The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds | Hayllar Music Tours
The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds | Hayllar Music Tours
The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
THE LONGBOROUGH RING & THE COTSWOLDS
15–23 JUNE 2024 (9 DAYS) | FOUR OPERA PERFORMANCES, EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE TALKS & AN EXPLORATION OF THE PICTURESQUE COTSWOLDS
An exhilarating opportunity to experience Wagner’s enthralling Ring Cycle, created especially for Longborough Festival Opera by Amy Lane, Artistic Director of Copenhagen Opera Festival, and Longborough’s Music Director and eminent Wagnerian Anthony Negus.
The intimate and exclusive Longborough Festival Opera experience is accompanied by an immersion into the beautiful Cotswolds which, with its green rolling hills and attractive small towns and villages built of honey-coloured Cotswold stone, has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Have your Ring Cycle experience enriched with informative talks on each of the operas by musicologist and Wagner expert, Dr David Kram AM. On the days between performances there are picturesque and stimulating excursions to some of the district’s most notable attractions, charming villages, stunning gardens and historic houses.
AUD$11,450 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
LOYALTY CLUB PRICE: AUD$10,877.50
Single supplement: AUD$2,150
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$3,000 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 15 February 2024)
Final payment due: 12 April 2024
SOLD OUT | WAITLIST ONLY
tour leader
Overview | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Overview
Overview | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Overview
PERFORMANCES
Band B central stalls seats to Wagner’s Ring Cycle, created especially for Longborough Festival Opera and their 500-seat theatre, by Amy Lane, Artistic Director of Copenhagen Opera Festival, and Longborough’s Music Director and eminent Wagnerian Anthony Negus.
Anthony Negus Conductor
Amy Lane Director
Paul Carey Jones Wotan
Mark Stone Alberich
Lee Brisset Brünnhilde
Mark Le Brocq Loge / Siegmund
Bradley Daley Siegfried
Emma Bell Sieglinde
Madeleine Shaw Fricka
Catherine Carby Waltraute
Simon Wilding Fafner
Mae Heydorn Erda
Adrian Dwyer Mime
Julian Close Hunding / Hagen
Mari Wyn Williams Woglinde
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones Wellgunde
Katie Stevenson Floßhilde
Wyn Pencarreg Donner
Charne Rochford Froh
OVERVIEW
Four exclusive private talks by Wagner expert Dr David Kram AM, about each of the operas. These talks focus on how the music enhances the meaning, and so contribute greatly to one’s understanding and appreciation of the performances.
An exclusive private Q&A with Australian tenor Bradley Daley, who stars as Siegfried in Longborough Festival Opera’s Ring Cycle.
A morning visit, with time to explore, one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water.
A private guided tour of Sudeley Castle, located near the medieval market town of Winchcombe, which offers an understanding of its fascinating history spanning over 1,000 years, and time to enjoy its magnificent gardens.
A private guided tour of Compton Verney, a Grade I listed Robert Adam mansion set in Capability Brown landscaped parkland, home to a growing collection of works of art from around the world, also including a unique collection of British Folk Art, British portraits, plus an exciting program of changing exhibitions, followed by a visit to charming Stow-on-the-Wold.
A visit to the beautiful National Trust Gardens of Hidcote, one of the best-known and most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain, followed by a visit to the town of Chipping Campden, the town once described by historian G.M Trevelyan, as having ‘the most beautiful street now left on the island’.
The opportunity to stay in the village of Lower Slaughter, one of the Cotswolds most picturesque villages, to stroll around the village, and to take the 20-minutes’ walk through beautiful Cotswold countryside to nearby Upper Slaughter.
The pleasure of travelling in a private coach through the green rolling hills, forests and golden or honey-coloured limestone villages of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A welcome dinner at our hotel, four delicious dinners at Longborough Festival Opera and credit to use at the hotel’s restaurant on three evenings.
Travel in a small group (maximum 20 people) giving you the opportunity to get to know your fellow guests and to enjoy one-on-one time with your expert Tour Leader.
