of the world today; David Hermann for Das Rheingold, Yuval Sharon for Die Walküre, Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson for Siegfried and Tobias Kratzer for Götterdämmerung. All productions are conducted by Music Director Justin Brown.

SIEGFRIED © FALK VON TRAUBENBERG

FRI 4 MAY Afternoon arrival in Frankfurt and WED 9 MAY Today we visit Strasbourg, the capital city PROGRAMME AT THE BADISCHES STAATSTHEATER transfer by coach to Karlsruhe (approx. 2.5 hours) of the former Alsace region of France. The city boasts 5 May 19.30 DAS RHEINGOLD Inc to check in at the 4-star ACHAT Plaza Hotel, a an imposing Gothic cathedral and many medieval comfortable modern hotel conveniently located churches and half-timbered houses in a blend of 6 May 16.00 DIE WALKÜRE Inc in the heart of the city, just a few minutes’ French and German influences. Lunch will be served 10 May 16.00 SIEGFRIED Inc walk from the Badisches Staatstheater. A in a local restaurant during the tour before returning 12 May 15.00 GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Wagner Inc welcome dinner will be served at the hotel. to Karlsruhe for a free evening. D: David Hermann (Das Rheingold), Yuval Sharon (Die Walküre), SAT 5 MAY This morning we take a walking tour THU 10 MAY This morning we visit Ludwigsburg Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson (Siegfried), to see the main sights of the town, including Palace, one of the largest baroque buildings in Tobias Kratzer (Götterdämmerung) C: Justin Brown Karlsruhe Palace, the City Garden, the market place Europe, and nicknamed ‘the Versailles of Swabia’! Cast includes: Nathan Berg, and the Town Hall. The tour is followed by lunch Return to Karlsruhe for some time at leisure before Jaco Venter, Peter Wedd, Heidi Melton, in a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure before the mid-afternoon performance. Erik Fenton, Renatus Meszar New production the evening performance at the Staatstheater. FRI 11 MAY Join your guide for a day tour into SUN 6 MAY Today is free for your own the picturesque Black Forest region. We begin FLIGHTS independent exploration of the city which by driving to the charming city of Baden-Baden where Lufthansa was founded in 1715 and largely rebuilt after we take a guided walking tour, and continue after 4 May London Heathrow - Frankfurt dep: 11.30 arr: 14.05 13 May Frankfurt - London Heathrow dep: 14.00 arr: 14.40 World War II. Mid-afternoon performance. lunch in a local restaurant along the scenic road Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Schwarzwaldhochstraße, one of the oldest and most Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. MON 7 MAY Today we travel outside of the city for beautiful in the Black Forest. Evening at leisure. a wine-tasting at a vineyard in the beautiful wine PRICE (PER PERSON) country surrounding Karlsruhe. Lunch will be served SAT 12 MAY The morning is free for sightseeing Tour price £2095 in a local restaurant before returning to Karlsruhe for or shopping, followed by the mid-afternoon Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 a free evening. final performance. Land-only tour price £2000 Deposit required £400 TUE 8 MAY Join your guide for a day excursion to SUN 13 MAY Transfer to Frankfurt for your afternoon Please note that single rooms at the hotel are single only, the picturesque city of Heidelberg, where we take homeward flight. not double for single occupancy. a guided walking tour and visit the Castle, via the Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, Heidelberg funicular railway. Lunch is included accommodation, breakfast daily, five lunches, one dinner, during the tour. Return to Karlsruhe for the evening sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, at leisure. restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 9 wagner's ring

THE RING IN ODENSE

Price from £2775 pp

28 May – 4 June Tour code: ODE1 NEW DESTINATION & NEW PRODUCTION

We visit the Danish city of Odense, located on the island of Funen and home of the country’s greatest composer Carl Nielsen and author Hans Christian Andersen, for a brand-new fully-staged production of Wagner’s Ring presented by the Odense Symphony Orchestra. Directed by Annechien Koerselman and conducted by Alexander Vedernikov, the cast includes Jennifer Wilson and Catherine Foster as Brünnhilde, and Torsten Kerl as Siegfried.

“Odense is a charming town, with pretty cobbled streets and quaint shops.”

Miss K, London

ODENSE

MON 28 MAY Lunchtime arrival in Copenhagen and THU 31 MAY Morning visit to nearby Egeskov Castle, artists who both together and separately had transfer by coach to Odense (approx. 1.5 hours) to check located in southern Funen. The castle was built a significant influence on Danish culture. We in at the 4-star First Grand Hotel Odense, a classical hotel by Frands Brockenhuus and completed in 1554, also see Funen Village, an open-air museum dating from 1897 and located in the heart of the city. and is today considered to be one of Europe’s best which presents the village as it was in the Welcome dinner in a local restaurant. preserved moat castles. Lunch is included within the time of Hans Christian Andersen. Lunch will tour, before returning to Odense for a free afternoon be served in a local restaurant after the tour, TUE 29 MAY Join your guide for a tour of the historical and evening. followed by the rest of the day at leisure. city, including a visit to the childhood home of Hans Christian Andersen. Afternoon at leisure. Walk FRI 1 JUN This morning we return to the Odeon for SUN 3 JUN Morning at leisure for shopping and to the Odeon Music and Theatre Hall for the first a backstage tour. The early afternoon is at leisure sightseeing, before the final mid-afternoon performance in the cycle. before the late afternoon performance. performance. WED 30 MAY Today is at leisure for independent SAT 2 JUN Today we visit the home of composer MON 4 JUN Transfer to the airport for your sightseeing around the city. Late afternoon Carl Nielsen and his wife, Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen, homeward flight. performance at the Odeon. which tells the story of two very independent

THE ODEON MUSIC AND THEATRE HALL, ODENSE PROGRAMME AT THE ODEON, ODENSE FLIGHTS

29 May 19.30 DAS RHEINGOLD Inc British Airways 28 May London Heathrow - Copenhagen dep: 09.55 arr: 12.55 30 May 17.00 DIE WALKÜRE Inc 4 Jun Copenhagen - London Heathrow dep: 16.30 arr: 17.35 1 Jun 17.00 SIEGFRIED Inc Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. 3 Jun 15.00 GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Wagner Inc D: Annechien Koerselman PRICE (PER PERSON) C: Alexander Vedernikov Tour price £2775 Cast includes: Jennifer Wilson, Single room supplement £595 Catherine Foster, Torsten Kerl, Club Europe flight upgrade from £325 Lioba Braun, Gabor Bretz, Land-only tour price £2635 Andreas Hörl Deposit required £450 New production Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

10 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com wagner's ring

“100% superb. A glorious THE RING IN SOFIA combination of great music, well performed and beautiful sites of Price from £1575 pp Bulgaria… when can I go again?”

Mr B, Buckinghamshire 4 – 11 July Tour code: SOF1 MEET THE ARTIST

We are delighted to return to the historic Bulgarian capital for the Sofia National Opera’s Ring Cycle, directed by Plamen Kartaloff and conducted by Ira Levin. This tour is completed by sightseeing excursions to view some of the most ancient and revered treasures of this vibrant land.

DIE WALKÜRE © VICTOR VICTOROV

WED 4 JUL Afternoon arrival at Sofia airport and in a local mehana/tavern with traditional Bulgarian PROGRAMME AT THE NATIONAL OPERA OF SOFIA transfer to the 5-star Hotel Arena di Serdica. Located home cuisine, before continuing to Chateaux Copsa, 5 Jul 18.00 DAS RHEINGOLD Inc in the very heart of the city, this hotel boasts a Roman a family winery in the heart of the famous Rose valley. amphitheatre in the grounds, dating back to the 3rd We will enjoy a tasting of the local wines before 6 Jul 18.00 DIE WALKÜRE Inc century AD, and is just 5 minutes’ walk from the Opera. returning to Sofia for the evening at leisure. 8 Jul 18.00 SIEGFRIED Inc Welcome dinner in a local restaurant. SUN 8 JUL Join your guide for a morning excursion 10 Jul 18.00 GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Inc THU 5 JUL Morning walking tour of Sofia, visiting the to the exquisite Rila Monastery, situated high in the Wagner D: Plamen Kartaloff St Alexander Nevsky Golden-Domed Cathedral and Rila Mountains outside Sofia. The Monastery features C: Ira Levin the St Sophia Early Christian Basilica, dating from the unsurpassed frescoes and stunning architecture in Casting to be confirmed nearer to the date of departure. 5th century. We then see the most important buildings an unspoilt setting. Lunch is included within the tour of the Parliament and the Presidential Palace, before before returning to Sofia for the afternoon at leisure. FLIGHTS arriving at the National Theatre which is built in Early evening performance. British Airways Renaissance style. Afternoon at leisure before the early 4 Jul London Heathrow - Sofia dep: 08.30 arr: 13.30 MON 9 JUL Today we set out for a full-day journey 11 Jul Sofia - London Heathrow dep: 14.35 arr: 15.55 evening performance, followed by a reception to meet to historic Plovdiv, designated European capital of Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports the artists. can be arranged on request. culture in 2019. We take a walking tour of the Old

FRI 6 JUL Today we take a brief panoramic tour of Town, seeing the Antique Amphitheatre and the PRICE (PER PERSON) the city by coach before visiting the Boyana Church, colourful 19th century houses. Lunch will be served Tour price £1575 a UNESCO World Heritage site which is renowned for in a local restaurant. We continue with a visit to the Single room supplement £315 its masterpieces of medieval Bulgarian and Christian serene Bachkovo Monastery, dating from the 11th Club Europe flight upgrade from £350 art, and the National Museum. We finish the tour with century and nestled in the foothills of the enchanting Land-only tour price £1465 Deposit required £350 lunch in a local restaurant. The afternoon is free for Rhodope Mountain. Return to Sofia for the evening Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers independent exploration, before the early evening at leisure. from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, performance at the Opera. accommodation, breakfast daily, four lunches, one dinner, two TUE 10 JUL Today is at leisure for independent wine-tastings, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, SAT 7 JUL Rendezvous with your local guide for a sightseeing and shopping. In the late afternoon walk opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our half-day trip to the colourful historical reserve and to the Opera for the final early evening performance local representative or tour manager. museum site Koprivshtitsa, in the heart of Sredna Gora in the Cycle. Mountain, known as one of the centres of the heroic WED 11 JUL Morning at leisure. In the afternoon April Uprising in 1876, and for its authentic Bulgarian transfer to Sofia airport for your journey home. architecture, bridges and wells. Lunch will be served

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THE RING IN MUNICH

Price from £3970 pp

19 – 28 July Tour code: MUC2 Join us for the Bayerische Staatsoper’s acclaimed production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle performed at the Nationaltheater in the delightful Bavarian city of Munich. Andreas Kriegenburg’s revived production will be conducted by Kirill Petrenko, and boasts a cast of esteemed Wagnerian singers, including Jonas Kaufmann as Siegmund and Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde.

THE RING © BAYERISCHE STAATSOPER / WILFRIED HÖSL

THU 19 JUL Afternoon arrival at Munich airport and TUE 24 JUL Free day for shopping and your own PROGRAMME AT THE NATIONALTHEATER check in at the 4-star Hotel Torbräu in the heart of choice of sightseeing. Late afternoon performance. 20 Jul 19.00 DAS RHEINGOLD Inc the city and only 5 minutes walk from the Bayerische WED 25 JUL Today we journey to the picturesque Staatsoper. Welcome dinner at the hotel. 22 Jul 17.00 DIE WALKÜRE Inc town of Oberammergau, home to the famous Passion FRI 20 JUL This morning meet your guide for a Play, which will next be performed in 2020. We take a 24 Jul 17.00 SIEGFRIED Inc walking tour of the Old Town around the Marienplatz guided tour of the Passion Play Theatre and there will 27 Jul 16.00 GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Wagner Inc where the town hall’s Carillion glockenspiel delights be time to visit the Museum independently. Lunch is D: Andreas Kriegenburg C: Kirill Petrenko audiences with dancing figures. We visit some of the included in a local restaurant before we continue on Cast includes: Wolfgang Koch, city’s churches, including the Frauenkirche with its to Linderhof Palace, also built by Ludwig II and the Ekaterina Gubanova, Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Kampe, Nina Stemme, Stefan Vinke, double clock-towers, followed by lunch in a local only palace which he lived to see completed. Evening Hans-Peter König, Ain Anger restaurant. Afternoon at leisure before the evening at leisure. performance at the Nationaltheater. THU 26 JUL Morning visit to the Residenz Munich, FLIGHTS SAT 21 JUL Today we make our way out of Munich to which served as the seat of government and residence British Airways 19 Jul London Heathrow - Munich dep: 12.40 arr: 15.35 visit the famous Neuschwanstein Castle which was of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 28 Jul Munich - London Heathrow dep: 12.40 arr: 13.45 built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, inspired by the to 1918. The Treasury of the Residenz displays a Flight schedules are subject to alteration. idea of rebuilding an existing ruin "in the authentic large array of jewels, enamels, crystal and ivories. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

style of the old German knights' castles", as he wrote Your ticket also provides entrance to the Cuvilliés- PRICE (PER PERSON) in a letter to Richard Wagner. Lunch will be served Theater, a Rococo gem which has recently reopened at the castle restaurant before making our way to following stunning restoration – this may be visited Tour price £3970 Single room supplement £945 Hohenschwangau Castle, where Ludwig II spent his independently in the afternoon if you wish. In the Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 childhood. Return to Munich for a free evening. evening, dinner will be served in a local restaurant – Land-only tour price £3825 Deposit required £1000 a perfect opportunity to discuss the operas so far. SUN 22 JUL Day at leisure for independent sightseeing *High deposit due to great demand for tickets, which need to be before the late afternoon performance. FRI 27 JUL A free day for your own choice of shopping paid for immediately upon confirmation. or sightseeing. Mid-afternoon performance. Tour Price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers MON 23 JUL This morning we visit Nymphenburg from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, four lunches, two dinners, Castle, a summer residence for the heir to the throne, SAT 28 JUL Morning transfer to the airport for your sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance Max Emanuel, who was born in 1662. After lunch in homeward flight. fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local a local restaurant, transfer back to Munich for the representative or tour manager. afternoon and evening at leisure.

