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Spectacular well-loved operas, Nabucco by Verdi and La bohème by Puccini, under the stars in the great Arena of Verona, the biggest open air theatre in the world where magnificent operas have taken place since 1913. Marcelo Alvarez, tenor at the Met in New York, performs as Rodolfo. You must experience this opera mecca at least once in your life! Explore this elegant city where Maria Callas made her Italy debut.
Tour programme includes the "Maria Callas Walk" to places of opera and music interest and an opera visit to a 17th century palace.
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WHEN |
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COST |
From approx.
NZ$2,000 excluding airfares
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NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
6-12 people |
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Join us for the 10th anniversary celebrations of our stay in our beautiful 18th century Tuscan Villa perfectly set amidst vines and olive groves. While Maestro Wyn Davies prepares our young New Zealand opera performers for the Gala Concert in the Villa’s grand chandeliered Salone, we explore Tuscan gardens and historic villas, and villages off the beaten track. Meet Oliver Bevan, our resident artist, who will reveal Renaissance artists and their works. Our grand finale is a weekend in medieval Montefalco with more music and art.
Operas, concerts, maestros, singers, gardens, markets, art and artists, wine and cuisine in beautiful places! What more can you ask for?
Villa in Tuscany: A week in the heart of Tuscany, near Arezzo
18th century Villa in Tuscany: a week in the heart of Tuscany between Arezzo and Siena, with young New Zealand singers who will entertain us.
Imagine yourself tasting the finest of Italian wines and cuisine on the terrace of a beautiful villa in summer surrounded by the famed Tuscan countryside, listening to your favourite opera arias.
Here we relax and enjoy the Villa in its ideal Tuscan setting with gardens, swimming pool, tennis court, vines and olive groves. You can walk in the hills around the Villa, climb to the nearby medieval tower and visit the Romanesque church.
We eat in these beautiful surroundings at least twice a day sampling the local cuisine prepared especially for us and, of course, sample the Villa’s own olive oils and wines.
Observe at first hand the artistic process and befriend talented young New Zealand opera singers. You will learn their aspirations as they prepare for their performances. A unique experience not offered by any other tour!
With the Villa as a base we visit many beautiful places nearby:
- Gardens
- Villas
- Wineries
- Markets and the Prada Outlet
- Villages off the beaten track
Invite your friends in Italy to come to our Concert in the Grand Salone of the Villa followed by New Zealand wines and buffet dinner on 2 September. Eagerly awaited by the owners of the Villa, their families and friends, our Concert has become an annual event. Accommodation may be available for additional guests.
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WHEN |
27 August - 5 September
Meet at our Villa near Montevarchi, depart from Montefalco
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COST |
Special 10th anniversary prices: From approx.
NZ$3500 excluding airfares!!
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NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
10- 15 people |
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Dame Malvina Major |
A unique experience! Our tour group loved holidaying in Tuscany last year with Dame Malvina, New Zealand’s foremost resident soprano and a truly delightful travelling companion. Now Dame Malvina wants to go to Nice and Uzès, a small and beautifully preserved medieval town and excellent base for our explorations of the French countryside. Dame Malvina is on holiday while our emerging opera singers, as part of Patricia’s French for Opera Singers Masterclasses, study French in preparation for a Concert at the end of the week.
Come and join us 2011! |
WHEN |
13-24 September
Meet in Nice, depart from Uzès near Avignon
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COST |
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NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
8 - 12 people |
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Grand Canal, Venice |
Italian charm and style in beautiful places. Opera, art, cuisine and shopping!
Milan, city of sophistication, elegance, fashion and design has much to offer the cultural tourist. See Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss at the magnificent La Scala, and visit its museum with original costumes, jewels, models of sets and artists’ portraits. The famous Teatro La Fenice in Venice burnt down but has risen from the ashes like the phoenix of its name, and we must see Don Giovanni by Mozart. It is not hard to imagine 18th century Casanova and company masked and cloaked gliding to the opera in a gondola!
Vicenza is a jewel of northern Italian towns with villas and a theatre by 16th century architect, Palladio. We end the tour in Parma, a rich and charming provincial city, home of Parma ham, Parmesan cheese and top cuisine, and also the heart of Verdi country. We attend the annual Verdi Festival.
Contact Patricia for more information.
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WHEN |
1 -12 October
Meet in Milan, depart from Parma
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COST |
Costs from NZ$7,500 excluding airfares
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NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
8 - 15 people |
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