MUNICH & GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA FESTIVALS

Transcription

1 MUNICH & GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA FESTIVALS JULY 2-13, 2019 TOUR LEADER: ROBERT GAY Photo credit: Glyndebourne

2 MUNICH & GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA FESTIVALS Tour dates: July 2-13, 2019 Tour leader: Robert Gay Tour Price: $11,980 per person, twin share Single Supplement: $1,970 for sole use of double room Booking deposit: $500 per person Recommended airline: Singapore Airlines, Emirates or Etihad Maximum places: 20 Itinerary: Munich (7 nights), Brighton (4 nights) Date published: October 9, 2018 Overview Munich and Glyndebourne are two of the world s leading opera festivals. Through our special connections at both festivals, Academy Travel is pleased to offer a unique tour for music lovers built around seven outstanding performances. The variety of repertoire and quality of casting on offer at these two wonderful venues is inspiring, with some of the world s greatest singers performing works by German, French and Italian composers ranging from the baroque to the twentieth century. The tour begins with the Münchner Opernfestspiele, a summer opera festival that has been held almost continuously since The Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera) itself is steeped in history dating back more than 350 years, and is one of the world s most celebrated opera companies. It is synonymous with star conductors such as the current musical director Kirill Petrenko, as well as opera stars such as Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Juan Diego Flórez and Anja Harteros. Glyndebourne is the doyen of English country-house opera festivals, with superb productions, excellent singers and the London Philharmonic Orchestra or the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in the pit. Since its inception in 1934, Glyndebourne has also been an important launching pad for young singers. The relatively small size of the theatre, its fine acoustics and memorable productions make for a very satisfying experience. The setting is also very special, a private estate in the Sussex Downs south of London. Academy Travel has been a sponsor of Glyndebourne since 2012, giving it special access to the best tickets. Pre-performance talks will place each of the works in a clear historical and musical context. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the production, the singers and conductors with your tour leader and your fellow like-minded opera lovers. Your tour leader For over 30 years, Robert Gay has presented music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. Over the same period he has designed and escorted more than 80 musical and cultural tours to Europe and America. Enquiries and bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Rebecca Fussell at Academy Travel on or (outside Sydney) or rebecca@academytravel.com. au On tour, Robert will provide a thorough introduction to the performances you see, with detailed preperformance talks and post-performance reviews. Robert s approach to music is multi-faceted. First and foremost, he links the music to the biographical, historical and social context in which it was created. Secondly, he explains in plain language technical aspects of the music how the composer communicates through sound. Finally, as a trained singer who attends dozens of performances each year, he offers great insight into the qualities of the performances you see on tour. I enjoyed this tour very much and can find little but positives. In particular, I appreciated the talks Robert gave each day and his wonderful enthusiasm and care for all members of the group. He is a treasure and so very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Tour participant on Munich & Glyndebourne Opera Festivals, July 2018.

3 Performance program Best available tickets to seven outstanding performances are included, with six operas and one vocal recital. MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL The Bavarian State Opera s traditional summer festival offers an impressive range of performances with a star-studded cast of singers. Bellini's masterpiece Norma at the Bavarian State Opera, starring Sonya Yoncheva in the title role and Riccardo Massi as Pollione Mozart's, Le nozze di Figaro at the Bavarian State Opera, starring Alex Esposito as Figaro A new production of Strauss', Salome at the Bavarian State Opera, starring Marlis Petersen in the title role and conducted by Kirill Petrenko Sonya Yoncheva Song recital by bass-baritone Erwin Schrott at the Bavarian State Opera GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA FESTIVAL Glyndebourne s summer opera festival, set on an historic estate on the edge of the South Downs in Sussex, never fails to impress with imaginative productions of the highest order. A new production of Berlioz s La damnation de Faust, with Allan Clayton as Faust and Christopher Purves as Méphistophélès, conducted by Glyndebourne s musical director Robin Ticciati Riccardo Massi Dvořák s masterpiece Rusalka, with Sally Matthews as the heroine and Patricia Bardon as Ježibaba, conducted by Robin Ticciati Massenet s rarely-staged Cendrillon (Cinderella) with Danielle de Niese as the heroine and Kate Lindsey as her Prince Charming, conducted by John Wilson Academy Travel is a sponsor of Glyndebourne, giving us access to the best tickets before they go on sale to the general public. Danielle de Niese

