ITINERARY

DAY 1 | SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 2 NIGHTS AT GRADUATE CAMBRIDGE

LONDON TO CAMBRIDGE:

We meet in the morning at 11:30am at our London hotel, The Montague on the Gardens, and travel by private coach from London to Cambridge.

On arrival we check into our charmingly situated hotel, Graduate Cambridge, on the banks of the River Cam. The early afternoon is free. You could enjoy the hotel’s lovely situation by just sitting by the river with a drink or a coffee, or stroll to the town centre which is nearby, or you may like to visit the university’s famous Fitzwilliam Museum, with its rich collection including antiquities, applied arts, illuminated manuscripts and paintings by such artists as Constable, Hogarth and Gainsborough.

In the late afternoon our Tour Leader, Elizabeth Hayllar, will give an introduction to King’s College, Cambridge and we are then privileged to attend a special event, a private dinner with Daniel Hyde, Director of Music for the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

DAY 2 | SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 2 NIGHTS AT GRADUATE CAMBRIDGE

CAMBRIDGE:

This morning we experience a punting trip on the River Cam, with views of the Backs and waterways of Cambridge. This is followed by a walking tour of Cambridge with its ancient colleges, chapels and pathways. The tour will end at King’s College, Cambridge.

We then have the rare opportunity of sitting in on a closed rehearsal of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge in King’s College Chapel. In the afternoon we attend Evensong performed by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, conducted by Daniel Hyde.

DAY 3 | MONDAY 3 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE ARDEN HOTEL, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

CAMBRIDGE TO STRATFORD-UPON-AVON:

This morning we depart from Cambridge and travel towards Stratford-upon-Avon, stopping on the way at the National Trust property of Upton House.

We enjoy an introduction to the National Trust’s Upton House. Time is then allowed to explore the house, its internationally important art and porcelain collections, and its beautiful, extensive gardens. From Upton House we proceed to Stratford-upon-Avon, where we settle into The Arden Hotel, delightfully located in the heart of this historic town, close by the Avon River.

The evening is free to rest, or to stroll through the town. You might like to take a short walk to the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity, along paths and gardens that border the Avon River. In a striking position on the banks of the river, the church is Stratford-upon-Avon’s oldest building and England's most visited parish church because of its beauty and situation, and because it is the church where William Shakespeare was baptised and buried.

DAY 4 | TUESDAY 4 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE ARDEN HOTEL, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON:

This morning we are introduced to our Shakespearean experience with a visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace, a restored 16th-century half-timbered house, located in pretty gardens, in Henley Street, where it is believed that William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years. This is followed by a trip up the RSC Tower to enjoy views across scenic Stratford-upon-Avon, with its historic town centre and the River Avon winding through it.

We then travel to Shottery to visit the historic cottage that was the home of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway. Built more than 500 years ago and extended over the years, much of the original survives, including furniture such as the Hathaway bed. We are given an introduction to the cottage and have the opportunity to wander through its beautiful cottage gardens and orchards.

We come together in the evening to enjoy a delicious dinner together.

DAY 5 | WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE ARDEN HOTEL, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON:

This morning we travel to a National Trust property, the delightful moated Tudor manor house of Baddesley Clinton, which probably originated in the 13th-century, when large areas of the Forest of Arden were cleared for farmland. On arrival we have an introduction to the house. Time is then allowed to explore the house and enjoy its charming gardens.

In the afternoon, we return to Stratford-upon-Avon where we have time to explore the town further, or to relax before the evening’s performance.

In the early evening we hear a talk exploring the literary and historical context of The Merry Wives of Windsor before attending a performance by the celebrated Royal Shakespeare Company.