12 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com wagner's ring

THE RING IN ERL

Price from £2095 pp

25 – 30 July Tour code: ERL1 NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Over the past 20 years, the Tiroler Festspiele Erl in Austria has become established as a pilgrimage destination for fans of Wagner from all over the world; we visit for their production of the Ring, directed and conducted by festival founder Gustav Kuhn. We stay in the picturesque fortress town of Kufstein, surrounded by meadows, woods and lakes and dominated by the mighty Kaiser mountain range. Early booking is essential for this tour.

DIE WALKÜRE AT THE TIROLER FESTSPIELE ERL © XIOMARA BENDER

WED 25 JUL Afternoon arrival in Munich and transfer GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG to Kufstein in Austria (approximately 1.5 hours by coach) to check in at the 4-star Hotel Andreas Hofer, located in the centre of Kufstein and around 15km from Erl. Welcome dinner in the hotel. THU 26 JUL Join your guide for a morning walking tour of Kufstein, visiting the historic Old Town with its charming houses including the Egger building, one of the most beautiful art nouveau style houses in the area. We also see several churches dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Afternoon at leisure and early light dinner at the hotel before transferring to Erl for the first performance in the Passionspielhaus. FRI 27 JUL This morning we visit the landmark of Kufstein, the fortress which overlooks the town. The PROGRAMME AT THE PASSIONSSPIELHAUS, ERL FLIGHTS newly renovated museums here give an insight into the history of Kufstein and its surroundings, and we 26 Jul 19.00 DAS RHEINGOLD Inc British Airways 25 Jul London Heathrow - Munich dep: 12.40 arr: 15.35 also see the Heroes organ, the largest open-air organ 27 Jul 17.00 DIE WALKÜRE Inc 30 Jul Munich - London Heathrow dep: 16.25 arr: 17.30 in the world. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant 28 Jul 17.00 SIEGFRIED Inc Flight schedules are subject to alteration. before the mid- afternoon transfer to Erl. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. 29 Jul 11.00 GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Wagner Inc

SAT 28 JUL Today we make our way to Hall, where D: Gustav Kuhn PRICE (PER PERSON) C: Gustav Kuhn we take a guided tour through the historic Old Town, Cast includes: Singers from the Accademia Tour price £2095 seeing many notable landmarks. The tour will be di Montegral Orchestra and Choral Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 Academy of the Tyrolean Festival Erl Land-only tour price £1940 followed by lunch in a local restaurant before Deposit required £400 returning to the hotel for some free time. Mid- Casting to be confirmed. Please note that tickets can only be held for a short time so early booking is essential. Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and afternoon transfer to Erl. to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, three dinners, sightseeing tours as SUN 29 JUL Morning transfer to Erl for the final described including guides and entrance fees, second category ticket for “A great production!” each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city performance in the cycle. This evening a farewell notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager. dinner will be served in a local restaurant. Mr N, London MON 30 JUL Transfer to Munich airport for your departure home.

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SPRING, SUMMER & AUTUMN FESTIVALS On the following pages we present details of our Spring visits to the opera houses of Europe, as well as our new Summer and Autumn festival tours, designed to cater to a variety of operatic tastes.

“Truly there would be reason to go mad were it not for music.”

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

14 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com OLAVINLINNA CASTLE, SAVONLINNA opera and classical music

DISCOVER TRIESTE

Price from £1460 pp

27 – 30 March Tour code: TRS1 Last places are now available for our spring visit to the extraordinary coastal town of Trieste, which lies in the far north-east of Italy between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia and was once the main seaport of the Austro- Hungarian Empire. The Teatro Verdi presents Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and a concert by the Orchestra d’Archi d’Italiana inspired by German dances, a fittingly diverse programme in this cosmopolitan melting-pot of cultures.

PALAZZO MUNICIPIO, TRIESTE

TUE 27 MAR Afternoon arrival in Venice and transfer sea. We finish the tour with a light lunch in a local PROGRAMME AT THE TEATRO VERDI, TRIESTE to Trieste by coach (approx. 2.5 hours) to check in restaurant. Afternoon at leisure and evening concert. at the 4-star deluxe Starhotels Savoia Excelsior 28 Mar 20.30 CONCERT Inc THU 29 MAR Today we take a full-day excursion to Orchestra d’Archi Italiana Palace, situated on the seafront and just 5 minutes the spectacular Castello di Miramare and the nearby C and Cello: Enrico Bronzi walk from the Teatro Verdi. A drink will be served Programme: Works by Haydn, town of Aquileia. The castle was the residence of Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven on arrival at the hotel, followed by a welcome dinner Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg and and Schönberg in a local restaurant. his wife Charlotte, and boasts rich collections of 29 Mar 20.30 LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti Inc WED 28 MAR Join your guide for a morning walking paintings, ivory and porcelain, while the stretch of D: Giulio Ciabatti C: Fabrizio Maria Carminati tour of the ancient city of Trieste, named Tergeste in water in front of the castle is a Marine Nature Reserve Cast: Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk, pre-Roman times. We begin on the hill of San Giusto for the protection of flora and fauna. Lunch will be Piero Pretti, Devid Cecconi, where we see the ruins of the Forum, the Basilica served in a local restaurant, followed by a visit to Gianluca Buratto and the Tempio. We continue to the churches of Aquileia, where we see the UNESCO listed Roman FLIGHTS Sant’Antonio Nuovo and the Serbo-Orthodox San ruins and the Patriarchal Basilica, with magnificent Spiridione, and then visit the great squares; Piazza Byzantine mosaic floors. Return to Trieste to prepare British Airways 27 Mar London Heathrow - Venice dep: 08.55 arr: 12.05 della Borsa with its magnificent neo-classical for the evening performance. 30 Mar Venice - London Heathrow dep: 13.10 arr: 14.30 Palazzo, Piazza Verdi where the Teatro Verdi can be Flight schedules are subject to alteration. FRI 30 MAR Transfer to Venice airport for your Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. seen, and Piazza Unità d’Italia which overlooks the homeward flight. PRICE (PER PERSON)

Tour Price £1460 Single room supplement £240 Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 Land-only tour price £1355 “We are delighted to bring Deposit required £350 you the opportunity to visit Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, Trieste in our first tour to breakfast daily, two lunches, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each the city for over 10 years.” included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager. Juliet Manners, Programme and Marketing Manager

CASTELLO DI MIRAMARE

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“The quality of performances at the DRESDEN Semperoper was excellent.” BELCANTO Mrs H, East Sussex DAYS

Price from £1595 pp

30 March – 3 April Tour code: DRS2 NEW PRODUCTION & NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

The Dresden Semperoper continues its themed Spring Festival series in 2018 with a programme entitled ‘Belcanto Days’. Productions of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and L’elisir d’amore are combined with Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, all performed in the magnificent Semperoper.

DRESDEN SKYLINE

FRI 30 MAR Early afternoon arrival in Berlin and worked in Dresden. The tour is subject to rehearsal PROGRAMME AT THE SEMPEROPER, DRESDEN transfer by coach to Dresden (approx. 2 hours) to schedules and will be confirmed nearer to the date 31 Mar 19.00 LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti Inc check in at the 4-star Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe, of departure. Lunch is served in a local restaurant D: Dietrich W. Hilsdorf C: Giampaolo Bisanti situated opposite the Frauenkirche and within before a free afternoon and the evening performance. Cast: Simone Piazzola, Venera Gimadieva, walking distance of the Semperoper. Welcome Edgaras Montvidas, Simeon Esper, MON 2 APR Today we take a half-day excursion to Georg Zeppenfeld, Angela Liebold, dinner at the hotel. Pillnitz Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Tom Martinsen New production SAT 31 MAR Join your guide this morning for a walking the riverside summer residence of Augustus the tour of Dresden, following in the footsteps of Richard Strong. We arrive by paddle steamer along the 1 Apr 19.00 L’ELISIR D’AMORE Donizetti Inc D: Michael Schulz C: Antonello Allemandi Wagner, Carl Maria von Weber and Johann Sebastian Elbe river to see the wonderful gardens and the Cast: Heidi Stober, Merto Sungu, Bach. We discover famous sights of the city which was architecture of the Chinese-style palace. Lunch Simon Pauly, Marco Vinco, magnificently restored after World War II. Afternoon at will be included at Pillnitz before returning to Christiane Hossfeld, Thomas Weissbach leisure and evening performance at the Semperoper. Dresden by coach for a free afternoon. Early 2 Apr 18.00 IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA Rossini Inc evening performance at the Semperoper. D: Grischa Asagaroff SUN 1 APR This morning we return to the Semperoper C: Jonathan Darlington for a guided tour of the house, particularly associated TUE 3 APR Mid-morning transfer to Berlin airport Cast includes: Merto Sungu, Enrico Marabelli, Annalisa Stroppa with Wagner, Weber and Richard Strauss, all of whom for your homeward journey. FLIGHTS

British Airways 30 Mar London Heathrow - Berlin dep: 10.50 arr: 13.40 3 Apr Berlin - London Heathrow dep: 16.45 arr: 17.45 Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

PRICE (PER PERSON) Tour price £1595 Club Europe flight upgrade from £300 Land-only tour price £1500 Deposit required £350 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide L’ELISIR D’AMORE IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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ROMAN HOLIDAY

Price from £1745 pp

11 – 15 April Tour code: ROM1 NEW PRODUCTION

The Eternal City is our destination for a memorable opera break with productions presented by the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. This tour combines the architectural wonders of Ancient Rome and the city’s Baroque treasures with two performances at the Teatro Costanzi; a double-bill of Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and Puccini’s operatic masterpiece Tosca, set in Rome and premiered at the same theatre in 1900.

THE FORUM

WED 11 APR Late afternoon arrival and transfer to the FRI 13 APR A free day for independent shopping PROGRAMME AT THE TEATRO COSTANZI, ROME 4-star Grand Hotel Palatino, located in central Rome and visits of the city’s many sights. 12 Apr 20.00 CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA/PAGLIACCI Inc near the classical monuments of the Colosseum and SAT 14 APR This morning our guided walking tour Mascagni/Leoncavallo the Forum. Welcome dinner at the hotel. D: Pippo Delbono concentrates on the architecture of Baroque Rome. C: Carlo Rizzi THU 12 APR Join your guide for a morning We see the major sights including Piazza Navona, Cast: Anita Rachvelishvili, Martina Belli, walking tour of Imperial Rome. We visit the the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Alfred Kim, George Gagnidze / Gevorg Hakobyan, Anna Malavasi (Cavalleria rusticana), vast Colosseum, the largest in the Roman Steps and the Piazza del Popolo, built as symbols of Fabio Sartori / Diego Cavazzin, Empire, which was used for gladiatorial contests Catholic power and majesty in the 17th century. The Carmela Remigio, George Gagnidze / and public spectacles. We also see the Forum, tour will end with lunch in a local restaurant and Gevorg Hakobyan, Matteo Falcier, Dionisios Sourbis (Pagliacci) Capitol Hill and Piazza Venezia. The afternoon some time at leisure. In the late afternoon transfer New production is at leisure before transferring this evening to to the theatre for the second opera performance. 14 Apr 18.00 TOSCA Puccini Inc the first performance at Teatro Costanzi. SUN 15 APR Transfer to Rome Fiumicino D: Alessandro Talevi C: Jordi Bernàcer airport for your homeward flight. Cast: Virginia Tola / Monica Zanettin, Stefano La Colla / Andeka Gorrotxategi, Fabián Veloz, Gianfranco Montresor, TOSCA BY THE TEATRO DELL'OPERA DI ROMA Domenico Colaianni, Saverio Fiore

FLIGHTS

British Airways 11 Apr London Heathrow - Rome Fiumicino dep: 14.20 arr: 17.50 15 Apr Rome Fiumicino - London Heathrow dep: 12.55 arr: 14.50 Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

PRICE (PER PERSON) Tour price £1745 Single room supplement £240 Club Europe flight upgrade from £275 Land-only tour price £1520 Deposit required £350 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, one lunch, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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SPRING BALLET IN VIENNA

Price from £1975 pp

12 – 15 April Tour code: VIE1

We visit the Imperial city of Vienna in the springtime for two ballet performances by the Vienna State Ballet. Their modern staging of Cinderella will be performed in the Volksoper, and their traditional production of Raymonda at the majestic State Opera, while our sightseeing programme focusses on the history of music and culture in the Austrian capital.

