Enjoy a break with a difference in the New Year, by joining like-minded souls on a Travel for the Arts cultural holiday. Here are just a few ideas to whet the appetite, including two that fall over Easter, saving precious annual leave.
Celebrate Easter at the 25th Berlin Festtage: 9 – 13 April 2020, from £2,095 pp
Next year Daniel Barenboim’s Easter Festival celebrates 25 years, and Travel for the Arts has a special break to Berlin for a programme of Beethoven and Mozart. Sir Andràs Schiff performs piano works by these great composers, whilst Barenboim conducts Beethoven’s Symphonies 2 and 9, the latter with Beethoven’s famous ‘Ode to Joy’. Further Mozart comes with a new production of Così fan tutte starring soprano Barbara Frittoli and bass Ferruccio Furlanetto and conducted by Daniel Barenboim. The itinerary also includes an excursion to Sanssouci Palace at Potsdam and a walking tour of Berlin.
Easter Celebrations in Budapest: 9 – 14 April 2020, from £1,875
Enjoy an Easter with a difference on this break which focuses on musical works that have been inspired by Biblical stories: the ‘Good Friday’ scene from Wagner’s final music drama, Parsifal; Bach’s oratorio, St Matthew Passion, considered by many as the pinnacle of church music and Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana which takes place on Easter Sunday. All performances will take place at the Erkel Theatre, named after the father of Hungarian grand opera, composer Franz Erkel. The trip also includes a tour of Budapest and a visit to the Franz Liszt Music Academy – Hungary’s most famous son.
Renee Fleming in Baden Baden: 13-16 March 2020, from £1,820
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 opera expert and author Helena Matheopoulos. There will also be a guided tour of the pretty spa town and an excursion to the city of Strasbourg.
Wonderful Wrocław: 14-18 April 2020, from £1,825 pp (and meet the artist)
Wrocław is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Poland; rich in history, it has a wonderful architectural heritage, symbolized by its reconstructed and magnificent market square. Wrocław is also a dynamic cultural centre and this pleasant spring tour combines a Gala performance (starring renowned Polish tenor Piotr Beczała) at the elegant, state-of-the-art National Opera Forum with productions of Carmen and Nabucco at the beautiful and more traditional Wrocław Opera House.
All tour prices are based on two people sharing a room and include flights, transfers, 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).