TOUR LEADER
DR DAVID KRAM AM
Dr David Kram AM, Artistic Director of the MTO-German-Australian Opera Grant and of Concertori Recordings (USA) and Senior Fellow at The University of Melbourne, is a distinguished conductor, artistic director, academic, composer and pianist working in Australia, Europe and Asia. In 2020 Dr Kram was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for “significant service to the performing arts, to opera and chamber choirs, and to education”.
His conducting positions include Kapellmeister, Stadttheater Basel; Erster Kapellmeister, Nationaltheater Mannheim; Resident Conductor, The Australian Opera, and Music Director, State Opera of South Australia. Guest conducting spots in 2016 to 2023 have included recording a CD with Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra for Concertori Recordings, New York; Pecan Summer and Eumeralla for Short Black Opera; Così fan tutte for Iopera; the world premiere of Alon Trigger’s Kristallnacht Cantata, and for Melbourne Opera Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Der Rosenkavalier and in 2023, Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle.
David has returned to direct the Melbourne Chamber Choir in 2023 with Rachmaninov’s Vespers, a Percy Grainger program and a specially adapted Christmas Oratorio of J.S. Bach. David Kram’s first opera talk was for the Friends of the Grand Théâtre de Genève. Whilst in Sydney he was a regular speaker for the Friends of The Australian Opera and the Northside Opera Study Group. In Adelaide he organised many talks for the Friends of South Australian Opera and for many years has introduced concerts wherever he has performed. He enjoys engaging with audiences to satisfy individuals’ interests, providing memories which linger with them for years.
Hotel
THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
Set in the heart of one of the most picturesque Cotswold villages, The Slaughters Country Inn offers the authentic charm of a traditional village inn; exceptional food made with the best local produce, a fine selection of local ales, roaring log fires on cold evenings and a stunning terrace for when the sun shines. The Slaughters Country Inn is the perfect location for a country sojourn, with pretty, relaxing walks passing by the front door, and beautiful towns and villages and other Cotswold attractions close by. It is only a 15-minute drive from Longborough Festival Opera. The friendly and relaxed bar welcomes guests with sofas, rustic touches and shelves lined with books and board games and the Inn’s 25 guestrooms are all designed to reflect the property’s unique character, blending the traditional features of the oldest part of the house with contemporary design.
HOTEL ROOM OPTIONS:
The tour cost includes a Deluxe Room.
The tour cost including a Superior Room is an additional AUD$965.
Select a room type when booking below.
15–23 JUNE 2024 (9 DAYS)
AUD$11,450 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
Single supplement: AUD$2,150
SOLD OUT | WAITLIST ONLY
Itinerary | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Itinerary
Itinerary | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Itinerary
ITINERARY
DAY 1 | SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2024
1ST OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
TRAVEL FROM HILTON LONDON PADDINGTON TO LOWER SLAUGHTER IN THE COTSWOLDS:
We meet at 12:30pm at the Hilton London Paddington and depart at 1:00pm by private coach to The Slaughters Country Inn in Lower Slaughter. The journey is approximately two and a half hours.
Set in the heart of one of the most picturesque Cotswold villages, The Slaughters Country Inn offers the authentic charm of a traditional village inn; exceptional food made with the best local produce, a fine selection of local ales, roaring log fires on cold evenings and a beautiful terrace for when the sun shines.
On arrival there is time to settle in, then in the evening we join our fellow guests for an introduction to Wagner’s Ring Cycle by our Tour Leader Dr David Kram AM. Following this, we have an informative talk by an expert in the region about the history of the Cotswold District. We then enjoy a welcome dinner.
DAY 2 | SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2024
2ND OF 8 NIGHTS AT SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER AND LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA:
This morning we have an informative talk by Dr David Kram AM about Das Rheingold, the first opera in Wagner’s Ring Cycle and the opera we will attend this afternoon at Longborough Festival Opera.