RAYMONDA

THU 12 APR Afternoon arrival in Vienna and transfer to the elegant 5-star Hotel Bristol, centrally located next to the Vienna State Opera. Welcome dinner in the hotel or a local restaurant. FRI 13 APR This morning we take a tour of Vienna ‘in the footsteps of Vienna’s famous musicians’, visiting St Stephen’s Cathedral with its distinctive multi-coloured tile roof, the Mozarthaus where the Mozart family from 1784 to 1787 (during which time he wrote the world-famous opera The Marriage of Figaro and three of the six Haydn Quartets) and the majestic State Opera and Opera Museum. A lunch will be served in a local restaurant after the tour. Afternoon at leisure before the evening VOLKSOPER, VIENNA CINDERELLA © ASHLEY TAYLOR performance in the Volksoper. SAT 14 APR Join your guide this morning to visit the Schonbrunn Palace, the former Imperial summer PROGRAMME BY THE VIENNA STATE BALLET FLIGHTS residence of the Habsburgs. The baroque palace 13 Apr CINDERELLA Inc British Airways features the authentically furnished residential and Music: Prokofiev 12 Apr London Heathrow - Vienna dep: 11.35 arr: 14.55 ceremonial rooms of the family, while the gardens Choreography: Thierry Malandain 15 Apr Vienna - London Heathrow dep: 14.15 arr: 15.45 were also laid out in baroque style. The afternoon is Venue: Volksoper Vienna Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. at leisure. Evening performance at the State Opera. 14 Apr RAYMONDA Inc Music: Glasunov SUN 15 APR Morning at leisure, before a lunchtime Choreography: Nureyev after Petipa PRICE (PER PERSON) transfer to the airport for your homeward journey. Venue: Vienna State Opera Tour price £1975 Single room supplement £270 Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 Land-only tour price £1835 “We had a fabulous time in Vienna at the Hotel Bristol - the rooms Deposit required £450 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers are beautiful, service excellent and the location couldn't be better. from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, one lunch, one dinner, sightseeing The State Opera is quite superb as were the performances.” tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, restaurant guide and city Mrs B, Essex notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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MOZART ACROSS THE BALTIC

Price from £1645 pp

27 April – 1 May Tour code: TLL1 NEW PRODUCTION

Picturesque Tallinn and modern Helsinki combine in a journey of contrasts across the Baltic Sea. The Estonian National Opera presents Le nozze di Figaro in its classical house, which celebrated its centenary in 2013. We continue to Helsinki for a production of Così fan tutte by the Finnish National Opera in their opera house, built in 1993, with its great glass wall opening out from the main foyer and overlooking Töölönlahti Bay and Hesperia Park.

HELSINKI WATERFRONT

FRI 27 APR Early evening arrival in Tallinn via MON 30 APR Join your guide for a morning tour by PROGRAMME Helsinki and transfer to the 4-star Hotel Palace. coach of Helsinki, Finland’s bustling capital city. 28 Apr 19.00 LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Inc Welcome dinner in the hotel. We will see the historical centre, Finlandia Hall D: Marco Gandini and Sibelius Park with its monument to Finland’s C: Risto Joost/Vello Pähn/Lauri Sirp SAT 28 APR Join your guide this morning for a walking greatest composer. We also visit one of the most Cast: tbc tour of the medieval Old Town, one of the best Venue: Estonian National Opera famous churches in the city, Temppeliaukio Church preserved in Northern Europe. Highlights include the which dates from 1969 and is built entirely from rock. 30 Apr 19.00 COSÌ FAN TUTTE Mozart Inc Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the 15th century Town D: Guy Joosten The tour is followed by lunch in a local restaurant. Hall, the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin and St C: Christoph Altstaedt Afternoon at leisure before transferring to the evening Cast: Marjuuka Tepponen, Catherine’s Passage lined with artisans workshops. performance at the Finnish National Opera. Erica Back, Jussi Myllys, Lunch will be served in a local restaurant before Waltteri Torikka, Suvi Väyrynen, the afternoon at leisure to explore independently. TUE 1 MAY Enjoy a free morning for last-minute Nicholas Söderlund Venue: Finnish National Opera Evening performance at the Estonian National Opera. shopping or sightseeing before transferring to the New production airport for your late afternoon homeward journey. SUN 29 APR This morning is at leisure before a midday FLIGHTS transfer to the harbour for your departure by ferry to Helsinki (approx. 2 hours). On arrival transfer to the 4-star Finnair 27 April London Heathrow - Helsinki dep: 10.20 arr: 15.15 Hotel Haven. Dinner is included in the hotel this evening. Helsinki - Tallinn dep: 16.25 arr: 17.00 1 May Helsinki - London Heathrow dep: 16.00 arr: 17.10 Flight schedules are subject to alteration. ESTONIAN NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

PRICE (PER PERSON) Tour price £1645 Single room supplement £300 Business class flight upgrade* from £415 Land-only tour price £1460 Deposit required £400 *Business class upgrade only applicable on flights London - Helsinki and Helsinki-London Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, ferry ticket in comfort class including snacks and soft drinks, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, two dinners, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has CHOPIN played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is AND OPERA simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” IN WARSAW Fryderic Chopin

Price from £1575 pp

17 – 21 May Tour code: WAW1 NEW PRODUCTION

A pilgrimage to Poland’s historic capital offers a feast of opera and music. The Polish National Opera’s performances of Puccini’s Madama Butterflyand Prokofiev’s The Fiery Angel are directed by Mariusz Treliński who is renowned for extraordinary productions combining the beauty of the music with contemporary interpretation. Our sightseeing excursions place a special emphasis on Poland’s most prolific composer, Fryderyk Chopin, and we also attend a private piano concert in one of Warsaw’s magnificent palaces.

THE CHOPIN MONUMENT IN WARSAW

THU 17 MAY Early afternoon arrival in Warsaw and Wola, where we visit Chopin’s birthplace. We then PROGRAMME transfer to the 5-star Hotel Bristol, located in the continue to Nieborów, to see its sumptuous palace 18 May PRIVATE PIANO CONCERT Inc historic city centre. Welcome dinner at the hotel. and Arkadia gardens based on classical mythology. Piano: tbc Lunch will be included in a local restaurant during Programme: Works by Chopin FRI 18 MAY Join your guide this morning for a tour the tour. Afternoon at leisure before the evening Venue: tbc tracing the life of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw. We performance at the National Opera. 19 May 17.00 MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini Inc visit the most important sights connected with the D: Mariusz Treliński composer, including the Holy Cross Church and the SUN 20 MAY Join your guide for a walking tour of the C: Piotr Staniszewski Fryderyk Chopin Museum in the beautiful Ostrogski Old Town, stunningly rebuilt and now a haven for the Cast: Karah Son, Agata Schmidt, Tadeusz Szlenkier, Castle, which illustrates his life in a collection artistic life of the city. The Royal Route is the most Tomasz Rak, Mateusz Zajdel, of correspondence, paintings and documents. beautiful avenue in Warsaw and we will visit the most Aleksandra Orlowska-Jablońska Afternoon at leisure before the evening piano concert important sites of interest here. We continue to the Venue: Warsaw National Opera in one of Warsaw’s palaces, followed by dinner. Royal Castle, the medieval residence presiding over 20 May 16.00 THE FIERY ANGEL Prokofiev Inc the beautifully restored Old Town Square. Afternoon D: Mariusz Treliński SAT 19 MAY Today we make an excursion to the C: Kazushi Ono/Bassem Akiki at leisure and early evening performance. outskirts of Warsaw, where the beauty of the Polish Cast: Scott Hendriks, Ausrine Stundyte, Andrey Popov, Agnieszka Rehlis, landscape is complemented by the charm of the old MON 21 MAY Morning transfer to the airport for your Krzysztof Bqczyk, Pavlo Tolstoy aristocratic residences. Our first stop is Zelazowa homeward flight. Venue: Warsaw National Opera New production

MADAMA BUTTERFLY FLIGHTS

British Airways 17 May London Heathrow - Warsaw dep: 14.55 arr: 18.05 21 May Warsaw - London Heathrow dep: 12.20 arr: 13.40 Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

PRICE (PER PERSON)

Tour price £1575 Single room supplement £300 Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 Land-only tour price £1485 Deposit required £350 LYO N Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, one lunch, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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RIGA OPERA FESTIVAL

Price from £1350 pp

12 - 16 June Tour code: RIX1 We return to Latvia’s capital city of Riga for its 2018 Festival programme. Performances of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, Puccini’s Turandot and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale are all presented in the jewel-like Latvian National Opera, while our sightseeing programme takes in the treasures of this picturesque city with its plethora of distinctive art nouveau architecture.

PROGRAMME AT THE LATVIAN NATIONAL OPERA 13 Jun 19.00 THE RAKE’S PROGRESS Stravinksy Inc D: Margo Zālīte HOUSE OF THE BLACKHEADS, RIGA C: Jānis Liepiņš/ Kaspars Ādamsons 14 Jun 19.00 TURANDOT Puccini Inc D: Guntis Gailītis C: Gintaras Rinkevičius/ Mārtiņš Ozoliņš

TUE 12 JUN Afternoon arrival in Riga and transfer Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the opulent palace was 15 Jun 19.00 DON PASQUALE Donizetti Inc D: Džordžo Korseti to the 4-star Wellton Centrum Hotel and Spa, located completed in two stages from 1736 to 1740 and 1763 C: Mārtiņš Ozoliņš in the historic centre, and just a few minutes’ walk to 1768. Lunch is included during the tour. Return to Tickets are on request and will not be confirmed until Spring 2018. from the main sights. Welcome dinner in the hotel Riga for the evening performance. Casting will be confirmed nearer to the date of departure. or a local restaurant. FRI 15 JUN This morning join your guide for a visit to FLIGHTS WED 13 JUN Join your guide for a morning tour of the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, one of the Riga’s Old Town, tracing the history of music in the oldest in Europe. Covering 87.66 hectares of forest on the Air Baltic 12 Jun London Gatwick - Riga dep: 10.10 arr: 14.55 city and seeing the beautiful art nouveau district. banks of Lake Jugla, the museum displays 118 historic 16 Jun Riga - London Gatwick dep: 07.40 arr: 08.40 Highlights include the Dome Cathedral, Riga Castle, St buildings from all Latvian regions dating from the 17th Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request Peter’s Church and the House of the Blackheads. At the century to the beginning of the 1930’s. The museum end of the tour there will be the opportunity to try the features the homes of the Latvian farmers, craftsmen and PRICE (PER PERSON) famous Riga Black Balsam, and lunch will be served fisherman, with permanent exhibitions of household and Tour price £1350 in a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure before your work equipment by the specific region and the owner’s Single room supplement £160 Business class flight upgrade from £300 evening performance at the Latvian National Opera. occupation. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant Land-only tour price £1195 before transferring back to the hotel for a free afternoon Deposit required £350 THU 14 JUN Today we take a tour to the baroque before the final evening performance. Tour Price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and Rundale Palace, situated outside Riga. Built as the to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, summer residence of the Duke of Courland Ernst SAT 16 JUN Transfer to the airport for your flight home. breakfast daily, three lunches, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included Johann Biron by the Italian architect Francesco performance in the dress circle, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

LATVIAN NATIONAL OPERA LATVIAN NATIONAL OPERA À LA CARTE For an independent, tailor-made quotation, please contact Mark on 020 8799 8354 RIGA OPERA FESTIVAL THE IMMURED Ešenvalds Jun 6 DAUKA Dzenitis Jun 8 THE ROSE OF TURAIDA Liepins Jun 9 VALENTINA Maskats Jun 10 THE RAKE’S PROGRESS Stravinsky Jun 13 TURANDOT Puccini Jun 14 DON PASQUALE Donizetti Jun 15 GALA CONCERT Jun 17

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ARENA DI “A truly spectacular experience!” Mr and Mrs R, Kent VERONA

Price from £1895 pp

21 – 24 June Tour code: VRN1 NEW PRODUCTION

The sheer spectacle of the Arena di Verona’s grand opera productions and the atmosphere in the crowd will live long in the memory. Our tour includes the new production of Bizet’s Carmen by Hugo de Ana, and the ‘Queen’ of the Arena’s productions, Verdi’s Aida, this year performed with Franco Zeffirelli’s stage design.

AIDA AT THE ARENA DI VERONA © ENNEVI PROGRAMME AT THE ARENA DI VERONA 22 Jun 21.00 CARMEN Bizet Inc D: Hugo de Ana C: tbc THU 21 JUN Afternoon arrival in Verona and transfer SAT 23 JUN Join your guide for an excursion to New production to the 4-star Grand Hotel des Arts, centrally located UNESCO World Heritage site Vicenza with its 23 Jun 21.00 AIDA Verdi Inc and within walking distance of the Arena. A welcome plethora of architecture by Palladio, built in the D: Franco Zeffirelli C: tbc dinner will be served in a local restaurant. classical Roman style. We see the Basilica and Loggia del Capitanato on the Piazza dei Signori, as Casting to be confirmed nearer to the date of departure. FRI 22 JUN This morning we take a walking tour of well as the Teatro Olimpico. Lunch will be served historic Verona, including the medieval and Roman FLIGHTS in a local restaurant, before returning to Verona Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori, the civic Easyjet for the evening performance at the Arena. centre of Verona. A travel pass is included which will 21 Jun London Gatwick - Verona dep: 13.15 arr: 16.20 24 Jun Verona - London Gatwick dep: 16.50 arr: 17.55 give you access to three notable churches in the city SUN 24 JUN Morning transfer to Verona Flight schedules are subject to alteration. where you can make an independent visit. Afternoon airport for your homeward journey. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request at leisure and evening performance at the Arena. PRICE (PER PERSON) Tour price £1895 Single room supplement £375 Land-only tour price £1800 Deposit required £400 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, one lunch, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

À LA CARTE For an independent, tailor-made quotation, please contact Mark on 020 8799 8354 ARENA DI VERONA CARMEN Bizet Jun 22, 29, Jul 6, 11, 17, 21, Aug 3, 9, 12, 22, 25, 28, 31 AIDA Verdi Jun 23, 28, Jul 8, 10, 14, 19, 22, 27, Aug 2, 5, 7, 11, 19, 23, 29, Sep 1 TURANDOT Puccini Jun 30, Jul 5, 13, 18, 26 NABUCCO Verdi Jul 7, 12, 20, 28, Aug 10, 18

ARENA DI VERONA ROBERTO BOLLE AND FRIENDS Jul 25 IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA Aug 4, 8, 17, 24, 30

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OPERA AT BUXTON FESTIVAL

Price from £925 pp

13 – 16 July Tour code: BUX1

MEET THE ARTIST & NEW PRODUCTION & INDEPENDENT TRAVEL

Recognised internationally as one of the UK’s leading arts festivals, Buxton Festival specialises in producing rarely-performed operas by major composers, presented in the outstandingly beautiful Matcham-designed Buxton Opera House. For 2018 our tour includes performances of Mozart’s Idomeneo and Verdi’s Alzira.