4 Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the letters B, L, D and C for canapes. Tour start & finish time The tour starts on Tuesday July 2 at 6.00pm, with welcome drinks and canapes at the hotel in Munich. The tour ends on Saturday July 13 at 11.30am at London s Heathrow airport. Above: Munich s National Theatre, home of the Bavarian State Opera Below: The Bavarian State Opera s production of Norma; the stunning rococo ballroom in the Schaezlerpalais in Augsburg Tuesday July 2 Arrival If you have booked your air travel through Academy Travel we will organise a transfer from Munich Airport to our hotel. Please note that hotel rooms may not be available until early afternoon. In the evening, meet Robert Gay and fellow travellers in the hotel for drinks and canapes. Overnight Munich (C) Wednesday July 3 Norma Exploring Munich This morning there is a talk on Bellini s Norma, an opera that is regarded as a leading example of the bel canto style. After the talk we take a guided walking tour of Munich s historical old town, and have our welcome lunch at a fine Munich restaurant. The later afternoon is at leisure before this evening s performance, which begins at 6.00pm. You may choose to explore Bavaria s royal past at the Residence Palace, or explore the city at your own pace. Overnight Munich (B, L) Venue: National Theatre Munich Program: Bellini's Norma Performers: Sonya Yoncheva (Norma), Angela Brower (Adalgisa), Riccardo Massi (Pollione), Andrea Battistoni (conductor) Thursday July 4 Augsburg and the Mozart Family Our excursion today takes us to nearby Augsburg, one of Germany s oldest cities. Founded by the Romans in the first century AD, the city is best known for the religious tolerance it extended its citizens in the mid-sixteenth century when the Augsburg Confession allowed the peaceful coexistence of Catholics and Protestants. The immensely rich Fugger family, who lent money to the Holy Roman Emperor no less, established a remarkable town within a town for the virtuous poor the Fuggerei probably the world s first social housing scheme. We also visit the Schaezlerpalais with its spectacular rococo ballroom. After lunch, we visit the house/museum of Leopold Mozart who was born in Augsburg in In the late afternoon we return to Munich where the evening is at leisure. Overnight Munich (B, L)

5 Friday July 5 Le nozze di figaro Munich s blue rider school Our pre-performance talk today explores Mozart s comic opera Le nozze di Figaro. Afterwards we visit the Lenbachhaus Museum, home to the stunning collection of art from the early- 20th-century Der Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) school of painters, who include Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, August Macke and Franz Marc. Tonight s performance begins at 6.00pm. Overnight Munich (B) Venue: National Theatre Munich Program: Mozart s Le nozze di Figaro Performers: Mariusz Kwiecień (Count Almaviva), Federica Lombardi (Countess Almaviva), Pretty Yende (Susanna), Alex Esposito (Figaro), Anne Sofie von Otter (Marcellina), Christof Loy (director), Ivor Bolton (conductor) Saturday July 6 Salome Nymphenburg Palace After a talk on tonight s opera, we head to the Nymphenburg Palace, a small baroque summer palace set in vast grounds on the edge of the city. After visiting the palace, we stroll to the amazing rococo Amalienburg hunting lodge designed by François Cuvilliés. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. The conductor of this evening s new production of Strauss s Salome is Kirill Petrenko, the current General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera, and Chief Conductor-designate of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2019/2020 season. The performance begins at 8.00pm. Overnight Munich (B) Venue: National Theatre Munich Program: Strauss s Salome Performers: Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Herodes), Michaela Schuster (Herodias), Marlis Petersen (Salome), Wolfgang Koch (Jochanaan), Krzysztof Warlikowski (director), Kirill Petrenko (conductor) Above: the Bavarian State Opera s production of Le nozze di Figaro; German soprano Marlis Petersen Below: star conductor Kirill Petrenko Sunday July 7 Munich s great art galleries Today we have a special all-day ticket to four of Munich s great art galleries which are all located within a short walk of each other. The recently refurbished Alte Pinakothek, brimming with masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt and others is one of the great art galleries of the world; the Neue Pinakothek has mostly nineteenth century German artists, but some French Impressionists as well; the small Museum Brandhorst features a remarkable set of late Cy Twombly canvasses; and the relatively new Pinakothek der Moderne houses graphic art, architecture and design, as well as a collection of works by twentieth century and contemporary masters, under the one cupola-topped roof. In the evening we have dinner together at a fine local restaurant. Overnight Munich (B, D)