Following our talk, we set out to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water, a short 10-minute drive from our hotel. The high street is bordered by a long wide green with the River Windrush flowing through it. The river is crossed by five low, arched stone bridges built between 1654 and 1953, and the area by the river is so peaceful and picturesque that it is hard to draw oneself away. However, there is a Motoring Museum, a Brewery and a very charming model village based on the village itself that you might visit. There are antique shops, tea rooms and specialty gift shops, even a perfumery that you could visit. The houses and shops in the village are constructed of the pale honey coloured limestone characteristic of the Cotswolds and they have the embellishments that make Cotswold architecture so picturesque, such as projecting gables, windows with stone mullions, and stone hoodmoulds over the doors. After our visit we return in our private coach to the hotel.
On our return to the hotel, time is allowed to prepare for this afternoon’s performance. We then travel by private coach the short distance (15-minutes drive) to Longborough Festival Opera to attend Das Rheingold. The opera will commence at 3:00pm and conclude just before 6:00pm. There will be no interval during the production. Following the performance we will enjoy a delicious dinner at the Festival’s restaurant.
OPERA PERFORMANCE - LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA, 3:00pm
Richard Wagner Das Rheingold
DAY 3 | MONDAY 17 JUNE 2024
3RD OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
SUDELEY CASTLE AND GARDENS AND PRIVATE Q&A WITH BRADLEY DALEY:
Today we visit Sudeley Castle and Gardens, in the heart of the Cotswolds, near the medieval market town of Winchcombe. An expert will lead us on a guided walk through the re-designed and refurbished exhibitions to help us gain an understanding of the castle’s fascinating 1000 year history. Sudeley Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds, Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII, who lived and died in the castle. Henry himself, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Richard III have all played a part in Sudeley’s story. King Charles I found refuge here during the Civil War, when his nephew Prince Rupert established headquarters at the Castle. There will also be time to enjoy the magnificent gardens.
After our tour we will return to our hotel in Lower Slaughter.
In the early evening, we gather for the exclusive opportunity to attend a private Q&A with Australian tenor Bradley Daley, who stars as Siegfried in Longborough Festival Opera’s Ring Cycle. The Q&A will be hosted by our Tour Leader David Kram, but with ample opportunity for guests to also ask questions.
The rest of the evening is free. A GBP£45.00 dinner credit is available for use at the hotel’s restaurant.
DAY 4 | TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2024
4TH OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
LOWER SLAUGHTER AND LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA:
This morning we have an informative talk by Dr David Kram AM about Die Walküre, the second opera in Wagner’s Ring Cycle and the opera we will attend this afternoon at Longborough Festival Opera.
Following our talk the late morning and early afternoon are free, and you might like to rest before today’s opera. On the other hand, if you feel like some exploration, you could have a stroll around picture-perfect Lower Slaughter. The Slaughters rather unappealing name is actually derived from the Old English name ‘Slothre’, meaning a wetland or ‘slough’, referring to its location beside the river. ‘Slothre’ was noted in the Domsday Book, showing that Lower Slaughter has been inhabited for almost 1,000 years. A small clear stream, the River Eye, runs through the centre of the village adding greatly to its charm. Many of the houses were built in the 16th and 17th-centuries and the majority are of local Cotswold stone. There is a very picturesque old mill, easy to find by walking along the path following the river upstream. In the Domesday Book a mill is recorded as being where the current mill sits, although the existing building dates back to the 19th-century. It was in use until the late 1950s, and now it is a gift shop.
Opposite The Slaughters Country Inn, on the other side of the river, is the attractive Church of St Mary the Virgin sitting in its historic cemetery. It was constructed in the 13th-century, although much of what is there today was added during the 19th-century.
Lower Slaughter Manor, now a hotel, is on a site where there has been a manor since at least the year 1004. The current house has been added to and altered over many generations, with significant sections dating from the late 17th-century. A restaurant in Lower Slaughter Manor is open to the public, but it would be wise to book if you are thinking of eating there.
The village is so pretty that it has been used as a set for movies, for example in 1944 it was the location used for Tawny Pipit, one of the earliest conservation movies and it was also used in many scenes in the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.