BUXTON OPERA HOUSE

FRI 13 JUL Independent arrival at the 4-star Best the eyes of Vera Brittain, the author of Testament of PROGRAMME AT BUXTON OPERA HOUSE Western Lee Wood Hotel. Set in its own mature Youth, who grew up here and spent the summer of 13 Jul 19.15 ALZIRA Verdi Inc gardens, this elegant Georgian hotel is situated only 1915 nursing wounded soldiers. The afternoon is free D: Elijah Moshinsky a few moments’ walk from the centre of the town before the evening performance, after which we will C: tbc and the Opera House. Family-owned for 55 years, the attend a ‘Meet the Artists’ drinks reception in the Old Cast includes: Kate Ladner hotel offers high quality accommodation and rosette Hall Hotel opposite the Opera House. 14 Jul 19.15 IDOMENEO Mozart Inc standard dining. Late-afternoon welcome drinks and D: tbc SUN 15 JUL Join your guide this morning to visit C: tbc canapés will be served in the hotel before we walk to Haddon Hall, one of the finest examples of a fortified Cast includes: Paul Nilon the early evening opera performance. After the opera medieval manor house in existence. We take a guided 15 Jul 19.15 CONCERT Inc we are invited onto the stage for drinks with the cast. tour of the house and the gardens before some free Programme: tbc SAT 14 JUL This morning we take a walking tour of time for independent exploration. Return to Buxton Casting and production teams will be confirmed in 2018. Buxton, seeing the major sights of this lovely spa town. for Sunday lunch served at the hotel, followed by the We join our guide to first hear about Mary Queen of afternoon at leisure. Final evening performance at ARRIVAL INFORMATION Scots who visited Buxton at least 7 times between the Opera House. Direct train services from London Euston to Macclesfield or Stockport station are available (approx. 2 hours) then either a connection to Buxton 1573 and 1584; we visit the places where the Queen MON 16 JUL Independent departure. station (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes from Macclesfield or 50 minutes from left her mark. We then experience the town through Stockport) or a taxi transfer of approx. 30 minutes. PRICE (PER PERSON) Tour price £925 Single room supplement £60 Deposit required £250 Tour price includes: Group transfers for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, welcome drinks and canapés, one lunch, two drinks receptions, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

“We loved Buxton and the operas were marvellous.”

Dr and Mrs T, Berkshire

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SAVONLINNA OPERA FESTIVAL

Price from £2270 pp

17 – 21 July Tour code: SAV1 The medieval Olavinlinna Castle once again provides an imposing and spectacular setting for Savonlinna’s annual Opera Festival, in the heart of the Finnish lakes. The tranquil atmosphere makes for a blissfully peaceful and leisurely summer holiday. This year, the festival presents performances of Verdi’s Otello, Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades and Gounod’s Faust.

“The performances at the castle were a memorable experience.”

Miss M, Kent

OLAVINLINNA CASTLE © JM

TUE 17 JUL Afternoon arrival in Helsinki and THU 19 JUL Today we travel to Heinävesi to visit lunch and a tour of the museum. In the afternoon transfer by coach to Savonlinna (approximately 4 the Valamo Monastery, centre of Orthodox religious we transfer back to Savonlinna by coach through hours). On arrival we check in at the 4-star Sokos life and culture. After a guided tour, we adjourn to the scenic conservation area of Punkaharju Nature Hotel Seurahone in the centre of Savonlinna, the adjacent vineyard for a taste of the local wine. Reserve. Evening performance at Olavinlinna Castle, within a few minutes walk of the castle and the Lunch will be served in a local restaurant before followed by a farewell dinner in the castle restaurant. quayside. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant. transferring back to Savonlinna. On the way back we SAT 21 JUL Transfer to Savonlinna airport for your will visit Kerimäki church, the largest wooden church WED 18 JUL Join your guide for a morning tour of homeward journey via Helsinki. in the world. Evening performance at the castle. Savonlinna, including a tour of Olavinlinna Castle. We are taken backstage for an insight into the FRI 20 JUL This morning we depart by steamer for intricacies of staging an opera in a medieval castle. Punkaharju, one of Finland’s best known beauty Afternoon at leisure before the evening performance. spots. We transfer to Lusto Forestry Museum for

PROGRAMME AT OLAVINLINNA CASTLE FLIGHTS 18 Jul 19.00 OTELLO Verdi Inc Finnair D: Nadine Duffaut 17 Jul London Heathrow - Helsinki dep: 10.20 arr: 15.15 C: Hannu Lintu 21 Jul Savonlinna - Helsinki dep: 14.05 arr: 15.10 Cast includes: Aleksandrs Antonenko, Helsinki - London Heathrow dep: 16.00 arr: 17.10 Alexey Markov, Tuomas Katajala, Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Joska Lehtinen, Pauliina Linnosaari Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

19 Jul 19.00 THE QUEEN OF SPADES Tchaikovsky Inc PRICE (PER PERSON) D: Jere Erkkilä C: Alexander Vedernikov Tour Price £2270 Cast includes: Misha Didyk, Kiril Manolov, Single room supplement £340 Konstantin Shushakov, Business class flight upgrade from £275 Ilkka Hämäläinen, Koit Soasepp, Land-only tour price £2060 Elena Zaremba, Elena Guseva Deposit required £450 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers 20 Jul 19.00 FAUST Gounod Inc from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, D: Vilppu Kiljunen accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, two dinners, C: Philippe Auguin sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance Cast: Tuomas Pursio, Tuuli Takala, fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera Ville Rusanen, Jussi Merikanto, synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local Erica Back, Tiina Penttinen representative or tour manager. OTELLO Please note: Olavinlinna Castle has many steps and uneven surfaces, so may not be suitable for anyone unsteady on their feet.

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DORSET OPERA FESTIVAL

Price from £995 pp

25 – 28 July Tour code: DOR1

NEW PRODUCTION & INDEPENDENT TRAVEL

We return to the Dorset Opera Festival, which this year includes performances of Puccini’s La bohème directed by John Copley and the British Stage premiere of Massenet’s Le Cid, both performed in the stand-alone Coade Theatre at Bryanston, which is set amid 400 acres of glorious Dorset countryside. Our tour is based in the picturesque town of Sherborne and includes plenty of time for individual exploration.

BRYANSTON HOUSE

WED 25 JUL Independent arrival at the 3-star superior FRI 27 JUL Today is at leisure for you to make your PROGRAMME AT BRYANSTON, BLANDFORD FORUM Eastbury Hotel, a boutique Town House Hotel, located own choice of activity. We highly recommend a 26 Jul 19.00 LE CID Massenet Inc in the heart of Sherborne and boasting an award- visit to Sherborne Old Castle, an English Heritage D: Christopher Cowell winning restaurant. Welcome dinner in the hotel. property located 400m from the hotel. Built in the C: Jeremy Carnall 12th century, it was a Royalist base during the Civil THU 26 JUL Join your guide this morning for a walking 27 Jul 19.00 LA BOHÈME Puccini Inc War before falling to Cromwell’s troops in 1645. D: John Copley tour of historic Sherborne, in which much of the old Alternatively Sherborne New Castle is 15-20 minutes’ C: Jeremy Carnall town, including the abbey and many medieval and walk from the hotel and owned by the Wingfield Casting to be confirmed in 2018. Georgian buildings, is built from the distinctive ochre- Digby family. In the late afternoon we transfer to coloured Ham stone. Our tour will include important Bryanston for the festival dinner served before and ARRIVAL INFORMATION sights such as the St John’s Almhouse and Sherborne during the interval of the evening performance. Abbey, where we will take a guided visit. Early Hourly direct services from London Waterloo to Sherborne station are available (approx. 2.25 hours) then a 5-minute taxi transfer. afternoon at leisure before transferring to Bryanston. SAT 28 JUL Independent departure.

On arrival enjoy a luxury picnic supper in the Festival PRICE (PER PERSON) marquee. Evening performance. Tour price £995 Single room supplement £180 Deposit required £250 SHERBORNE ABBEY SHERBORNE NEW CASTLE Tour price includes: Group transfers for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two dinners, one picnic dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

À LA CARTE For an independent, tailor-made quotation, please contact Mark on 020 8799 8354 DORSET OPERA FESTIVAL LE CID Massenet Jul 24, 26, 28 (m) LA BOHÈME Puccini Jul 25, 27, 28

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OPÉRA DE BAUGÉ

Price from £2040 pp

1 – 5 August Tour code: BAU1

NEW DESTINATION & BY RAIL

Opéra de Baugé was founded in 2002 by John and Bernadette Grimmett in the grounds of their home, Les Capucins in Baugé-en-Anjou in the Loire Valley. The festival has made it their mission to support undiscovered singers of great talent, and many now well-known singers and musicians made their operatic debuts there, including Sophie Bevan and Jimin Park. Our tour includes traditional performances of Mozart’s Idomeneo, Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers and Verdi’s Rigoletto, as well as the chance to explore this beautiful region of France.

OPERA DE BAUGÉ © JOHN GRIMMETT

WED 1 AUG Early afternoon arrival by Eurostar in FRI 3 AUG Today we make a walking tour of the town SAT 4 AUG Join your guide this morning to visit the Paris, continuing on to Angers Saint Laud in the of Saumur, before driving on to Fontevraud Abbey, medieval town of Chinon, where we stroll along the mid-afternoon. We transfer to Saumur to check in where we take a guided tour. The UNESCO World quaint streets and enjoy the view from the fortress. at the 4-star Hotel Anne d’Anjou, in the heart of the Heritage Abbey was founded in 1101 by iconoclastic We continue on to visit an organic wine estate in city, overlooking the river. Welcome dinner in a preacher and visionary, Robert d’Arbrisse and houses Bourgueil where lunch will be served, together with local restaurant. the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine, her husband Henry paired wine tasting and explanation. After lunch we II and their son Richard the Lionheart, which can transfer back to the hotel for a chance to freshen THU 2 AUG Morning at leisure for your own be seen in the Abbey Church. Return to the hotel to up before transferring to Baugé for the evening independent exploration and relaxation. In the early some free time before transferring to Baugé (approx. performance and dinner served in the festival’s afternoon we transfer to Baugé for a guided tour of 40 mins by coach) for the optional early evening restaurant. the Château de Baugé and the 17th century castle, performance, with dinner served during the interval before arriving at Les Capucins for the early evening SUN 5 AUG Transfer to the train station for your in the restaurant. performance. During the interval we take dinner homeward journey. served in the festival restaurant.

PROGRAMME AT OPÉRA DE BAUGÉ RAIL 2 Aug 18.00 ORPHÉE AUX ENFERS Offenbach Inc Eurostar D: Bernadette Grimmett 1 Aug London St Pancras - Paris Gare du Nord dep: 09.24 arr: 12.56 C: Nicolas Bercet Paris Montparnasse - Angers Saint Laud dep : 14.54 arr:16.25 Cast: Jean-Pascal Heynemand, 5 Aug Angers Saint Laud - Paris Montparnasse dep : 12.09 arr:13.40 Aurélia Jonvaux, Latana Phoung, Paris Gare du Nord - London St Pancras dep: 15.13 arr: 16.39 Xavier Truong Fallai Rail schedules are subject to alteration. If more convenient, flights from your local airport may be arranged on request. 3 Aug 18.00 IDOMENEO Mozart £65 D: Bernadette Grimmett C: Konstantinos Diminakis PRICE (PER PERSON) Cast: Shaun Dixon, Théo Imart, Tour Price £2040 Masayo Tago, Stephanie Edwards, Single room supplement £380 Alexander Pidgen, Denis Sedov Business Premier supplement from £350 Land-only tour price £1970 4 Aug 18.00 RIGOLETTO Verdi Inc Deposit required £400 D: Bernadette Grimmett C: Philip Hesketh Tour price includes: Rail travel, group transfers from and to airport Cast: Grant Doyle, Carleen Ebbs, and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, Denis Sedov, Monika-Evelin Liiv, breakfast daily, one lunch with wine-tasting, three dinners, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, Antoine Salmon, Latana Phoung, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses , CHÂTEAU DE BAUGÉ © CAROL SAVAGE Alexander Pidgen, Stephen Kennedy, the services of our local representative or tour manager. James Rock

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THE PUCCINI FESTIVAL

Price from £1930 pp

9 – 13 August Tour code: TDL1 The Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago is a fixture in our summer opera programme, offering a tranquil break in Tuscany. Performances this year include Madama Butterfly, Il trittico and Tosca in the open-air theatre on picturesque Lake Massaciuccoli, while our sightseeing programme offers an insight into the life of Puccini by the lake.