6 Monday July 8 Song recital Munich Today is a full day at leisure in Munich. This evening, charismatic bass-baritone Erwin Schrott a major star of the opera world who sings regularly at Covent Garden, the Met and La Scala gives a recital in the National Theatre. The performance begins at 8.00pm. Overnight Munich (B) Venue: National Theatre Munich Program: Song recital program to be announced Performers: Erwin Schrott (bass-baritone) Tuesday July 9 To England We check out of our hotel this morning and take a late morning flight to London s Heathrow airport. From there it is a 90-minute transfer to Brighton, England s most vibrant seaside city, a rich cultural mix of Regency architecture and an eclectic arts scene. This evening we have dinner in the hotel s bistro restaurant. Overnight Brighton (B, D) Above: bass-baritone Erwin Schrott; the famous Brighton Pier Below: Glyndebourne promotional poster for the 2019 production of La damnation de Faust. Photo credit: Glyndebourne Wednesday July 10 La damnation de Faust Royal Pavilion After a morning talk on Berlioz s La damnation de Faust, we take a stroll through Brighton to visit the Royal Pavilion, built as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in In the early afternoon, we travel to Glyndebourne with time to relax and enjoy a pre-performance refreshment. During the long interval, there will be dinner in Nether Wallop, one of Glyndebourne s three fine restaurants. Overnight Brighton (B, D) Venue: Glyndebourne Opera House Program: Berlioz s La damnation de Faust Performers: Allan Clayton (Faust), Christopher Purves (Méphistophélès), Robin Ticciati (conductor) Thursday July 11 Rusalka Charleston After a talk on Dvořák s masterpiece Rusalka, we travel to Charleston, the country house associated with London s literary Bloomsbury Group. It was here in the first decades of the 20th century that group members escaped London to work, argue and make love. Critic Clive Bell and his artist wife Vanessa Bell established Charleston, and a great number of artists, writers and public figures passed through over the years. The house is decorated throughout with furniture and artworks by the Bloomsbury group, while in a room on the first floor John Maynard Keynes wrote his ground-breaking work, The Economic Consequences of the War. We return to the hotel to freshen up and change for the opera. During the long interval,

7 there will be dinner in Mildmay restaurant. Overnight Brighton (B, D) Venue: Glyndebourne Opera House Program: Dvořák s Rusalka Performers: Sally Matthews (Rusalka), Patricia Bardon (Ježibaba), Robin Ticciati (conductor) Friday July 12 Cendrillon Brighton After a talk on Massenet s rarely-performed opera Cendrillon which is making its Glyndebourne debut starring Danielle de Niese the middle of the day is at leisure in Brighton before making our way to Glyndebourne in the mid-afternoon. Our farewell dinner this evening is at Glyndebourne s fine-dining restaurant, Middle & Over Wallop. Overnight Brighton (B, D) Venue: Glyndebourne Opera House Program: Massenet s Cendrillon Performers: Danielle de Niese (Cendrillon), Kate Lindsey (Prince), John Wilson (conductor) Saturday July 13 Departure After breakfast, there is a group transfer to London s Heathrow airport for travellers booking their flights through Academy Travel. (B) Above: Glyndebourne promotional poster for the 2019 production of Massenet s Cendrillon. Photo credit: Glyndebourne Below: Opera patrons relaxing in the lovely grounds Hotels Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. Both of the hotels are excellent four-star properties that are within renovated historic buildings. Munich - Hotel Torbraeu (7 nights) This historic four-star family-run hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Munich, just a short walk from the National Theatre. The rooms are classically furnished and comfortable, each with modern amenities. Brighton, Hotel du Vin and Bistro (4 nights) This boutique four-star hotel is nestled in the quaint narrow cobble-stoned alleyways of The Lanes, the oldest part of the Brighton. It has comfortable rooms and is well located in Brighton, just 100 meters from Brighton s beach and promenade. The hotel is 30 minutes drive from Glyndebourne.