THEATRE PERFORMANCE - ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, 7:15pm
William Shakespeare The Merry Wives of Windsor

Cast:
Jessica Alade Simple
Omar Bynon Pistol
John Dougall Shallow
Riess Fennell Robert/Student
Richard Goulding Frank Ford
Siubhan Harrison Alice Ford
John Hodgkinson Sir John Falstaff
Emily Houghton Host of the Garter
Ian Hughes Sir Hugh Evans
Wil Johnson George Page
Yasemin Junqueira Student/Ensemble
John Leader Fenton
David Mara Rugby
Tadeo Martinez Robin
Shazia Nicholls Mrs Quickly
David Partridge Bardolph/John
Samantha Spiro Mistress Page
Jason Thorpe Dr Caius
Tara Tijani Anne Page
Patrick Walshe Mcbride Slender
Yasemin Ӧzdemir Nym

Creative:
Blanche McIntyre director
Matthew Dan assistant director
Robert Innes Hopkins set & costume designer
Malcom Rippeth lighting designer
Tim Sutton composer

DAY 6 | THURSDAY 6 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE RANDOLPH HOTEL, OXFORD

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TO OXFORD:

This morning we depart Stratford-upon-Avon for Oxford. We make a stop en route for lunch at a delightful English pub in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Following lunch we continue onto Oxford. On arrival we check into The Randolph Hotel, a historic 5-star hotel that takes inspiration from the University of Oxford’s history. The hotel and guest rooms play homage to its celebrated innovators and alumni throughout the hotel, such as Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll and famed playwright and poet Oscar Wilde. Guest rooms are decorated with sumptuous custom wallpaper inspired by the city’s native flowers and birds and period features. The hotel is conveniently located in Oxford’s city centre and steps away from the Ashmolean Museum and iconic colleges, including St. John’s and Trinity.

In the afternoon we go on a walking tour of Oxford, visiting some of the historic halls and courtyards, and enjoying views of the clustered spires in this ancient seat of learning. The evening is then free to relax.

DAY 7 | FRIDAY 7 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE RANDOLPH HOTEL, OXFORD

OXFORD:

This morning we visit Blenheim Palace, one of England's largest houses, built between 1705 and 1722. It was the home of Winston Churchill’s forebears. We have a private guided tour of the Palace which reveals not only the sumptuous reception halls and the splendid private quarters, but also the history of this eminent family.

Following our guided tour, time is allowed to wander over the sweeping lawns and through the award-winning formal gardens.

In the early evening we enjoy a private opera recital arranged exclusively for guests on the tour with bass-baritone Ossian Huskinson and pianist Matthew Fletcher. We will see Ossian in the role of Jupiter tomorrow evening in Garsington Opera’s production of Platée. The recital will take place in the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building in beautiful St Hilda’s College. Following the recital, we have drinks and canapés and the opportunity to talk with the artists.

DAY 8 | SATURDAY 8 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE RANDOLPH HOTEL, OXFORD

OXFORD AND EXCURSION TO GARSINGTON OPERA:

In the morning there is a talk by Elizabeth Hayllar about this evening’s opera.

Following this, the late morning and early afternoon are free. You might like to rest ahead of our visit to Garsington Opera, or a short stroll through beautiful Oxford might also be relaxing. If you feel like some exploration, you might consider visiting the Ashmolean Museum, with its amazing collection of artefacts, specialising in art and archaeology. It is located just across the road from our hotel.

In the afternoon we travel to spectacular Wormsley Estate where the 18th-century country house nestles in the rolling, green Chiltern Hills. We have time to enjoy the landscaped grounds and to visit the 18th-century Walled Garden before attending an opera performance at Garsington Opera. We have a gourmet 3-course dinner during the extended interval.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - GARSINGTON OPERA, 5:35pm
Jean-Philippe Rameau Platée

Paul Agnew conductor
Louisa Muller director
Samuel Boden Platée
Mireille Asselin La Folie
Robert Murray Thespis & Mercure
Jonathan McGovern Momus
Henry Waddington Cithéron & Un Satyre
Ossian Huskinson Jupiter
Holly Brown Thalie
Holly Teague Clarine
Victoria Songwei Li Amor
Annabel Kennedy Juno
Audrey Tsang Maenad 1
Nancy Holt Maenad 2

After the opera we return by private coach to Oxford.