TOSCA

THE LAKESIDE THEATRE AT TORRE DEL LAGO

PROGRAMME AT THE PUCCINI FESTIVAL 10 Aug MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini £145 THU 9 AUG Afternoon arrival in Pisa and transfer to SAT 11 AUG Day at leisure for independent 11 Aug IL TRITTICO Puccini Inc Lucca to check in at the 4-star Palazzo Alexander sightseeing and shopping; we recommmend the Hotel, built within the beautiful Renaissance walls of local market which is held on Saturdays. In the 12 Aug TOSCA Puccini £145 the town, which is the birthplace of Puccini, and just late afternoon we transfer to Torre del Lago to visit Two performances are included within the tour price. 40 minutes from Torre del Lago where the festival Puccini’s villa on the shore of Lake Massaciuccoli. Production teams and casting to be confirmed. takes place. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant. This will be followed by dinner in a local restaurant FLIGHTS before this evening’s performance. FRI 10 AUG Morning walking tour of Lucca, its British Airways charming churches, palaces and streets built within SUN 12 AUG Join your guide this morning for a half- 9 Aug London Gatwick - Pisa dep: 11.25 arr: 14.35 Renaissance city walls. We visit the Piazza Anfiteatro, day tour to two of the most beautiful villas in the area; 13 Aug Pisa - London Gatwick dep: 15.30 arr: 16.45 Flight schedules are subject to alteration. constructed on the site of a Roman theatre, and visit the Villa Reale di Marlia and the Villa Torrigiani where Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. the 13th century Duomo and the Pisan Romanesque we take guided visits of the interiors and gardens. church of San Michele in Foro with an eccentric façade We continue to a farmhouse for lunch and the PRICE (PER PERSON) of twisted columns. The tour will be followed by opportunity to taste the local wine. Return to Lucca Tour price £1930 lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure before for a free afternoon. Transfer to Torre del Lago for the Single room supplement £240 Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 transferring to the optional evening performance at optional evening performance. Land-only tour price £1735 the Puccini Festival’s lakeside theatre. Deposit required £350 MON 13 AUG Transfer to Pisa airport for your Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers homeward journey. from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, two dinners, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, VILLA TORRIGIANI first category ticket for each included performance, restaurant guide and city notes, opera synopses, the services of our local “I had a wonderful time in representative or tour manager.

Tuscany, and thoroughly enjoyed À LA CARTE the performances of some of my For an independent, tailor-made quotation, favourite Puccini operas.” please contact Mark on 020 8799 8354 PUCCINI FESTIVAL Miss F, Surrey TURANDOT Puccini Jul 14, 21, 28, Aug 17 TOSCA Puccini Jul 15, Aug 4, 12 MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini Jul 20, Aug 10, 18 MANBON LESCAUT Puccini Jul 26 LA BOHÈME Puccini Jul 27, Aug 3 IL TRITTICO Puccini Aug 11, 25

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DISCOVER MONTENEGRO

Price from £1750 pp

21 – 25 August Tour code: TIV1

NEW DESTINATION

Mountainous scenery, shimmering water and memorable music combine in this new trip to the fascinating country of Montenegro. We take an overview of some of the country’s highlights, while attending performances of the Operosa Festival in Herceg Novi; the Opening Gala Concert at the Forte Mare fortress and a production of Bizet’s Carmen in the in the Kanli Kula Fortress Amphitheater, played against the stunning backdrop of the Adriatic Sea.

BOKA BAY, MONTENEGRO

TUE 21 AUG Morning arrival in Dubrovnik, and FRI 24 AUG Today we journey to the seaside town of PROGRAMME AT THE OPEROSA FESTIVAL transfer to Tivat in Montenegro (approx. 1 hour 45 Budva, seeing the Old Town which is rich in churches 22 Aug CLASSICAL CONCERT Inc minutes by coach). We check in at the luxurious and historical monuments. There will be some free Programme: Classical and opera works tbc 5-star Regent Porto Montenegro Hotel, nestled on time for shopping and an independent lunch, before Venue: Forte Mare Fortress, Herceg Novi the shores of the UNESCO protected Boka Bay, or the we continue for a photo stop of the famous island 24 Aug CARMEN Bizet Inc 4-star Hotel Palma, with beautiful views of the bay. Sveti Stefan. Return to the hotel for a free afternoon. Venue: Kanli Kula Amphitheater, Herceg Novi Welcome dinner in the hotel or a local restaurant. Early evening transfer to Herceg Novi for the Casting to be confirmed in Spring 2018. performance in the Kanli Kula Amphitheater. WED 22 AUG Join your guide this morning to drive along Kotor Bay to the small fishing village of SAT 25 AUG Transfer to Dubrovnik airport for your FLIGHTS Perast, which houses narrow streets and abandoned homeward flight. British Airways palaces. Here we visit the island of Our Lady of the 21 Aug London Gatwick - Dubrovnik dep: 07.15 arr: 11.00 25 Aug Dubrovnik - London Gatwick dep: 13.20 arr: 15.10 Rocks, with its church built in 1630, before continuing Flight schedules are subject to alteration. on to the Old Town of Kotor, where we wander the Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. picturesque streets and visit St Tryphon’s Cathedral. KOTOR

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant, before PRICE (PER PERSON) returning to the hotel for the afternoon at leisure. Tour price (4-star Hotel Palma) £1750 In the early evening we transfer to Herceg Novi for Single room supplement £280 Tour price (5-star Regent Porto Montenegro Hotel) £1995 the first performance of the Operosa Festival in the Single room supplement £840 Forte Mare Fortress, built between the 14th and 17th Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 centuries and located on the coast. Land-only discount £220 Deposit required £400 THU 23 AUG This morning we travel to the Tour Price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and capital city of Cetinje, where we visit St Nikola’s to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described Museum, a treasure of Montenegrin cultural and including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services historical heritage. We then transfer to Lovćen of our local representative or tour manager. National Park for lunch, followed by panoramic sightseeing by bus of the park’s diversity of flora and fauna, and a visit to the Mausoleum “I have enjoyed many of your tours, of Montenegrin ruler and poet Petar II Petrovic especially those to new destinations.” Njegos. Return to Tivat for the evening at leisure. Mr F, Somerset

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SALZBURG FESTIVAL

Price from £2940 pp

24 – 30 August Tour code: SZG2

NEW PRODUCTION

The ever-beautiful baroque city of Salzburg offers world-class performances by the finest artists in its world-renowned Summer Festival. Our programme for 2018 includes the new productions of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades and Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, a concert performance of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs des Perles with Aida Garifullina and Plácido Domingo, and concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic and Daniel Barenboim.

SALZBURG FESTIVAL QUARTER

FRI 24 AUG Morning arrival in Salzburg and transfer by MON 27 AUG Today we journey from Salzburg into the rehearsal schedules. Afternoon at leisure and early coach to check in at either the luxurious 5-star Hotel scenic Salzkammergut, the Alpine region of lakes and evening performance. Bristol or the comfortable 4-star Hotel NH Salzburg mountains to the east of the city, which has inspired WED 29 AUG Join your guide this morning for a City, both located in the centre. Welcome dinner in a many an operetta melody. We arrive at Mondsee to visit to the 17th century Hellbrunn Palace outside local restaurant. visit Basilica St Michael, and continue to Attersee Salzburg. This summer palace, built by Italian where we see Gustav Mahler’s cottage and where SAT 25 AUG Join your guide this morning for a walking architect Santino Solari, includes a beautiful park lunch will be served. Finally we take a guided tour tour to visit highlights of Salzburg’s musical history, with water features. Return to Salzburg for a free of the Klimt Center in Kammer before returning to including the Mozarteum, the Landestheater, the afternoon. Early evening performance followed by Salzburg for the evening performance. Mirabell Palace and the Cathedral. Afternoon at a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. leisure and evening performance. TUE 28 AUG This morning there will be a backstage THU 30 AUG Day at leisure before the early evening tour of the festival houses; the Festival Hall, the SUN 26 AUG This morning is free for independent transfer to the airport for your flight home. Haus für Mozart and the Felsenreitschule, subject to exploration of the city. Mid-afternoon performance.

PROGRAMME AT THE SALZBURG FESTIVAL FLIGHTS 25 Aug 19.00 THE QUEEN OF SPADES Tchaikovsky Inc 28 Aug 18.30 L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA Inc British Airways D: Hans Neuenfels C: Mariss Jansons Monteverdi 24 Aug London Gatwick - Salzburg dep: 07.45 arr: 10.45 Cast: Brandon Jovanovich, C: William Christie 30 Aug Salzburg - London Gatwick dep: 21.10 arr: 22.10 Vladislav Sulimsky, Igor Golovatenko, Cast: Sonya Yoncheva, Kate Lindsey, Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Evgenia Muraveva, Oksana Volkova, Stéphanie d’Oustrac, Carlo Vistoli, Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. Hanna Schwarz, Stanislav Trofimov, Renato Dolcini, Ana Quintans, Venue: Grosses Festspielhaus Marcel Beekman, Dominique Visse, PRICE (PER PERSON) New production Lea Desandre, Alessandro Fisher, Davic Webb, Virgile Ancely Tour price (4-star Hotel NH) £2940 26 Aug 15.00 LES PÊCHEURS DE PERLES Bizet Inc Venue: Haus für Mozart Single room supplement £570 C: Patrick Fournillier New production Tour price (5-star Hotel Bristol) £3525 Cast: Aida Garifullina, Javier Camarena, Single room supplement £690 Plácido Domingo, Stanislav Trofimov 29 Aug 18.00 CHAMBER CONCERT Inc Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 Venue: Grosses Festspielhaus Piano: Daniel Barenboim Land-only discount £230 Concert performance Violin: Michael Barenboim Deposit required £1000 Cello: Kian Soltani 27 Aug 21.00 BERLIN PHILHARMONIC Inc Programme: Beethoven Piano Trio in G, *High deposit due to great demand for tickets. Deposits will only C: Kirill Petrenko Piano: Yuja Wang Op. 1/2, Piano Trio in E flat, Op. 70/2, be refunded if we are unsuccessful in obtaining tickets for our included performances. Programme: Dukas La Péri – Piano Trio in B flat, Op. 97 – “Archduke” Poème dansé. Fanfare and ballet music, Venue: Mozarteum Tour Price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and Prokofiev Concerto for Piano and Orchestra to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, No. 3 in C, Op. 26, Schmidt Symphony Tickets are on request and will not be confirmed until Spring 2018. breakfast daily, one lunch, two dinners, sightseeing tours as described No. 4 in C including guides and entrance fees, first or second category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city Venue: Grosses Festspielhaus notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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THE VERDI FESTIVAL IN PARMA

Price from £1995 pp

2 – 6 October Tour code: PMF1 NEW PRODUCTION

This ever-popular festival in the charming city of Parma celebrates the works of its local composer Giuseppe Verdi. The 2018 programme includes performances in the opulent Teatro Regio and the more intimate Teatro Verdi in Busseto; Un giorno di Regno, Le trouvère and Macbeth.

BUSSETO

TUE 2 OCT Early evening arrival in Bologna, and Casa Barezzi, home to Verdi’s patron and father- PROGRAMME transfer by coach to Parma (approx. 1 hour). Check in in-law Antonio Barezzi, and where he gave his first 3 Oct 20.00 UN GIORNO DI REGNO Verdi £195 at the officially rated 5-star Hotel de la Ville, close to public performance in 1830. While in Busseto we also the centre of the city. Welcome dinner in the hotel. see the Teatro Verdi, built in his honour and opened 4 Oct 20.00 LE TROUVÈRE Verdi Inc New production in 1868. There will then be an opportunity to taste WED 3 OCT Join your guide for a walking tour the local culatello ham, followed by lunch in a local 5 Oct 20.00 MACBETH Verdi Inc of Parma, during which we visit the beautiful New production restaurant. Return to Parma for a free afternoon and Romanesque Duomo and the graceful octagonal the evening performance. Production teams and casting will be confirmed in Baptistry in rose-coloured marble, containing late- Spring 2018. Renaissance frescoes by Correggio. We continue FRI 5 OCT This morning there may be the possibility to the Camera di San Paolo, a room in the former to take a backstage tour of the Teatro Regio if FLIGHTS Convent of San Paolo which contains a masterpiece rehearsal schedules permit. The visit is followed by British Airways of fresco work by Correggio. Optional evening a farewell lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon at 2 Oct London Heathrow - Bologna dep: 14.55 arr: 18.05 6 Oct Bologna - London Heathrow dep: 12.20 arr: 13.40 performance. leisure for independent sightseeing and shopping Flight schedules are subject to alteration. and final evening performance. THU 4 OCT Today we travel to the nearby town of Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

Roncole to see Verdi’s birthplace, a humble tavern- SAT 6 OCT Transfer to Bologna for the homeward PRICE (PER PERSON) residence. We then continue on to Busseto to visit the flight. Tour Price £1995 Single room supplement £200 Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 Land-only tour price £1845 Deposit required £350 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, one dinner, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, first category ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

“A really interesting tour.”

