ITINERARY

DAY 1 | WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

ARRIVE MILAN:

Arrive at our hotel, the stylish Rosa Grand Milano, conveniently located in the heart of Milan, overlooking historic Piazza Fontana. It is a 2-minute walk from the glorious Milan Duomo, and an 8-minute walk to the renowned Teatro alla Scala. The tastefully designed interiors of the Rosa Grand create a warm, inviting atmosphere in an intimate and private setting. Elegant decor, accented in gold and pink, reflects quintessential Italian craftsmanship. We recommend arriving at the hotel by 4:00pm.

In the evening we meet for a delicious dinner of local specialities and for an introduction by our Tour Leader, Fiona Campbell, who will outline what is to come over the duration of the tour.

DAY 2 | THURSDAY 13 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

MILAN:

In the morning we have a private guided tour lead by an art historian which includes a visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The church, its sophisticated architecture attributed to Bramante, is an outstanding work of Renaissance architecture in its own right. We also visit San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, originally attached to the most important female convent of the Benedictines in the city, and entirely painted with strikingly beautiful 16th-century frescoes from the school of Leonardo da Vinci.

The afternoon is free. You might decide to rest before the evening’s performance or you might like to visit The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is a few minutes’ walk from our hotel and one of the oldest enclosed shopping malls in the world. It is spectacular with its blue glass vaulted ceilings, mosaic flooring and a towering central dome, and it also offers elegant bars and cafés. If you feel like shopping, you might enjoy visiting La Rinascente, a department store close to the hotel and next to the Duomo. It opens every day of the week, sells luxury brands and expensive goods, and the top floor has a number of tempting restaurants and terraces.

In the early evening there is a talk by our Tour Leader, Fiona Campbell, about the performance we will attend this evening. We then attend a performance of Rudolf Nureyev’s staging of the ballet La Bayadère at Teatro alla Scala, one of the leading opera and ballet theatres in the world.

BALLET PERFORMANCE - TEATRO ALLA SCALA, 8:00pm
Ludwig Minkus La Bayadère

Virna Toppi Nikiya
Nicola Del Freo Solor
Gaia Andreanò Gamzatti
Rudolf Nureyev choreography and staging
Kevin Rhodes conductor
Luisa Spinatelli sets and costumes
Teatro alla Scala of Ballet Company and Orchestra

DAY 3 | FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

MILAN:

This morning we have a private guided tour by an art historian of Milan's Duomo, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, which has 135 spires and 3,200 statues adorning its roof. As part of our tour we take an elevator to the rooftop for a close-up view, and to enjoy magnificent views of the city below.

Our afternoon is free and you might like to rest before this evening’s performance. However, if you feel like exploring something intimately connected to the city’s history you might like to visit the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, less than a half hour’s walk, or a 15-minute taxi journey from the hotel. Founded in the 4th-century by Saint Ambrose, the city’s patron saint, the basilica has been rebuilt, extended and restored since then. The present church is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, built in the 12th-century around the choir of the 9th-century church. Another option is to take a 20-minute walk from our hotel to the Pinacoteca di Brera, a major public museum housed in a palazzo in the Brera district, which has an eminent Italian art collection, especially focused on Venetian and Lombard paintings. The Brera District is also full of small art galleries and boutiques that you might enjoy.

In the evening we come together and enjoy a gourmet 3-course dinner.

DAY 4 | SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2024

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

MILAN:

This morning we have a private guided tour in Castello Sforzesco, originally a fortress, then enlarged into a princely residence, and now the home of several museums. One of these is the Museo d’Arte Antica, which features the Pietà Rondanini, Michelangelo’s final masterpiece.

The afternoon is free. You may like to rest but only a 5-minute walk from our hotel, across the Piazza del Duomo, is the Museo del Novecento, a gallery with an outstanding collection of 20th-century art particularly emphasising Italian artists. Works are displayed chronologically, giving visitors an excellent introduction to modern Italian art history. There are also works from international avant-garde art movements, including masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian.

In the early evening Fiona Campbell will give a talk about the performance we will attend this evening. We then attend our second performance at the renowned Teatro alla Scala.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - TEATRO ALLA SCALA, 8:00pm
Jules Massenet Werther

Alain Altinoglu conductor
Christof Loy staging & choreography
Johannes Leiacker sets
Benjamin Bernheim Werther
Jean Sébastien Bou Albert
Armando Noguera Le Bailli
Rodolphe Briand Schmidt
Alfonso Antoniozzi Johann
Victoria Karkacheva Charlotte
Francesca Pia Vitale Sophie
Teatro alla Scala Orchestra

DAY 5 | SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL SITEA, TURIN

MILAN TO TURIN:

This morning we travel by private coach to Turin, capital city of Piedmont in Northern Italy, and the first capital city of Italy from 1861 to 1865. In Turin stately baroque buildings and cafes line the city’s boulevards and grand squares, and the city’s backdrop to the northwest consists of dramatic views of the Alps.