DAY 9 | SUNDAY 9 JUNE 2024

1ST OF 5 NIGHTS AT THE MONTAGUE ON THE GARDENS, LONDON

OXFORD TO LONDON:

This morning we travel to London and check into The Montague on the Gardens, a boutique Georgian townhouse in elegant Bloomsbury. The Montague is a peaceful hideaway in the heart of the city, and less than a 5-minute walk to the British Museum. The hotel offers exceptional service.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax or to explore London. There are many delightful attractions in London you might like to visit. One particularly enjoyable activity is to visit Handel’s House, located at 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, a 4 minute walk from Bond Street Underground Station. It was a new upper-middle class townhouse in 1723 when Handel, a bachelor who was 38 years old, rented it. He lived there for the rest of his life, dying in the upstairs bedroom in 1759. The details of his everyday life and the conditions in which he composed are very vivid when one makes this visit. Guests can sit in the very room in which Handel composed his Messiah in the autumn of 1741. From Handel’s House it is a 7 minute walk to elegant Regent Street, one of London's most beautiful and popular shopping streets.

DAY 10 | MONDAY 10 JUNE 2024

2ND OF 5 NIGHTS AT THE MONTAGUE ON THE GARDENS, LONDON

EXCURSION TO GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL OPERA:

In the morning there is a talk by Elizabeth Hayllar about this evening’s opera.

In the early afternoon we travel by private coach to Glyndebourne Estate, delightfully situated in the pastoral surroundings of the Sussex South Downs. In 1953 Vita Sackville West wrote of Glyndebourne: ‘The graciousness of civilisation here surely touches a peak where the arts of music, architecture and gardening combine for the delight of man.’

We are given time to stroll through the impressive grounds before attending a performance by the internationally celebrated Glyndebourne Festival. During the extended interval we enjoy a 3-course fine dining menu.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL OPERA, 5:00pm
Georges Bizet Carmen

Robin Ticciati conductor
Diane Paulus director
Rihab Chaieb Carmen
Dmytro Popov Don José
Dmitry Cheblykov Escamillo
Alex Otterburn Moralès
Sofia Fomina Micaëla
Dingle Yandell Zuniga
Elisabeth Boudreault Frasquita
Kezia Bienek Mércèdes
Loïc Félix Le Dancaïre
François Piolino Le Remendado
Esteban Lecoq Lillas Pastia
John Mackenzie-Lavansch Le Guide
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Glyndebourne Chorus

Following the performance, we return by private coach to our London hotel.

DAY 11 | TUESDAY 11 JUNE 2024

3RD OF 5 NIGHTS AT THE MONTAGUE ON THE GARDENS, LONDON

LONDON:

This morning there is a talk by Elizabeth Hayllar on this evening’s opera, Giordano’s Andrea Chénier.

We then travel to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden where we experience a backstage tour. We get glimpses of the sets and costumes, how they are made and stored, and we have an expert guide to explain it all to us.

The afternoon is free. At the conclusion of the backstage tour you might like to return to the hotel to rest before this evening’s performance, but Covent Garden is located in a fascinating district of London. There are colourful markets, restaurants and pubs immediately outside the opera house, and a short walk in any direction takes you to some of London’s icons. You could walk to Trafalgar Square to visit the fabulous National Gallery, or call in to the architectural jewel that is the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The Strand with its shops and cafes is only a few minutes’ stroll away.

In the early evening we travel to the Royal Opera House and enjoy a delicious pre-opera dinner. We then attend a performance of David McVicar's spectacular staging of Giordano’s Andrea Chénier at the iconic Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Antonio Pappano and starring Jonas Kaufmann and Sondra Radvanovsky.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, 7:30pm
Umberto Giordano Andrea Chénier