In the afternoon we depart for Longborough Festival Opera and the festival’s performance of Die Walküre, which begins at 3:00pm. There is a short interval at 4:15pm and at 6:30pm a 90-minute dining interval, where we will enjoy a delightful dinner in the Festival’s restaurant.
OPERA PERFORMANCE - LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA, 3:00pm
Richard Wagner Die Walküre
DAY 5 | WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE 2024
5TH OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
COMPTON VERNEY AND STOW-ON-THE-WOLD:
This morning we travel by coach for a private guided tour of Compton Verney, an award-winning art gallery 45-minutes from Lower Slaughter which offers enjoyable ways to experience art and also the natural beauty of its stunning landscape. Housed in a Grade I listed Robert Adam mansion, set in a Capability Brown landscaped parkland, Compton Verney is home to a growing collection of works of art from around the world including Naples 1600-1800, Germanic art 1450-1650, British portraits including Reynolds, an exceptional collection of Chinese bronzes, a unique collection of British Folk Art, the Marx-Lambert collection, plus an exciting program of changing exhibitions.
After enjoying Compton Verney, we travel to the medieval market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, its unique Saxon name meaning ‘holy place on the hill’, where we have time to have lunch and explore a little. In medieval times the village was the centre for the wool trade, hence the towns narrow alleyways which were originally constructed to help shepherds herd their sheep to market. Nowadays the Cotswolds town is filled with fascinating architecture from beautiful 16th-century churches, to unique crooked houses. The Cotswold village has plenty of excellent shops to explore, including galleries, craft and antique shops, and there are several spots for lunch or afternoon tea and scones.
When we return to the hotel the evening is free. A GBP£45.00 dinner credit is available for use at the hotel’s restaurant.
DAY 6 | THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2024
6TH OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
LOWER SLAUGHTER AND LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA:
This morning we have an informative talk on today’s performance of Siegfried, by our Tour Leader, Dr David Kram.
Afterwards you may like to rest in readiness for the afternoon’s performance, but if you enjoy walking and want to see more of this pretty area of the Cotswolds, you could take the 1 mile (1.6 km) walk to the smaller village of Upper Slaughter. Like Lower Slaughter, it straddles the banks of the River Eye, and both villages have remained unchanged for more than a century with no building work taking place at all since 1906. The less-visited Upper Slaughter has cottages around the square reconstructed by the famous architect Sir Edward Lutyens in 1906. The River Eye flows between neatly-mown grassy banks and is crossed several times by quaint old bridges. There are charming stone steps leading into the river presumably built to enable villagers to more easily get water. A tiny Methodist chapel dating from 1865 also nestles by the brook. The church of St Peter's, in the Norman and Early English style, dates from the 12th-century. Francis Edward Witts, who wrote 'Diary of a Cotswold Parson', was rector of the Slaughters from 1808 to 1854. Alternatively, there is a pretty 1.6 mile (2.6 km) walk to Bourton-on-the-Water, and you should allow at least 2 hours for that round trip.
This afternoon we attend the performance of Siegfried at Longborough Festival Opera. The performance starts at 3:00pm. The short interval occurs at 4.30pm and the long dining Interval, allowing us time to enjoy our gourmet dinner in Festival’s restaurant, begins at 6:15pm.
OPERA PERFORMANCE - LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA, 3:00pm
Richard Wagner Siegfried
DAY 7 | FRIDAY 21 JUNE 2024
7TH OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
HIDCOTE NATIONAL TRUST GARDENS AND CHIPPING CAMPDEN:
This morning we travel on our private coach to visit the National Trust Gardens of Hidcote, a very beautiful garden, located at the village of Hidcote Bartrim, near Chipping Campden. It is one of the best-known and most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain, with its linked ‘garden rooms’ of hedges, rare trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders. Covering an area of 10.5 acres this wonderful garden takes visitors on a journey through intimate formal areas revealing a different atmosphere or new vista at every turn.