Mr and Mrs B, Yorkshire

PARMA CATHEDRAL AND BAPTISTRY TEATRO REGIO, PARMA

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WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA

Price from £1595 pp

1 – 5 November Tour code: WEX2 NEW PRODUCTION

The annual autumn opera festival in Wexford is renowned for its fascinating programme of little performed operas, and is a key event in the opera-lover’s diary. This year the refurbished Theatre Royal presents Gounod’s Faust, Bolcom’s Dinner at Eight and a double-bill of Saint-Saëns’ La Princesse jaune and Leoni’s L’oracolo. There may also be the opportunity to attend the festival’s pre-performance talks.

WEXFORD FESTIVAL AUDIENCE

THU 1 NOV Afternoon arrival in Dublin and transfer to Ages. Several medieval structures, including the “This was my 4th holiday with you, Wexford by coach (approx. 2 hours) to check in at the unforgettable Chorister's Hall, are integrated within. traditional-style 4-star Talbot Hotel overlooking the We also take a tour of the Bishop’s Palace before and every time the organisation quay front in the town centre. A welcome drink and lunch which will be served in a local restaurant. and care has been excellent.” canapes will be served at the hotel. Return to Wexford for some free time and the evening performance. Mrs S, Somerset FRI 2 NOV This morning meet your guide for a walking tour of Wexford. The town’s inhabitants have SUN 4 NOV Join your guide for a visit to nearby New PROGRAMME AT THE NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE included Celtic tribes, Norman knights and Oliver Ross, where we visit the Ros Tapestries, which have Cromwell’s army, and in more peaceful times it has been created by teams of embroiderers around 2 Nov 20.00 LA PRINCESSE JAUNE/L’ORACOLO Inc Saint-Saëns/Leoni been a prosperous port town. Welcome lunch in a Wexford and Kilkenny since 1998, and which depict local restaurant, followed by an afternoon at leisure. events around the Anglo-Norman arrival in the 3 Nov 20.00 DINNER AT EIGHT Bolcom Inc There is the chance to attend a pre-performance talk South-East of Ireland. Return to Wexford for a free 4 Nov 20.00 FAUST Gounod Inc before the evening performance at the Opera House. afternoon before the optional pre-opera talk and Casting and production teams will be confirmed in Spring evening performance at the Opera House. 2018. Tickets are on request and will not be confirmed until SAT 3 NOV Today we take a journey to nearby Spring 2018. Waterford. We visit the Medieval Museum, which MON 5 NOV Check out and transfer to Dublin airport recreates life as it was in the city during the Middle for your homeward flight. FLIGHTS British Airways WEXFORD SKYLINE © ROS KAVANAGH 1 Nov London Heathrow - Dublin dep: 13.20 arr: 14.45 5 Nov Dublin - London Heathrow dep: 15.30 arr: 16.50 Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.

PRICE (PER PERSON) Tour Price £1595 Single room supplement £200 Club Europe flight upgrade from £200 Land-only tour price £1530 Deposit required £350 Tour price includes: Flights and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, welcome drink and canapes, two lunches, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, best available ticket for each included performance, opera synopses, restaurant guide and city notes, the services of our local representative or tour manager.

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THE SOMME – TRAVEL FOR THE ARTS DO NOT FORGET ME QUITE in association with Price from £1595 pp CARPENTER HOLIDAYS Over the past two years, Travel for the Arts has enjoyed a fruitful 17 – 21 May Tour code: SOM1 collaboration with Stephen Carpenter who has led holidays to the Lake District Summer Music Festival, the Whittington Festival, Oxford A CARPENTER HOLIDAY & BY RAIL Lieder and his ‘Mendelssohn in Scotland’ tour. We are delighted “Do not forget me quite” is a touching quote from a to announce three new holidays for 2018, details of which can be poem that Ivor Gurney wrote whilst in the trenches. One found here, and on the websites www.travelforthearts.com and hundred years on from the end for the First World War, this www.carpenterholidays.com. These holidays will be arranged and holiday combines visits to some of the most important battlefields and memorials of the Somme as well as giving led by Stephen Carpenter in association with Travel for the Arts an insight into the lives of the English composers who and will be fully covered by our ABTA and ATOL membership. served on the front including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Ivor Gurney, Arthur Bliss and George Butterworth. We also plan Welcome to to visit Opéra de Lille for a performance of Verdi’s Nabucco. CARPENTER HOLIDAYS I hope that you will enjoy browsing through the details of the holidays to the Somme, Schwarzenberg and Klosters, and that you will be tempted to join these tours of some of the most attractive and historic areas of Europe. I visited all these destinations last year and can attest to the beauty and, in the case of the Somme, poignancy, of each location and I look forward THIEPVAL MONUMENT © STEPHEN CARPENTER to sharing these experiences with you in 2018. Please visit my website www.carpenterholidays.com for details of all my trips.

Stephen Carpenter Director, Carpenter Holidays MENIN GATE, YPRES

“I shall be looking out for your offerings next year, and know that anything you do will be THU 17 MAY Depart by Eurostar to Lille and transfer to Gosnay near well organised and very enjoyable.” Béthune where we check in to the 4-star La Chartreuse Hotel. Welcome introduction and dinner at the hotel. Mrs J P, October 2016, Oxford Lieder FRI 18 MAY Morning talk on Ralph Vaughan Williams and the First World War and its impact on his music, with performances on record “Thanks again for organising such an enjoyable visit.” of The Pastoral Symphony and Along the Field. Lunch at the hotel is followed by a visit to Écoivres, Mont St Eloi and Vimy Ridge. Return Mr L, May 2017, Whittington Festival to hotel for dinner. SAT 19 MAY Morning talk on Arthur Bliss and George Butterworth in “Scotland and the Lake District are among the best the First World War. After lunch at the hotel, we transfer to Lille where holidays I’ve ever had and I do hope that there will we will have a 2-hour guided walking tour of the city, followed by a be many more to come in the future!” performance of Verdi’s Nabucco at Opéra de Lille. Return to the hotel after the performance for a late-night supper. Miss D, August 2017, Mendelssohn in Scotland and Lake District

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SUN 20 MAY Depart from the hotel in the morning and PROGRAMME AT THE OPÉRA DE LILLE RAIL travel to Ypres to visit the Flanders Field Museum, and 19 May 18h.00 NABUCCO Verdi Inc 17 May London St Pancras - Lille dep: 10.58 arr: 13.26 lunch under your own arrangements, followed by a D: Marie-Eve Signeyrole 21 May Lille - London St Pancras dep: 20.30 arr: 21.03 guided visit to the Ypres Salient including the tunnels C: Roberto Rizzi Brignoli Rail schedules are subject to alteration. If more convenient, and mines at Hill 60 and the Caterpillar crater and the Cast: Nikoloz Lagvilava flights from your local airport can be arranged on request. Elizabeth Williams famous Christmas truce site. After dinner together in Simon Lim PRICE (PER PERSON) a local restaurant, we will experience the daily “Last Robert Watson Post” ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres before Victoria Fenena Tour price £1595 François Rougeir Single room supplement £190 returning to the hotel. Jennifer Courcier Business Premier supplement from £200 Alessandro Spina Land-only tour price £1525 MON 21 MAY Depart from the hotel in the morning Deposit required £350 for the Thiepval Memorial, followed by a visit to Tickets are on request and will not be confirmed until Spring 2018. Tour price includes: Rail travel, group transfers from and to station and for Albert to see the First World War Museum and have all included activities where applicable, accommodation, breakfast daily, two lunches, four dinners, sightseeing tours as described, best available lunch under your own arrangements. In the afternoon ticket for each included performance, the services of Stephen Carpenter we will continue to Arras where we will have a couple as tour manager. of hours to explore the town. Travel on to Lille for an independent dinner before catching the Eurostar back to London.

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SCHUBERTIADE IN SCHWARZENBERG

Price from £2345 pp

26 June – 1 July Tour code: SCH1 A CARPENTER HOLIDAY

Schwarzenberg, the small Austrian town nestling in the picturesque Bregenzewald in the hinterland of Lake Constance, is the idyllic setting for this annual chamber music festival featuring the songs of Schubert and much else besides. As well as enjoying a range of concerts by some of the world’s leading artists, including Marlis Petersen, Paul Lewis and Ian Bostridge, we will explore the area with sightseeing trips to Lindau and Bregenz and a visit to the Schubert Museum in Hohenems.

ANGELIKA KAUFMANN HALL, SCHWARZENBERG © STEPHEN CARPENTER

TUE 26 JUN Afternoon arrival in Zurich and transfer THU 28 JUN Join your guide this morning to visit conductors and artists with whom he worked during by coach to Dornbirn (approximately 1.5 hours) Lindau. We take a walking tour of this island-city, his time as record producer for EMI. In the afternoon to check into the 4-star Four Points by Sheraton cruise across Lake Constance to Bregenz and return transfer to Schwarzenberg for a recital by Marc-André Panorama Hotel. Dinner at the hotel. to the hotel by coach. Transfer to Schwarzenberg for Hamelin, dinner and the evening concert. the afternoon concert by the Elias Quartet and Paul WED 27 JUN This morning is free for independent SAT 30 JUN We spend the day in Schwarzenberg, for Lewis, and an evening recital by Ian Bostridge with exploration of Dornbirn. We then take a cable car three concerts at the festival. We visit Mellau for an dinner in between. ride for lunch at the Panorama Restaurant which independent lunch, and dinner this evening will be boasts spectacular views over Dornbirn to Lake FRI 29 JUN Today we visit Hohenems, and the served in the festival restaurant. Constance. After lunch we transfer to Schwarzenberg Schubert, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Walter Legge SUN 1 JUL Transfer to Schwarzenberg this morning for the afternoon and evening concerts. Dinner Museums, the latter containing many interesting for the final concert. In the afternoon we make our will be served at the festival restaurant in between letters between Legge and several of the leading way to Zurich for the homeward flight. the performances.

PROGRAMME AT THE SCHUBERTIADE All concerts in the Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal 29 Jun 20.00 RECITAL Inc 1 Jul 11.00 CONCERT Inc Piano: Igor Levit Violin: Ning Feng Piano: Igor Levit 27 Jun 16.00 CONCERT Inc Viola: Volker Jacobsen Violin: Ning Feng Renaud Capuçon and Friends Cello: Isang Enders Cello: Daniel Müller-Schott Programme: Brahms String Quintet in F, Programme: Brahms Piano Quintet in Programme: Schubert Piano Trio in Op 88, Brahms String Quintet in G, Op 111 G minor, Op 25 B flat D 898 27 Jun 20.00 RECITAL Inc Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor, Op 60 Schubert Piano Trio in E flat D 929 Soprano: Marlis Petersen Brahms Piano Quartet in A, Op 26 Piano: Camillo Radicke 30 Jun 11.00 CONCERT Inc FLIGHTS

Programme: Schubert Songs Tobias Feldman and Friends British Airways 28 Jun 16.00 CONCERT: ELIAS QUARTET Inc Programme: Schubert Piano Trio in 26 Jun London Heathrow - Zurich dep: 12.15 arr: 15.05 (Sonata) Piano: Paul Lewis B flat D 28 1 Jul Zurich - London Heathrow dep: 18.40 arr: 19.30 Schubert Piano Trio in E flat D 897 (Notturno) Programme: Schubert String Quartet Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Schubert Adagio and Rondo concertante in C minor D 703 Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. Mozart Piano Concerto in A, K 414 for Piano Quartet in F D 487 Schubert String Quartet in D minor, Schubert Piano Quintet in A D 667 (Trout) PRICE (PER PERSON) D 810 (Death and the Maiden) 30 Jun 16.00 RECITAL Inc Tour price £2345 Cello: Isang Enders Piano: Igor Levit 28 Jun 20.00 RECITAL Inc Single room supplement £250 Programme: Beethoven Seven Variations Tenor: Ian Bostridge Club Europe flight upgrade from £200 on "Bei Männern", Clara Schumann Piano: Igor Levit Land-only tour price £2195 Three Romances Op 22 Programme: Schubert Songs Deposit required £400 Bach Gamba Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029 29 Jun 16.00 RECITAL Inc Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op 73 Tour price includes: Accommodation, breakfast daily, five dinners and Piano: Marc-André Hamelin Schubert Sonata in A minor, D 821 (Arpeggione) one lunch with wine, sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees, best ticket for each included performance, concert Programme: Beethoven Adelaide programmes, the services of Stephen Carpenter as tour manager. (arranged for piano by Liszt) 30 Jun 20.00 RECITAL Inc Schubert Sonata in A, D 959 Tenor: Christoph Prégardien Schumann Fantasy in C, Op 17 Piano: Malcolm Martineau Programme: Schubert Die Schöne Müllerin

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KLOSTERS FESTIVAL

Price from £1395 pp

1 – 5 August Tour code: KLO1 A CARPENTER HOLIDAY

Famed as the winter skiing destination of the Royal Family, Klosters is the summer setting for the Klosters Music Festival in the heart of the Swiss Alps. As well as enjoying concerts by the Basel Chamber Orchestra and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, including two of the most popular symphonies by Brahms and Tchaikovsky, there will be scenic sightseeing trips on the train to St Moritz and, weather permitting, a cable-car ride to the Madrisa Lake.