8 The Bavarian State Opera s production of Le nozze di Figaro with Alex Esposito as Figaro

9 Tour Price The tour price is $11,980 per person, twin share (land content only). The supplement for a single room is $1,970 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour. Second deposit Once the full and final performance program is released in October 2018, you will be asked to pay a second deposit of $1,500 per person to cover the cost of tickets. At this point you will have a 14-day period to withdraw from the tour with a full refund of all monies paid (including initial deposit) if you do not find the range and standard of performances satisfactory. Tour Inclusions Included in the tour price Accommodation in carefully selected four-star hotels Breakfasts daily, plus lunches and dinners as noted One-way economy class flight from Munich to London Land travel by air-conditioned coach Best available seats for performances Extensive tour notes and background talks Services of an Australian tour leader throughout the tour All entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary Qualified local guides where appropriate Tips for all services included in the itinerary Not included International airfares, taxes and surcharges (see below) Travel insurance Meals not mentioned in itinerary Expenses of a personal nature Air travel OPTIONS The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour we recommend Singapore Airlines, Emirates or Etihad; each offering daily flights into Munich and home from London. Please contact us for further information on competitive economy, business and first class airfares. Transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers. Enquiries & bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Rebecca Fussell at Academy Travel on or (outside Sydney) or rebecca@academytravel.com.au Fitness Requirements of THIS tour GRADE ONE It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you instead to consider carefully your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. Participation criteria for this tour This Grade One tour is appropriate for travellers in good health with good mobility. You should be able to comfortably participate in up to three hours of physical activity per day on most days, including walking at an easy pace, sometimes on uneven terrain, climbing stairs and standing in galleries. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 2-3 kilometres at a moderate to slow pace with only short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums negotiate stairs and bridges get on and off a coach, ferry or boat with steep stairs unassisted move your luggage a short distance if required A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You may have to miss certain activities and may not get the full value of the tour. Before submitting your booking form, please contact Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition. Weather on Tour July is a pleasant time to be in Munich and the Sussex Downs with summer temperatures ranging on average from the mid-20s, dropping to C at night. However, you should pack for a few days which are cooler than this, as well as a few warmer ones. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread across the year, and it is reasonable to expect rain on at least a few days, though not enough to disrupt our program.

10 About Academy Travel Each year Academy Travel organises around 60 journeys to Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and the Americas, each focusing on a distinctive historical, artistic or cultural theme. The aim of every Academy Travel journey is to combine the pleasures of independent travel with the benefits and shared enjoyment of a group. Academy Travel is an Australian-owned travel company, founded in The company s staff includes both academic experts and travel professionals with over two decades industry experience. We also have our own office in Rome which organises our tours in Western Europe. This means we have direct control over the selection of hotels, restaurants, coaches and local guides, guaranteeing superior quality. Great itineraries Academy Travel works hard to create itineraries that provide a balanced experience walking tours, museum and gallery visits, live performances, city and countryside. We re proud to be constantly innovating, from opening up new destinations, creating tours around festivals and special exhibitions, to providing unrivalled depth in our residential tours. Like-minded groups Over the years we ve been in operation, we ve developed a loyal band of Academy Travellers, some of whom have travelled with us more than 10 times. They say the small groups (maximum 20, average 17) and distinct themes of our tours attract like-minded travellers and create a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Long stays Feedback from our clients consistently tells us that creating itineraries with three and four-night stops, or even longer, is far more appealing that rushing from place to place. Wherever possible, we plan our tours around a limited number of stops, making your travels more relaxed and more meaningful. Special Events A private viewing of the Sistine Chapel? Tickets to a sold-out concert by the Berlin Philharmonic? A worldfamous art fair? Access to private homes and gardens? Behind-the-scenes visits? Many of our tours feature access to places and events that are usually not offered on most group tours. Expert tour leaders We work closely with a team of academically qualified and highly experienced tour leaders. They don t just rattle off the facts they help us plan our itineraries and, on tour, freely share their deep knowledge and genuine passion. Most of our tour leaders are still teaching at an advanced level and many are still undertaking academic research. Years of experience Academy Travel was founded in 2004 by a team with decades of prior experience in small group travel. On average, our tour leaders have over 11 years experience, some with 25 or more years. To ensure quality, we have our own office in Rome, Italy and a network of trusted suppliers around the world. ACADEMY TRAVEL TAILORED SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS info@academytravel.com.au academytravel.com.au

11 TO SUBMIT YOUR BOOKING: Complete form on screen. Simply click in the box to fill in your details and press Tab to progress to the next box. Save the completed form and it to us. Or print the form, complete the fields and send it back to us. Name of tour: Departure date: A Your details This is my first tour with Academy Travel I have previously travelled with Academy Travel PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 Your title (Ms, Mrs, Mr, Dr etc): Your full name (as it appears on your passport): Your title (Ms, Mrs, Mr, Dr etc): Your full name (as it appears on your passport): Preferred first name: Date of birth: Preferred first name: Date of birth: Postal Address: Postal Address: State: Postcode: State: Postcode: Phone - Area code: Phone: Phone - Area code: Phone: Mobile: Mobile: Passport number: Expiry date: Passport number: Expiry date: Frequent flyer number(s) Seating (Aisle or window) Frequent flyer number(s) Seating (Aisle or window) Name of next of kin (not travelling with you): Name of next of kin (not travelling with you): Relationship to you: Contact number of next of kin: Relationship to you: Contact number of next of kin: PROOF OF IDENTITY Please provide a photocopy of the photo page of your passport together with this booking form. ROOMING PREFERENCES I am travelling: on my own with a friend or family member. Name of friend or family member (if not passenger 2) I/we would like: a room for sole occupancy a twin-bedded room a double-bedded room B Your special requirements MEAL REQUIREMENTS/ALLERGIES Please indicate below if you have any special dietary requirements. Appropriate meals will be requested for you on all flights and group meals based on this information. PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 I do not have any specific dietary requirements or allergies I have the following specific dietary requirements/allergies I do not have any specific dietary requirements or allergies I have the following specific dietary requirements/allergies MEDICAL CONDITIONS Please indicate below if you have any serious health issue that may affect your travel insurance coverage, your physical capacity to undertake some activities on tour or may otherwise need to be considered by the tour leader/manager during the tour. PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 I have no specific medical condition that Academy Travel needs to know about Academy Travel needs to know about the following medical condition(s) I have no specific medical condition that Academy Travel needs to know about Academy Travel needs to know about the following medical condition(s) Level 1, 341 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: or (outside Sydney) ACADEMY TRAVEL