After our garden visit, we pay a visit to Chipping Campden, where time is allowed for lunch and exploration. The town was once described, by the historian G.M Trevelyan, as having ‘the most beautiful street now left on the island’ and a stroll down the curved high street to experience the original pale gold stone buildings, preserved because much of the town centre is a conservation area, is one of the favourite activities for visitors to Chipping Campden. The fascinating Market Hall, is worth examination. A remarkable historical structure with an original cobblestone floor, it was built in 1672 to provide shelter for market sellers and to allow customers to move in and out of the markets easily. Campden was established in the 7th-century, the Saxon name ‘Caumpadene” meaning enclosure or camp in the valley. In the 1068 Domesday Book the settlement was recorded as having two mills and a population of 300 people, and in 1175 King Henry II gave the town permission to hold a market, which added ‘Chepping’, Saxon for market, to the name, thus Chipping Campden. There are a range of places to eat in Chipping Campden, including the famous Badgers Hall Tea Room and The Eight Bells Inn, a traditional Cotswolds inn dating back to the 14th-century.
We return to the hotel and the late afternoon and evening are free. A GBP£45.00 dinner credit is available for use at the hotel’s restaurant.
This afternoon and evening, guests can either enjoy a relaxing night at the hotel, or the opportunity of attending one or two optional activities hosted by Longborough Festival Opera as part of their Ring Cycle.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY
Rachel Nicholls Masterclass | St George's Hall, Blockley, 3:00-5:30pm
The first of these optional visits is a masterclass with dramatic soprano Rachel Nicholls and budding Wagnerians from Longborough's 2024 company, accompanied by Harry Sever.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY
The Challenges of the Ring: A Director’s view | St George's Hall, Blockley, 7:00-9:10pm
The second of these optional activities staged by Longborough Festival Opera features Amy Lane, Artistic Director of the Copenhagen Opera Festival and the director of Longborough's new cycle, discussing the challenges of the project with Longborough's Ring Conducting Fellow Harry Sever.
Transport will be provided for both of these optional activities.
DAY 8 | SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2024
8TH OF 8 NIGHTS AT THE SLAUGHTERS COUNTRY INN, LOWER SLAUGHTER
LOWER SLAUGHTER AND LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA:
In the morning we hear our final informative talk on this afternoon’s performance by Tour Leader, Dr David Kram.
The performance of Götterdämmerung at Longborough Festival Opera begins at 2:30pm, with the short interval at 4:30pm and the long dining Interval, allowing us time to enjoy our final dinner at the Festival’s restaurant, begins at 6:15pm.
OPERA PERFORMANCE - LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA, 2:30pm
Richard Wagner Götterdämmerung
DAY 9 | SUNDAY 23 JUNE 2024
TOUR ENDS:
TRANSFER LOWER SLAUGHTER TO HILTON LONDON PADDINGTON, TOUR ENDS:
We enjoy our final breakfast before departing Lower Slaughter.
The coach will depart the hotel at 10:00am and will drop guests at the Hilton London Paddington at approximately 12:30pm (depending on traffic).
Inclusions | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Inclusions
Inclusions | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Inclusions
INCLUSIONS
15–23 JUNE 2024 (9 DAYS)
AUD$11,450 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
Single supplement: AUD$2,150
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$3,000 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 15 February 2024)
Final payment due: 12 April 2024
INCLUSIONS:
Performances: Band B stalls seats to The Ring Cycle at Longborough Festival Opera.
Tour Leader and Talks: Tour leadership and four exclusive private talks by Dr David Kram AM.
Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.
Hotel: Eight nights’ accommodation at The Slaughters Country Inn.
The tour cost includes a Deluxe Room.
The tour cost including a Superior Room is an additional AUD$965.
Porterage of one piece of luggage at the hotel.
Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour.
Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee. GBP£45.00 per person credit for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant on days 3, 5 & 7. Please note: the credit is for food and hot beverages only (any alcoholic beverages or soft drinks will be charged in addition). To use this credit food must be ordered between 6:30pm and 8:45pm.
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 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.
Booking | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Booking
Booking | The Longborough Ring & the Cotswolds
Booking
THE LONGBOROUGH RING & THE COTSWOLDS
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