KLOSTERS

WED 1 AUG Afternoon arrival in Zurich and transfer FRI 3 AUG Excursion by train to St Moritz to explore LEANING TOWER, ST MORITZ © STEPHEN CARPENTER by coach to Klosters (approximately 2.5 hours) this chic town complete with its own “leaning tower”. to check into the 4-star Silvretta Parkhotel. We return to Klosters via Filisur down the steep Welcome dinner at the hotel followed by gradient on which the railway line executes a series of traditional music played in various public spaces loop-the-loops crossing over itself and the valley and in the town, celebrating Swiss National Day. into tunnels in the mountain, all combining to produce one of the most spectacular train journeys in Europe. THU 2 AUG Morning concert followed by lunch There is then time in Klosters to relax or enjoy the together, and the opportunity to explore the “Festival Tent”. Early dinner and evening concert. town, including the entertainment on offer in the “Festival Tent” situated outside the train SAT 4 AUG Cable car ride and lunchtime concert at station, or perhaps to take a ride on the cable the Madrisa Lake (weather permitting) followed by a car (free with the "Klosters Card" that you will free afternoon and dinner and concert in the evening. be given) up to Gotschnagrat above Klosters. SUN 5 AUG Lunchtime farewell concert in Klosters Dinner in the Hotel before the evening concert. followed by the transfer to the airport for the journey home.

PROGRAMME AT KLOSTERS FESTIVAL FLIGHTS

2 Aug 11.00 CONCERT Inc 4 Aug 19.00 CONCERT Inc British Airways Programme: tbc Malmö Symphony Orchestra 1 Aug London Heathrow - Zurich dep 12.15 arr 15.05 Venue: Kirche St Jakob Programme: 5 Aug Zurich - London Heathrow dep 18.40 arr 19.30 Overture to be confirmed Flight schedules are subject to alteration. 2 Aug 20.00 CONCERT Inc Mozart Piano Concerto No 24 in C min, K491 Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request. Basel Chamber Orchestra Tchaikovsky Symphony No 4 in F minor Soprano: Julia Lezhneva Venue: Festival Hall PRICE (PER PERSON) Programme: Baroque arias to include Handel Let the Bright Seraphim 5 Aug 13.00 CLOSING CONCERT Inc Tour price £1395 Venue: Kirche St Jakob Programme: tbc Single room supplement £110 Club Europe flight upgrade from £250 3 Aug 19.00 CONCERT Inc Land-only tour price £1245 Malmö Symphony Orchestra Deposit required £400 Programme: Mendelssohn Overture – A Midsummer Night’s Dream tbc Tour price includes: Flight and airport taxes, group transfers from and to airport and for included activities where applicable, accommodation, Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor breakfast daily, two lunches, four dinners, sightseeing tours as described, Brahms Symphony No 1 in C minor first-category ticket for each included performance, concert programmes, Venue: Festival Hall the services of Stephen Carpenter as tour manager.

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OPERA, BALLET CLASSICAL MUSIC À LA CARTE

Travel for the Arts à la Carte is designed for clients who prefer to travel independently. Our expert consultants offer a complete planning and booking service, taking care of travel, accommodation and performance tickets in any music and ballet destination you choose.

• We tailor your itinerary for the • We are able to book your own dates you wish to travel and for the choice of hotel or offer advice performances you wish to see. We on suitablealternatives. can also offer suggestions based • We can advise and arrange ‘finishing on your requirements, to celebrate touches’ such as backstage tours, a special occasion or simply to guided sightseeing, restaurant enjoy a holiday with a difference. bookings and access to other • We arrange your travel to suit cultural events. your needs and can investigate journeys by air, rail or even private jet. We also offer private transfers on arrival or departure.

36 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com à la carte

HOW TO BOOK Telephone our designated à la Carte line on 020 8799 8354 or email [email protected] for a quotation. Your itinerary will be individually designed to meet your requirements.

“Both my friend and I enjoyed our à la Carte holiday with Travel for the Arts – it could not have been better.”

Mrs S, West Sussex

THE RING IN KARLSRUHE © FALK VON TRAUBENBERG 37 terms and conditions

1. ABOUT TRAVEL FOR THE ARTS arrangements, you may accept a change to another holiday (as detailed below), or cancel and 1.1 Your contract will be with Specialised Travel Ltd trading as TRAVEL FOR THE ARTS, which is a receive a full refund of all moneys paid, except for any amendment charges. Whether you cancel or fully bonded member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) (ABTA number V7795) and not you will also be entitled, under the terms set out in respect of major changes (Alterations and appointed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Cancellations by us) to accept from us an offer of alternative travel arrangements if we are able to do so and compensation as set out below. 1.2 The air holidays and flights in our brochures & promotional material are ATOL protected (as detailed in clause 1.3 below), since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil 3.4 Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 2178. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA than 2% of your holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. Please note that travel will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no to us for an advance booking. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk. impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION 3.5 The price of your holiday was calculated using exchange rates quoted in the “Financial Times Guide to World Currencies” on 18 December 2017 in relation to: Euros, Dollars. 1.3 We provide financial protection for our package holidays. 3.6 Please note that in accordance with Air Navigation Orders, in order to qualify for infant status, a) When you buy a flight-based holiday from us, you will receive financial protection for your flight- a child must be under 2 years of age on the date of its return flight. based holiday under our ATOL licence (detailed above), and you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you 4. ALTERATIONS AND CANCELLATIONS BY YOU and who to contact if things go wrong. 4.1 If, after our confirmation has been issued, you wish to change to another of our holidays or b) We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed modify, at any time, the travel arrangements and/or tour itineraries shown, we will do our utmost on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the to make the changes provided that notification is received in writing at our offices from the person supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you who signed the Booking Form. We reserve the right to charge a non-refundable amendment fee of with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to £35.00 per person in addition to any increase in the cost of the revised arrangements. You should accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that and you should contact us as soon as possible. Please note that certain travel arrangements (eg, alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to concert tickets) may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). 4.2 You, or any member of your party, may cancel your holiday at any time provided that the c) If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services cancellation is made by the person signing the Booking Form and is in writing. As certain listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of travel arrangements and bookings cannot be changed after confirmation, cancellation incurs insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) administration costs, we will retain your deposit and the cost of any performance tickets, and in you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign addition may apply cancellation charges up to the maximum shown in Clause 4.3 below. absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit 4.3 Period before departure within which written confirmation of cancellation is received and card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another amount of cancellation charge shown as a percentage of the holiday price: body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. More than 56 days Holiday deposit and performance tickets 1.4 Financial protection for non-flight packages. As bonded members of ABTA, when you buy a 56 - 42 days...... 40% of tour price package holiday from us that does not include a flight, then financial protection is provided by way 41-31 days...... 65% of tour price of our ABTA bond, as per the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tour Regulations 1992. 30 – day of travel...... 100% of tour price 2. TO MAKE A BOOKING 4.4 No refund will be given after the commencement of travel except at our discretion. Please note that if the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy then you 2.1 When you make a booking you must complete the Booking Form accepting on your own behalf may be able to reclaim these charges. and on behalf of all your party (for whom you have authority to accept) the terms of these Booking Conditions and pay a deposit of the amount per person specified in the relevant brochure, or in the 5. ALTERATIONS AND CANCELLATION BY US case of an independent holiday, the amount specified in writing by our staff at the time of booking, 5.1 It is possible that we may have to make changes to your holiday as the arrangements are plus insurance premium and any additional performance tickets ordered. A contract will exist planned many months in advance. Occasionally changes may be made, and we reserve the right to when we issue our confirmation invoice. Your contract will consist of these Booking Conditions, the do so at any time. Most of these changes are minor and we will advise you at the earliest possible completed Booking Form and the contents of the relevant brochure. Where you have provided us date. Flight timings and carriers in the promotional literature are subject to change as a result of with card payment details in the Booking Form as your payment method for the deposit (and any insurance premium and additional performance tickets), we shall take payment from your card at airline procedures which are beyond our control. Flight timings in the promotional literature are the time we issue our confirmation invoice to you. for guidance only. Actual times will be given on your ticket. In accordance with EU Regulations we are required to advise you of the actual carrier operating the flight, connecting flight (if any) and 2.2 The contract is governed by English law and the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. transfer. The potential carriers likely to be used are as set out in the promotional literature. Any changes to the actual airline after you have received your tickets will be notified to you as soon as The balance of the price of your holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before the departure 2.3 possible and in all cases at check-in or at the boarding gate. Such a change will be deemed as a date. If the balance is not paid in time, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday and retain your minor change. Other minor changes include alteration of your outward/return flights by less than deposit. If you paid your deposit by card and wish to authorise us to take payment of the balance 12 hours, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same standard. on or just after the due date for payment using the same card, you may do so by ticking the relevant box in the Booking Form. 5.2 If a major change becomes necessary, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before departure. When a major change occurs you will have the choice of either accepting 2.4 We make no charge if you pay by cheque, personal credit card, debit card or by electronic transfer. However, should you choose to make payment by commercial credit card, or you are a the change of arrangements, accepting an offer of available alternative travel arrangements of card holder outside the EEA, we will make a charge of 2% of the total price of the holiday. comparable standard from us or cancelling your holiday and receiving a full refund of all monies paid. 3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE 5.3 We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your holiday. For example, if the minimum 3.1 We reserve the right to alter the prices of any of the holidays shown in the promotional number of people required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached, we reserve the right literature. The current price of the holiday will be notified to you before your contract is confirmed. to cancel the tour up to 70 days in advance. In this case we offer the choice of an alternative tour of comparable standard, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower 3.2 All Travel for the Arts tours are inclusive of the following: value), or a full refund of all monies paid. In other circumstances we will not cancel your holiday Round trip Economy Class air travel on scheduled or charter airline(s) specified (aircraft type less than 56 days before the scheduled departure date except for reasons of Force Majeure or your not known when going to press) including local airport taxes and security charges; or Eurostar failure to pay the final balance. If it is necessary to cancel your travel arrangements then we will pay Passenger Service. to you compensation in accordance with Clause 5.4 below. Hotel accommodation at the hotels shown in the relevant promotional literature (or similar grade) 5.4 If it is necessary to cancel your holiday (except for reasons of Force Majeure) or make a in twin bedded rooms with private bathroom or shower and w.c. Double rooms and single rooms significant change after the date when payment of the balance becomes due, we will in addition are available on request. NB: We are well aware of the considerable distress which can sometimes pay you compensation as follows: be experienced by those travelling alone when “single rooms” do not appear to come up to the standards expected. At all times we strive to overcome this on our clients’ behalf (but can offer no Period before departure within which Compensation guarantees) and sometimes it pays to take double or twin for sole occupancy. notification of change or cancellation is given per person More than 49 days...... Nil Round trip private transfers from airports or local railway stations to hotels. 49 – 42 days ...... £10.00 Hotel service charges and local taxes. 41 – 25 days ...... £20.00 24 – 16 days ...... £30.00 Sightseeing tour programme as detailed in each itinerary including admission charges and guide 15 – 1 days...... £40.00 services. Please note compensation is not payable in the case of minor changes. The compensation offered The services of a Travel for the Arts Tour Manager or local representative. does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so. NB: If you have any special requests relating to diet, accommodation and so forth, these must ‘Force Majeure’ means any unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, including be made known at the time of booking. We will do our best to comply with them but cannot but not limited to, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural guarantee to do so (also see clause 13 below). or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, epidemics and pandemics, unavoidable 3.3 The price of your travel arrangements can vary due to changes in: transportation costs e.g. fuel, technical problems with transport. scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator; Government action such as increases in VAT or any other 6. TRAVEL DELAY government imposed increases; currency in relation to adverse exchange rate variations. In the We are unable to accept responsibility for expenses incurred as a result of travel delay. For case of any small variation, an amount equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, scheduled flights, the individual airline policy will apply. excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges, will be absorbed by us. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per 7. NON-APPEARANCE AND ALTERATIONS TO REPERTOIRE/ITINERARY person. If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel 7.1 Opera and music lovers will appreciate that performances and artists can be changed without

38 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com TRAVELFOR THE ARTS booking form

HOW TO BOOK Please contact us by telephone (020 8799 8350) - you will speak to one of LATE BOOKINGS If you book within 8 weeks of departure, you will need to provide a credit/ our sales team usually after three rings! If space is available on the tour of your choice you debit card for the full amount of the holiday, or send us a cheque within 24-hours. will be given a 7-day option. We will then require a completed booking form together with your deposit or full payment (see Late Bookings). You must read and agree the Booking TOUR CODE & BOOKING REFERENCE Please include these on the booking form and quote Conditions. your Booking Reference in all subsequent communications.

BOOK EARLY Many of our holidays are taken up very quickly after the brochure launch, when OPENING HOURS are Monday-Friday, 9.30-5.30. The office is closed on UK public holidays. tours appear on our website. Sometimes they are fully booked after appearing as advanced information in our Newsletter.