On arrival in Turin, we check into our elegant 5-star hotel, Grand Hotel Sitea, conveniently located in Turin’s city centre and close to many of Turin’s attractions.

In the afternoon we have a private guided tour of Museo Egizio which, with its 30,000 artefacts including papyrus scrolls, sarcophagi and jewellery, has one of the world’s largest collections of Egyptian antiquities anywhere outside of Cairo, and it is Turin's most visited attraction. Dating back to 1824 and reopening in 2015 after a major renovation, the museum has four levels of permanent collections and special exhibits which offer a comprehensive examination of the art, culture, and history of ancient Egypt.

In the evening we meet for a delicious dinner where we can try regional specialties.

DAY 6 | MONDAY 17 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL SITEA, TURIN

TURIN:

In the morning we have a private guided walking tour to introduce us to some of Turin’s spectacular and iconic sites. We walk through busy squares such as Piazza San Carlo and Palazzo Carignano, and we hear stories about the city’s history and culture. We visit Piazza Castello, flanked by the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, the historic arcades of Via Po, with their bookshops, cafés, and stores. We call into Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo to view the impressive octagonal dome and original frescoes and Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, home of the famous Shroud of Turin.

In the afternoon we have a private guided tour of the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, housed in the spectacular and unique Mole Antonelliana. The museum has one of the most complete film collections in the world, including 7,000 film titles, and many thousands of film artefacts, including paintings, old prints, photographic documents, posters, magic lanterns, old cameras, scripts and even more memorabilia relating to movie making.

Following our guided tour we take the panoramic lift to the viewing platform in Mole Antonelliana. Built in the second half of the 19th-century, and designed and named after architect, Antonelli, the imposing 279-metre-high structure, with its high dome dominates the city. From the viewing platform we can admire panoramic views of the city and the Alps.

The evening is free to rest or to continue exploring Turin by taking a 10-minute stroll towards the Po River to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the largest square of Turin which is filled with alfresco dining.

DAY 7 | TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL SITEA, TURIN

TURIN:

Today begins with a private guided tour of Teatro Regio Torino. The Teatro Regio (Royal Theatre) was inaugurated on 26 December 1740, however, the theatre was closed on royal order in 1792. Following many renamings of the theatre during the Napoleonic War, it was returned to its original name, Teatro Regio, in Napoleon’s fall in 1814. In 1936, Teatro Regio was destroyed by a fire and following the war and several financial hardships, the theatre as we know now, with its striking contemporary interior design hidden behind the original facade, was inaugurated on 10 April 1973.

The afternoon is free to explore Turin. You may enjoy visiting the Sabauda Gallery, which houses the private art collection which the Dukes of Savoy, rulers of Turin, collected over the centuries. The opulent wing of the Royal Palace of Turin that has housed the collection since 2014 makes the perfect setting for the great works of art on show, with about 500 works by Piedmontese, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and European artists, including works by Fra Angelico, Filippino Lippi, Mantegna, Veronese, van Eyck and Rubens. If you do visit, do not miss Bernardo Bellotto’s paintings of Turin!

You might find it fascinating to visit the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile. Turin has a long tradition of motor vehicle design and manufacturing; Fiat for example is an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Car Company of Turin). Consequently, it is natural for the most important Italian automobile museum to be in Turin. Located a half hour walk, or a short taxi ride from the hotel, the museum offers a comprehensive display of the development of the motor car. The collection of antique and classic cars is outstanding, and multimedia exhibits tell their stories and put automobiles in a social and cultural context as well.

In the early evening we have the privilege of attending a private opera recital with soprano Francesca Pia Vitale in the acoustically brilliant Teatro Vittoria. We will have heard Francesca performing at Teatro alla Scala’s production of Massenet’s Werther on Saturday 15 June.

OPERA RECITAL - TEATRO VITTORIA

Francesca Pia Vitale soprano
Jihye Lee piano

DAY 8 | WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

TURIN TO VERONA:

In the morning we leave Turin and travel by private coach to Verona. We break our journey in the delightful little town of Sirmione, a resort town located on a small peninsular jutting out into Lake Garda from its southern bank. In Sirmione, picturesque Rocca Scaligera, a medieval castle, overlooks the lake. At the tip of the peninsula, about 15-minutes’ walk from Rocca Scaligera is the Archaeological Site of Grotte di Catullo, which incorporates a Roman villa, a museum and olive trees. We have time to explore the charming town of Sirmione.