12 BOOKING FORM C Your travel plans I/we wish Academy Travel to arrange air travel from Australia. Economy Class. Premium Economy Class. Business Class. I/we will organize our own air travel. I/we are undecided about air travel. Please contact us to discuss the available options. I plan to leave Australia before the tour commences. Planned departure date: I intend to take part in the extension tour offered in the itinerary (if applicable). I/we plan to undertake additional travel before/after the tour and would like Academy Travel to organise this (please describe destinations and length of stay required below). To discuss your travel arrangements please contact the travel consultant for your tour. You can also enquiries to info@academytravel.com.au. D Your acceptance of booking conditions PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND SIGN BELOW DEPOSITS A deposit of $500 per person is required to confirm your booking on a tour. Final payment of the tour fee, insurance and any additional travel will be due 60 days before departure. CANCELLATION FEES If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply: More than 60 days before departure: $500* days before tour start: 25% of total amount due days before tour start: 75% of total amount due 14 days or less before departure: 100% of total amount due *This amount may be credited to another Academy Travel tour within 12 months of the original tour you booked. UNUSED PORTIONS OF THE TOUR We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions of the tour, such as meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers. TRAVEL INSURANCE Academy Travel requires all participants to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. We offer a comprehensive policy with a reputable insurer if required. PASSPORT AND VISA A valid passport is required for all international travel. If you do not hold an Australian passport you may require a re-entry permit. Some countries require a visa to be issued before you depart Australia. We will advise you of all passport and visa requirements, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet passport and visa requirements before you depart. WILL THE TOUR PRICE CHANGE? If the number of participants in a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates Academy Travel reserves the right to amend the advertised price. If this occurs you will be given the option of canceling your booking and obtaining a full refund. If an Academy Travel tour is forced to cancel you will get a full refund of all monies paid. WILL THE ITINERARY OR AIRLINE CHANGE? Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of Academy Travel make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make slight amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes as soon as they occur. FINAL PAYMENT Full and final payment for the tour, airfare travel, insurance and any additional travel you book is due 60 days before departure. Payment may be made by bank deposit, cheque, cash or credit card. Please note there is a surcharge for payments made by credit card. Academy Travel reserves the right to decline the booking or terminate the holiday of any traveller. I/we accept the conditions on this booking form I/we have read the information about the physical requirements of the tour in the detailed itinerary and confirm that I/we are able to meet these requirements. Date: AUTHORISATION By submitting this booking form, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions above and on our website, and the inclusions and non-inclusions listed in the detailed itinerary for the tour. E Deposit payment f How did you hear about this tour? A non-refundable $500 deposit is required for each person listed on this booking form. Please indicate which method you have chosen to pay your deposit: Number of passengers: Amount of deposit: $ Paid directly by cheque (Please make cheques payable to Academy Travel) Paid by credit card (Please complete details below) MasterCard Visa American Express Card Number: 3 or 4 digit security code: Expiry date: Please select where you first heard about this tour: I receive the Academy Travel tour program I receive the Academy Travel weekly s I saw an advertisement online please specify I saw an advertisement in please specify I attended a lecture at... please specify Searching the internet please specify A friend recommended Academy Travel tours Other... please specify Name on card: Amount: $ AUTHORISATION Date: By submitting this booking form you are authorising us to charge the cost of deposits for booking on this tour. No further charges will be made without your prior authorisation. g SEND Please send your completed booking form to: Academy Travel GPO Box 5057 Sydney NSW 2001 Or info@academytravel.com.au or fax it to (02) Additional booking forms can be downloaded from our website: academytravel.com.au /18 ACADEMY TRAVEL TAILORED SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS info@academytravel.com.au academytravel.com.au