NAME OF TOUR / À LA CARTE DESTINATION DATES TOUR CODE (e.g. BUD1 or CPH3)

BOOKING REFERENCE

PERSONAL DETAILS (Please show names as they appear on your passport) ROOM TYPE CLUB CLASS Twin, Double or Single Yes or No No. TITLE FIRST NAME FAMILY NAME

1 2

3

4

PASSPORT DETAILS (essential for airline ticketing & in case of emergency)

No. D.O.B PASSPORT No. NATIONALITY DATE DATE NAMES AS YOU WISH TO APPEAR ON THE PARTICIPANT LIST OF ISSUE OF EXPIRY (if different from above)

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

NB If travelling to the USA you will require a machine-readable passport

ADDRESS (for correspondence) TELEPHONE: (Day)

TELEPHONE: (Eve)

MOBILE:

EMAIL:

FAX:

TELEPHONE: 24-hours pre-departure

SPECIAL NEEDS/FITNESS AND MOBILITY In order to assist us in ensuring you and fellow travellers maximum comfort please indicate below any special requirements or conditions EMERGENCY / NEXT OF KIN: about which we should be aware. (Must be completed at time of booking)

PERSONAL DETAILS (Please show names as they appear on your passport) NAME:

No. AGE WHEELCHAIR ASSISTANCE SPECIAL DIET OTHER ADDRESS:

1

2

3 TEL NO:

4 RELATIONSHIP:

SPECIAL OCCASION If this holiday coincides with a special occasion, please indicate below (e.g. birthday or wedding anniversary)

Travel For The Arts 12-15 Hanger Green London W5 3EL Telephone: 020 8799 8350 Fax: 020 8998 7965 e-mail: [email protected] www.TravelfortheArts.com Travel for the Arts is a division of Specialised Travel Ltd

Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 39 booking form

AIRPORT PARKING / AIRPORT HOTEL / REGIONAL FLIGHTS Please send me details of: (please tick)

AIRPORT PARKING AIRPORT HOTEL Comments:

AIRPORT LOUNGE DOMESTIC FLIGHT

OPTIONAL OR SUPPLEMENTARY PERFORMANCE TICKETS Please book the following supplementary services

DATE PERFORMANCE REQUIRED OR DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES No. REQUIRED

FINANCIAL METHOD OF PAYMENT No. of Places PER PERSON TOTAL I wish to pay by Debit Card I wish to pay by Credit Card

Deposit (See tour price panel) £ ...... £ ...... I wish to pay by Cheque (Please tick box)

OR Full payment (if booking within 8 weeks of departure) £ ...... £ ......

Supplementary Performance £ ...... £ ...... NB: Payment by commercial card will incur a 2% charge. No charge is made for personal cards, unless the card holder is outside the EEA. Tickets / Services* £ ...... £ ......

CARD NO: TOTAL £ ...... £ ...... * Payable at time of booking NAME ON CARD......

DATE OF ISSUE DATE OF EXPIRY REDEMPTION OF VOUCHERS If you are redeeming a voucher please attach it to your booking form. Vouchers cannot be redeemed retrospectively. SECURITY CODE

MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS ISSUE NO If you are a Friend of Covent Garden, British Friend of the Salzburg Festival or Member of the The Wagner Society of England or New York, please complete details below: Please tick this box if you would like the balance of payment charged to your card

NAME OF ORGANISATION MEMBERSHIP NO. Billing address if different from address overleaf

TRAVEL INSURANCE It is a condition of booking that you have comprehensive travel insurance for all the activities you will be undertaking whilst on holiday – please provide the details below. We can introduce you to an insurance company if you do not have any cover. Full details are shown in our Booking Terms and Conditions.

INSURANCE CO. NAME POLICY NUMBER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TEL No.

DECLARATION

I am over 18 years of age and I have read and understood the booking conditions, Data Protection Policy, general information and travel insurance advice and accept them on behalf of myself and the members of my party.

SIGNATURE: ...... DATE: ......

40 Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com terms and conditions

notice. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence but nevertheless disappointing. Every effort is made 10. PASSPORTS, VISAS AND HEALTH to obtain and pass on to you up to date information regarding performances and artists. This 10.1 You and your party’s specific passport, visa and other immigration requirements are your information is based upon details supplied to us by other parties and we cannot guarantee its responsibility and we do not accept responsibility for the validity of your passports or visas or for accuracy or that there will not be further changes to the programme. The non-appearance of an the refusal of visas by the Issuing Authorities. You should therefore confirm these with the relevant artist, cancellation of event or other changes, are entirely outside our control or even the control authorities, Embassies and/or Consulates. We shall not be liable for any loss, expense, cost, of those organising the event. We will always do our utmost to find a suitable alternative in such a damage, injury or loss of enjoyment suffered as a result of such invalidity or loss, including any case and wherever refunds from an event organiser are received we will pass this on to you. responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with such requirements. 7.2 Specific outside events – in the event of adverse weather conditions a full refund of the face 10.2 British subjects require a passport. We will provide information about visas and health value of the performance ticket will be made only if the performance fails to start. If abandonment requirements and can also apply for visas on your behalf for a small fee and handling charge. If occurs after the start, conditions of the ticket purchased prevent any refund. you do not hold a valid EEC passport, please inform us at point of booking. Although we can apply 7.3 Please note that the order of events on itineraries is subject to alteration due to local for any visa on a client’s behalf, we cannot be held responsible for declined visas and normal circumstances, unscheduled closures etc. However, every effort will be made to include all cancellation charges will be levied should this occur. elements of the programme during the tour dates or a suitable alternative which will be notified Higher charges may also be applied to non-British citizens and late applications which will be to you. charged accordingly. For further advice visit the FCO website, www.fco.gov.uk, visit the ABTA 8. OUR LIABILITIES TO YOU website www.abta.com/gotravel or telephone ABTA on 020 3117 0599. 8.1 We accept responsibility for ensuring that the holiday you book with us is supplied as 11. PHYSICAL HANDICAPS AND MOBILITY substantially described by us and the services offered reach a reasonable standard. If any part of Should you suffer from any serious physical handicaps or experience difficulty in walking long your holiday is not provided or improperly performed, we will pay you appropriate compensation distances and tire easily, please do bring this to our attention at the time of booking in order that if this has affected the enjoyment of your holiday. However, we will not be liable where any failure we can provide the necessary assistance at airports and hotels. in the performance of the contract is due to you; or a third party unconnected with the provision of the travel arrangements and whether the failure is unforeseeable or unavoidable; or unusual and 12. COMPLAINTS unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been 12.1 If you have a problem with your holiday please inform the relevant supplier and our avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or an event which we or our suppliers, even with representative who will endeavour to put things right quickly. If your complaint cannot be resolved due care, could not foresee or forestall. locally, your representative will ask you to make a report, the original of which is for you and a copy 8.2 If an event within the itinerary is cancelled due to Force Majeure within one month prior to the will be forwarded to our Head Office, as detailed on our invoice to you. Please follow this up within event, we reserve the right to refund the cost of the admission ticket to the event only. 28 days of your return home by writing to us giving your original tour reference number and all other relevant information. 8.3 We accept responsibility for the negligent acts and/or omissions of our employees, agents or suppliers. Save for liabilities under clause 8.4 below, our liability to you in all cases (except where 12.2It is unlikely that you will have a complaint that cannot be settled amicably between us. they lead to death, injury or illness) shall be limited to a maximum of two times the cost of the However, disputes arising out of or in connection with this contract which cannot be amicably original travel arrangements. settled, may (if you so wish) be referred to Arbitration under a special scheme, which, though devised by arrangement with ABTA, is administered by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. 8.4 Our liability to you in respect of carriage by air, sea or rail and any provision of accommodation The scheme, details of which can be provided upon request, provides for a relatively simple and will also be limited in a manner provided by the relevant international conventions (for example, inexpensive method of Arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on the client in the Montreal Convention for travel by air, the Athens Convention for travel by sea, the Berne respect of costs. The Arbitration Scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than Convention for travel by rail and the Paris Convention for accommodation), which limit the amount £5,000.00 per person. There is also a limit of £25,000.00 per booking form. Neither does it apply to of compensation that you can claim for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and claims which are solely in respect of personal injury or illness, or the consequences of such injury delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of compensation or illness. However, an amount up to £1,500.00 per person may be awarded within the total claim contained in these or any conventions. Travel by air or sea shall be subject to the general conditions where such claim includes an element of minor illness or personal injury. If requesting Arbitration, of contract of the carrier (the contractual terms of the companies that provide the transportation complaints must be made within 18 months after the schedules date of return from holiday. Full for your travel arrangements are incorporated into this contract), subject to which the tickets details are available from ABTA at 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, or at www.abta.com. are issued. 8.5 If you, or any member of your party, suffers death, illness or injury whilst overseas arising 13. SPECIAL REQUESTS out of activity which does not form part of the inclusive holiday arrangements or excursion Any special requests made on your Booking Form are noted and we do our very best to comply arrangements through us (as per clause 18 below), we shall at our discretion, offer advice, guidance with these wherever possible. However, although we do make every effort to meet your and assistance to help in resolving any claim you may have against a third party. We limit the requirements, we cannot unfortunately give a guarantee. cost of our assistance to you or a member of your party to £5,000.00 in total. Where legal action is contemplated and you want our assistance you must obtain our authority prior to commencement 14. TOUR MANAGERS AND LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES of proceedings. Our consent will be given subject to you undertaking to assign any costs, benefits Wherever possible and practical, our tours are escorted throughout by a representative from the received under any relevant insurance policy to ourselves. UK. On occasions when circumstances dictate, we retain the services of a local representative to meet our clients and to escort them to cities and on excursions accompanied by our local guide. 8.6 If you are prevented from travelling on an aircraft because in the opinion of any person in authority at the airport you appear, by reason of intoxicating liquor or use of drugs, either to be 15. TRAVEL INSURANCE unfit for travel or likely to cause discomfort or disturbance to other passengers, our responsibility It is a condition of these Booking Conditions and your contract with us that you have for your journey, including any return flight thereupon ceases. You must accept responsibility for comprehensive travel insurance cover. your proper conduct and we therefore have the right to terminate our contract in circumstances of serious misconduct by you or any member of your party As a member of ABTA, we are able to introduce you to ABTASure, the only travel insurance recommended by ABTA. ABTASure is arranged by Citybond Suretravel and underwritten by Union 8.7 Under EU law, you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from Reiseversicherung AG, UK (URV). Specialised Travel, trading as Travel for the Arts, is an Introducer your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights Appointed Representative of Citybond Suretravel for the sale of travel insurance and we have will be available at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However, please note that negotiated discounts on the ABTASure schemes for our clients. reimbursement in such cases does not automatically entitle you to a refund of the cost of your holiday from us. Your right to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in Clause 5. If any Trip Travel (Single Trip Policies) payments to you are due from us, then if the airline makes payment of these to you then such sum Covering single trips of up to 100 days for those up to 75 or up to 31 days from 76 to 85 years of age, will be deducted from this amount. If your airline does not comply with such rules then you can this policy is ideal for family holidays, weekend breaks, cruises, coach tours, camping or business complain to the Aviation Consumer Advocate Panel on 020 7453 6888 or www.caa.co.uk. travel. NB: This clause does not apply to any separate contracts that you may enter into for excursions or Year Round (Annual Multi-Trip Policies) activities whilst on holiday. With a limit of 50 days for any one trip and with 17 days Winter Sports cover available up to age 65 years, this policy is ideal if you travel frequently for business or leisure. 9. DATA PROTECTION POLICY Referral Code 56275 9.1 In order to process your booking and to ensure your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements, we need to use the information you provide to us, such as name, address, Please use the above code to receive the premium discounts: contact details and any special needs/dietary requirements. We take reasonable steps to ensure Online at www.abtasure.co.uk for up to 10% that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. By phone on Freephone 0333 207 0603 for 5% 9.2 We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as 16. SEVERABILITY airlines, hotels and transportation companies. The information may also be provided to security If any part of these Booking Conditions is held to be invalid, unreasonable or unenforceable, such or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs and immigration if required portion(s) shall be deemed as severable from these Booking Conditions and the remainder of these by them, or as required by law. Additionally, where a holiday is outside the European Economic Booking Conditions shall remain in full force and effect and enforceable. Area (EEA), controls on Data Protection in your destination may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. 17. PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS 9.3 We will only pass information on to persons responsible for part of your travel arrangements. Our promotional material is our responsibility, as your tour operator. It is not issued on behalf of, This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, and does not contain the airlines mentioned herein or any airline whose services are used in the dietary or religious requirements. If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers course of your travel arrangements. whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide your booking. In making your booking you consent to this information about you and the members of your party being passed on to the relevant 18. EXCURSIONS persons. You are entitled to a copy of the personal information held by us. If you would like to see Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not this, please contact us. part of your package holiday provided by us.

Tel: 020 8799 8350 | Email: [email protected] | www.travelforthearts.com 41 LAST PLACES AVAILABLE

MALTA OPERA THE RING FESTIVAL IN LEIPZIG 8 – 12 March Tour code: MLA1 10 – 16 April Tour code: LEI1 From £1595 From £1975 A return to picturesque Malta for their A full cycle of the Oper Leipzig’s Ring annual Opera Festival at the Teatru production by Rosamund Gilmore, Manoel in Valletta includes a performance the first part of which was unveiled of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and a private during Wagner’s 200th anniversary recital in Mdina Cathedral, as well as celebrations in 2013. Ulf Schirmer leads the chance to discover some of the the international cast, accompanied by treasures of this delightful island. the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Please contact us for further details or see our website www.travelforthearts.com

TRAVELFOR THE ARTS

Travel For The Arts 12-15 Hanger Green London W5 3EL UK Telephone: +44 20 8799 8350 Fax: +44 20 8998 7965 E-mail: [email protected] www.travelforthearts.com

Travel for the Arts is a division of Specialised Travel Ltd