We then continue onto Verona and check into the 5-star Due Torri Hotel, a 14th-century palace, conveniently situated in the historic centre of Verona. This evening is free to rest or to begin your exploration of Verona.

DAY 9 | THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

EXCURSION TO MANTUA:

This morning we travel by private coach to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mantua, famous for its artistic and cultural heritage. On arrival we have a private guided walking tour of central Mantua to help us to understand and enjoy its history, architecture and artistic legacy. We proceed to a private guided tour of the Teatro Bibiena, designed in late Baroque or early Rococo style by Antonio Galli Bibiena. A few weeks after its official opening in December 1769, 13-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed a resoundingly successful concert here. His father, Leopold Mozart, wrote of the theatre: ‘In all my life, I have never seen anything more beautiful of its kind.’ We then have a guided tour of the grand Ducal Palace with its some 500 rooms. Built between the 14th and the 17th-century by the Gonzaga family as their royal residence, the buildings which comprise the palace are connected by corridors and galleries and are enhanced by inner courts and wide gardens.

We return to Verona and in the early evening we have a talk by Fiona Campbell about this evening’s opera. Following this we enjoy a delicious pre-concert dinner at one of Verona’s finest restaurants. We then walk together to Arena di Verona, Verona’s beautiful and remarkably well-preserved 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, where we attend a performance of Verdi’s Aida.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - ARENA DI VERONA, 9:30pm
Giuseppe Verdi Aida

Marco Armiliato director
Stefano Poda director, set design, costumes, lighting design, choreography
Paolo Giani Cei assistant director, set design, costumes, lighting design, choreography
Roberto Gabbiani chorus master
Gaetano Petrosino dance company coordinator
Michele Olcese director of stage design
Marta Torbidoni Aida
Agnieszka Rehlis Amneris
Gregory Kunde Radamès
Riccardo Fassi The King
Rafał Siwek Ramfis
Amartuvshin Enkhbat Amonasro
Riccardo Rados A messenger
Francesca Maionchi High Priestess
Fondazione Arena di Verona orchestra, choir, dance and technicians

DAY 10 | FRIDAY 21 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

VERONA:

This morning we have a guided walking tour of central Verona to discover the city’s history, architecture and culture. The tour includes the busy Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe, in antiquity a Roman Forum and today one of the most picturesque squares in Italy. We see the Scaligeri family’s elegant gothic tombs, and we stroll through the Piazza dei Signori featuring, on its north side, the 15th-century Loggia del Consiglio, Verona's finest Renaissance structure, and the opulent Palazzo degli Scaligeri.

The afternoon is free, for rest, or possibly further exploration. Some delightful attractions are close to our hotel. Two ancient, beautiful churches which contain stunning frescoes, sculptures and paintings, are Verona’s largest church, the neighbouring Gothic Basilica di Sant’Anastasia (13th to 15th centuries), and the Romanesque Duomo Santa Maria Matricolare (12th-century) which is only a 5-minute walk away. A 25-minute walk from the hotel will bring you to the magnificent Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore (10th and 14th centuries), one of Italy’s greatest Romanesque masterpieces. If you love gardens, a walk of just over 10-minutes will take you to the Giardino Giusti, the splendid annex to Giusti Palace. Started at the end of the 16th-century this late Renaissance garden still has all its original 16th-century features: fountains, acoustic caves, pergolas, mythological statues and a small yet complex maze, one of the oldest in Europe. The garden’s beauty inspired the German poet Goethe to include it in his travel writings.

In the early evening we have a talk by Fiona Campbell about this evening’s opera. We then walk together to Arena di Verona, where we attend a performance of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - ARENA DI VERONA, 9:30pm
Gioachino Rossini Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Hugo De Ana direction, set design, costumes, lights
George Petrou conductor
Leda Lojodice choreography
Roberto Gabbiani chorus master
Michele Olcese director of stage design
Fondazione Arena di Verona orchestra, choir, dance and technician
René Barbera Il Conte d’Almaviva
Paolo Bordogna Bartolo
Vasilisa Berzhanskaya Rosina
Mattia Olivieri Figaro
Roberto Tagliavini Basilio
Marianna Mappa Berta
Nicolò Ceriani Fiorello/Ambrogio
Domenico Apollonio Un ufficiale

DAY 11 | SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT PALAZZO VENEZIANO

VERONA TO VENICE:

In the morning we journey by private air-conditioned coach to Venice. On arrival in Venice, we travel by private boat to our canal-side hotel, Palazzo Veneziano. The hotel is located just one water bus stop from St. Mark’s Square. Famous Venetian locations such as the Peggy Guggenheim, the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, the famous Teatro la Fenice Theatre and the Rialto Bridge, are all within walking distance.

