Cultural short break and musical holiday specialist Travel for the Arts has unveiled its Autumn, Winter and Spring 2019/20 programme (including Christmas and New Year), which reveals a total of 20 opera, ballet and classical music holidays from as close to home as Berlin and Paris, and as far afield as Buenos Aries, St. Petersburg and Japan.
Comments Richard Savage, CEO of Travel for the Arts: “We have broadened the choice across the board this year and included more long-haul trips, largely at the request of our loyal customers who travel with us time and again. There are also a number of trips with ‘no single supplements’, and our tailor-made department can create the perfect bespoke break for those wishing to travel independently – perhaps for a special birthday or anniversary.”
“The focus of each trip will always be the music, featuring musicians, singers and performers of the highest possible calibre – and occasionally with a chance to meet them – whilst staying in four and five-star accommodation. But, furthermore, we also want clients to experience the culture and cuisine of the countries which they are visiting, which is why, for example, we have included a trip to Japan to coincide with the famous explosion of cherry blossom in the spring of 2020.”
Here are some of the highlights of the new programme…
A Viennese Christmas: 24-28 December 2019, from £2555 pp
Enjoy a memorable Christmas by soaking up the festive atmosphere of a city that has seduced countless composers including Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. Performances during the break include Puccini’s La Bohème, plus the ballet Le Corsaire and the opera Hansel and Gretel (both optional). There will also be a ‘musical’ walking tour of Vienna, and an excursion to Schönbrunn Palace (with a guided tour).
Opera and Song in Seville: 12-16 February 2019, from £1750 pp
Winter warmth, superb singing and a glass or two of sherry are key components of this break to Andalusia, to enjoy performances of Handel’s Agrippina and a recital featuring Spanish baritone Carlos Alvarez. There will also be a guided walking tour of Seville and an excursion to Jerez with a visit to the Gonzalez Byass Bodega, producer of the famous Tio Pepe sherry.
Renee Fleming in Baden Baden: 13-16 March 2020, from £1820 pp
This unique break provides a chance to enjoy world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming presenting a recital of works by Brahms, Debussy and Strauss, accompanied by the great Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin, plus a performance of Beethoven’s Third Symphony by the Wiener Philharmonic, conducted by Andris Nelsons. On the evening of arrival, there will be an illustrated talk about Renée Fleming, by classical music expert and writer Helena Matheopoulos. There will also be a guided tour of the pretty spa town and an excursion to the city of Strasbourg.
All tour prices are based on two people sharing a room and include flights, all transportation, accommodation, meals as per the itinerary, performances, sightseeing and guides. Land only prices are also available for those wishing to make their own way to the start of each holiday.
For further information call 020 8799 8350 (www.travelforthearts.com).
