3 minute read
La Scala, Milan
FOUR NIGHT HOLIDAYS | 14 MAY & 31 OCTOBER 2023
La Scala, Milan is, for most opera lovers, the world’s most revered and important opera house. The theatre opened in 1778 with a performance of an opera by Salieri and since then many of the greatest Italian operas have received their first performance on its hallowed stage. Two very different divas enjoyed their greatest successes at La Scala – Renata Tebaldi and Maria Callas triumphed here season after season at the height of their careers.
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the itinerary
Included in our tour to Milan are visits to the city’s great Duomo, the Brera Gallery, which houses one of the most important art collections in Italy, and the wonderful La Scala Museum with displays linked to all the great conductors, performers and designers associated with the opera house. Also included are visits to the Basilica Sant’Ambrogio, named after Milan’s patron saint, and Casa Verdi, founded by Giuseppe Verdi and dedicated to taking care of musicians who have devoted their working lives to opera. This is an exceptionally special visit for everyone with an interest in opera and those who perform it.
the hotel
We stay at the very comfortable and well established 4* Hotel de la Ville in the heart of Milan’s historic centre and just a short walk from La Scala and the Duomo. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and a rooftop pool and spa overlooking the cathedral.
TOUR INFORMATION
DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES
DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP
14 May 31 October £1,898 £360
Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.
FLIGHT DETAILS
Flights with British Airways: Depart London Heathrow 10.20, arrive Milan Linate 13.20 Depart Milan Linate 14.20, arrive London Heathrow 15.20 Flight times subject to change – regional departures available on request.
WHAT WE INCLUDE
• Return flights • Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Two dinners • One opera ticket (stalls category) and synopsis • Visits and entrances as described • The services of the Kirker Tour Leader
MUSIC PROGRAMME
Our autumn departure has a choice of two operas. If you would like to attend the second performance, tickets cost £250 (N.B. Face value of the tickets range from €210 to €250). May departure: Andrea Chenier by Giordano First performed at La Scala, Milan on 28 Marc 1896. Andrea Chenier tells the story of the romantic poet, caught up in the bloody terrors of the French Revolution. Chenier’s political beliefs are turned on their head thanks to his love for Maddalena di Coigny, an aristocrat who has lost everything from her former life. It is one of the most popular verismo operas with every leading tenor and soprano including it in their repertory. At this performance, the ill-fated lovers will be sung by Yusif Eyvazov and Sonya Yoncheva. Ambrogio Maestri sings the role of the servant, Gerard. Marco Armiliato conducts.
October departure: Opera lovers will relish the opportunity to see two contrasting operas from the first half of the 20th century which were landmarks in the musical history of the countries of their composers, Italo Montemezzi and Benjamin Britten. At first glance, an unlikely pair of bed fellows. Britten was at the dawn of post-war British music while Montemezzi’s masterpiece came as the twilight of Italian opera began. L’amore di tre rei by Montemezzi First performed at La Scala, Milan on April 1913. Michele Mariotti conducts this now rarely performed work, often hailed as a masterpiece. The opera calls for four singers of the highest calibre – in this performance Gunther Groissböck, Roberto Frontali and the soprano Chiara Isotton as Fiora, one of the most demanding and challenging roles written for soprano, sing the leading roles. At the premiere the conductor was Tullio Serfafin whilst at the opera’s first performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on 4 March 1918, Enrico Caruso led the cast. The opera was last performed at La Scala in 1953. Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten First performed at Sadler’s Wells, London on 7 June 1945. Simone Young conducts the American tenor Brandon Jovanovich as the distressed fisherman, Nicole Car is the woman who tries to save him and Olafur Sigurdarson is Balstrode. A special occasion to see Peter Grimes in one of the world’s most historic opera house.