Antonio Pappano conductor
David McVicar director
Jonas Kaufmann Andrea Chénier
Sondra Radvanovsky Maddalena Di Coigny
Aleksei Isaev Carlo Gérard
Katia Ledoux Bersi
Alexander Kravets The Incredibile
Ashley Riches Roucher
Rosalind Plowright Contessa di Coigny
William Dazeley Pietro Fléville
Aled Hall The Abbé
Elena Zilio Madelon
Simon Thorpe Major-Domo
James Cleverton Mathieu
Eddie Wade Fouquier-Tinville
Jamie Woollard Dumas
Jeremy White Schmidt
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera Chorus

DAY 12 | WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE 2024

4TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT THE MONTAGUE ON THE GARDENS, LONDON

LONDON:

This morning we visit the beautiful mansion of Hertford House, where we take a private guided tour of the art treasures in the Wallace Collection with its unsurpassed displays of French 18th-century painting, furniture and porcelain and its superb Old Master paintings.  

The afternoon is free to rest or to explore London.

In the evening we travel to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the banks of the Thames River to attend a production. Shakespeare’s Globe is a spectacular re-creation of the theatre where many of Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed.

THEATRE PERFORMANCE - SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE THEATRE, 7:30pm
William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing

Sean Holmes director
Grace Smart designer
Jonnie Broadbent Dogberry
Calum Callaghan Borachio
Ryan Donaldson Don Pedro
Emma Ernest Margaret
Lydia Fleming Hero
Colm Gormley Antonio/Verges
John Lightbody Leonato
Robert Mountford Don John
Dharmesh Patel Conrade/Friar Francis
Ekow Quartey Benedick
Amalia Vitale Beatrice
Adam Wadsworth Claudio

DAY 13 | THURSDAY 13 JUNE 2024

5TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT THE MONTAGUE ON THE GARDENS, LONDON

EXCURSION TO GRANGE PARK OPERA:

In the morning there is a talk by Elizabeth Hayllar on Donizetti’s Daughter of the Regiment, which we will hear at Grange Park Opera in the evening.

Then, in the early afternoon, we travel to Grange Park Opera’s beautiful home in a former country retreat, nestled in woodland on a 400-acre estate at West Horsley Place, in Surrey.

There is time to explore the beautiful woodlands before attending Donizetti’s Daughter of the Regiment. We have a delicious 3-course dinner during the extended interval, and afterwards return to our London hotel.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - GRANGE PARK OPERA, 5:45pm
Gaetano Donizetti Daughter of the Regiment

Claire Levacher conductor
John Doyle director/designer
Julia Sitkovetsky Marie
Nico Darmanin Tonio
Enrico Marabelli Sergeant Sulpice
Anna Steiger The Marquise of Berkenfield
Henry Grant Kerswell Hortensius
Tim Bagley Peasant
Redmond Sanders Corporal
Harriet Thorpe The Duchess de Krakenthorp

DAY 14 | FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024

TOUR ENDS

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

INCLUSIONS

1–14 June 2024 (14 DAYS)

AUD$14,250 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$3,150
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 1 February 2024)
Final payment due: 29 March 2024

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium tickets for performances at the following venues and opera festivals; Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Garsington Opera, Grange Park Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Attendance at an exclusive private recital and Evensong in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge.

  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 Leader and Talks:

  • Tour leadership and background talks on the operas we will attend by Elizabeth Hayllar.

  • A background talk by a Shakespearean expert in Stratford-upon-Avon.

  • Dinner and the opportunity to talk with Daniel Hyde, Director of Music for the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

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

• Hotels: 13 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotels including:

  • Two nights at Graduate Cambridge in a Graduate River View King Room;

  • Three nights at The Arden Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon in a Deluxe King Room;

  • Three nights at The Randolph Hotel in a Graduate King Room;

  • Five nights at The Montague on the Gardens, London in a Classic King Room;

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. One lunch and six dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee. Drinks and canapés following the private recital.

• 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 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 tours. These 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 the United Kingdom.

• 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 1

All members of the group must feel comfortable walking for one–two hours, standing for long periods of time in museums, art galleries etc. and embarking/disembarking coaches.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

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

OPERA IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

GLYNDEBOURNE, GARSINGTON & GRANGE PARK Opera