Our late afternoon and evening are free. This allows us the opportunity to explore beautiful Venice, to stroll along the canals, to wander through the narrow streets and to visit the fascinating shops, bars and cafes.

DAY 12 | SUNDAY 23 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT PALAZZO VENEZIANO

VENICE:

In the morning we visit the heart of Venice, the Piazza San Marco. There we have a private guided tour by an art historian of the Doge’s Palace, one of the grandest secular buildings in Italy.

In the early afternoon there is a talk by Fiona Campbell about the opera we will see at Teatro la Fenice. We then attend a performance of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos at Teatro la Fenice, a renowned landmark in the history of opera, especially in the 19th-century, when many operas were premiered here by leading composers such as Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - TEATRO LA FENICE, 5:00pm
Richard Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos

Markus Stenz conductor
Alfonso Caiani chorus master
Paul Curran director
Gary McCann sets & costumes
Howard Hudson lighting
Sara Jakubiak Ariadne
John Matthew Myers Bacchus
Olga Pudova Zerbinetta
Markus Werba The Music Master
Paolo Antognetti An Officer
Anna Lucia Richter The Composer
La Fenice Orchestra & Choir

DAY 13 | MONDAY 24 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT PALAZZO VENEZIANO

VENICE:

This morning we go on a guided walking tour with an art historian to see some of the great art ‘in situ’ in Venice. While many works by the great artists are in galleries, there is much still in the locations for which the art was commissioned. Our walk gives us the opportunity to visit Titian’s paintings in St. Mary of the Friars, and Tintoretto’s work in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

Following our guided tour, we have a free afternoon. Wandering the narrow, picturesque streets of Venice, browsing through the attractive shops, stopping for a coffee or a gelato, photographing, or just enjoying the classic glimpses of canals, narrow streets and small squares and the Venetian life contained in them, can be a totally fulfilling activity without any need for a specific destination. However, if you would like a specific destination, you could visit the wonderful Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a modern art museum on the Grand Canal, one of the most visited attractions in Venice. Housed in an 18th-century palace, the collection includes works of prominent Italian futurists and American modernists working in such genres as Cubism, Surrealism and abstract expressionism. The gallery is a 15-minute walk from our hotel.

We meet in the evening to enjoy a gondola ride ahead of our final gourmet dinner of the tour.

DAY 14 | TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2024

TOUR ENDS:

Following our final breakfast at the hotel, the tour concludes.

We will arrange one transfer from our hotel to Marco Polo Airport, departing at 11:00am.

INCLUSIONS

12–25 JUNE 2024 (14 DAYS)

AUD$14,450 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$3,450
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 12 February 2024)
Final payment due: 9 April 2024

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium tickets for two performances at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, two performances at Arena di Verona and an opera at Teatro la Fenice in Venice. Attendance at an exclusive private recital in Turin. Please note: The venues and festivals will announce their 2024 seasons in late 2023 and early 2024. There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on final confirmation of evening performances.

• Tour Leaders and Talks: Tour leadership and five exclusive private talks by Fiona Campbell.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Hotels: 13 nights' accommodation including:

  • Four nights at the 4-star Rosa Grand Milano in a Deluxe Room;

  • Three nights at the 5-star Grand Hotel Sitea, Turin in a Classic Room;

  • Three nights at the 5-star Due Torri Hotel, Verona in a Deluxe Room;

  • Three nights at the 4-star Palazzo Veneziano in a Superior Room;

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach, boat transfer from our coach to the hotel in Venice and one transfer from our hotel in Venice to Marco Polo Airport on the final day of the tour – the transfer will depart the hotel at 11:00am.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides will be used at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour (with the exception of one transfer at 11:00am on the final day of the tour from our hotel in Venice to Marco Polo Airport). Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.

• Special Taxes: Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will endeavour to advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart.

• Visas: Costs associated with obtaining visas for countries visited on your tour. Please note that Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa to enter Italy.

• Travel Insurance: Please note that you are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for the duration of your tour. If you live in Australia, Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 2

All members of the tour must have the ability to:

• undertake walking tours of two-three hours duration, including using stairs and walking on uneven ground;

• stand for long periods in museum, art galleries etc;

• climb staircases of 100 or more steps;

• embark / disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

OPERA & ART IN NORTHERN ITALY

SOLD OUT | WAITLIST ONLY

This tour is now sold out. To register your place on the waitlist, please fill out the form below, or contact us on 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or contact@hayllarmusictours.com

Alternatively, you might be interested in our other tour to Northern Italy in 2024 which includes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear Anna Netrebko in Puccini’s Turandot at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, alongside a performance of Bizet’s Carmen at the spectacular, outdoor Arena di Verona and four chamber music performances at LacMus Festival, an International classical music festival held in historic villas, lush gardens and charming churches on the shores of Lake Como: