ITINERARY

DAY 1 | FRIDAY 5 JULY 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT SINA DE LA VILLE, MILAN

ARRIVE IN MILAN:

Arrive at our hotel, the stylish Sina De La Ville, Milan, which is conveniently located in the historical Brera district, a 4-minute walk from the renowned Teatro alla Scala, and a 5-minute walk from the Duomo. We recommend arriving at the hotel by 4:00pm.

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

DAY 2 | SATURDAY 6 JULY 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT SINA DE LA VILLE, MILAN

MILAN, PINACOTECA DI BRERA & TEATRO ALLA SCALA:

This morning we have a private guided tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera, the main public art gallery in Milan, founded in 1809 by Napoleon. Its original collection was that of Milan’s Academy of Fine Arts, however, its most important works were acquired later. It contains one of the most important and largest collections of Italian paintings with works from the 13th to the 20th-century, including those by such great masters such as Caravaggio and Raphael. The gallery is housed in the Palazzo Brera, an 18th-century Neoclassical structure, originally built as a Jesuit college.

The afternoon is free. A 5-minute walk from our hotel is the Milan Duomo, Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Nascente, a stunningly beautiful building and the largest church in the Italian Republic. It took nearly six centuries to complete, as construction began in 1386, and the final details were completed in 1965. You might also 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

In the early evening we hear a talk by our Tour Leader, Sharon Grigoryan, on the performance we will be seeing this evening. We then attend an opera performance at the renowned Teatro alla Scala.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - TEATRO ALLA SCALA, 8:00pm
Giacomo Puccini Turandot

Daniel Harding conductor
Davide Livermore staging
Anna Netrebko Princess Turandot
Raúl Giménez The Emperor Altoum
Vitalij Kowaljow Timur
Yusif Eyvazov The Unknown Prince (Calaf)
Rosa Feola Liù
Sung-Hwan Damien Park Ping
Chuan Wang Pang
Jinxu Xiahou Pong
Adriano Gramigni A Mandarin
Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus

DAY 3 | SUNDAY 7 JULY 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT SINA DE LA VILLE, MILAN

MILAN & TEATRO ALLA SCALA:

This morning we have the pleasure of a private guided tour of the legendary Teatro alla Scala and its adjoining museum. With an expert guide, we tour La Scala Museum to see elaborate outfits, musical instruments and various stage props. We also stroll through the foyer of the theatre, and visit the beautifully designed 18th-century auditorium. We have the opportunity of seeing the stage, chandelier and pit orchestra. This is a unique opportunity to discover the secrets of a theatre that is more than 240 years old!

The afternoon is free. You might like to visit the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, less than a half hour’s walk, or a 10-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.

If you feel like sightseeing closer to home there are some nearby buildings that you might find fascinating. 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel is the Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro, a church on a shopping street, which from the outside seems relatively small and unimpressive. When you step inside you see that it is quite majestic, a deep, vaulted sanctuary stretching into an apse that is nearly the length of the main part of the church. Or is it? Keep your eyes on it as you walk forward, and watch as it melts into an almost completely flat wall behind the altar. It's an optical illusion, a clever trick played by the architect Bramante to give grandeur to a church with only a limited space. Only a 5-minute walk from our hotel 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.

This evening we come together for dinner to enjoy our final evening in Milan.

DAY 4 | MONDAY 8 JULY 2024

1ST OF 5 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL IMPERIALE, LAKE COMO

MILAN TO LAKE COMO AND PRIVATE Q&A AT MUSEO DEL PAESAGGIO DEL LAGO DI COMO:

In the morning we depart Milan and travel by private coach to Lake Como. Located at the foot of the Alps, Lake Como is Italy’s third largest lake. With the entire perimeter of the lake dotted with charming villages and towns, and with hills and mountains forming a dramatic backdrop, it offers delightfully appealing and picturesque scenery. We travel to our hotel, Grand Hotel Imperiale, set on the shores of Lake Como in Moltrasio, a small attractive town located on the western shore of the Lake. The early afternoon is free for you to settle into the hotel and perhaps do a little strolling and exploring in pretty Moltrasio.

In the late afternoon we have the special privilege of meeting LacMus Festival Artistic Directors, pianist Louis Lortie and conductor, Paolo Bressan and having a private Q&A hosted by our Tour Leader, Sharon Grigoryan. We then visit the Museo del Paesaggio del Lago di Como (Museum of the Landscape of Lake Como) located in the Villa Mainona in Tremezzo, the former residence of the Mainoni family. The rooms house a collection of ancient lake prints, which offer a fascinating look at the Lake. Following our visit we enjoy a delicious dinner together.

DAY 5 | TUESDAY 9 JULY 2024

2ND OF 5 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL IMPERIALE, LAKE COMO

CRUISE ON LAKE COMO, VARENNA, VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO & LACMUS FESTIVAL:

This morning we enjoy a cruise around the lake with a knowledgeable local guide who will tell us tales about the villas and interesting sites around the lake. We go ashore at Varenna, a picturesque and traditional village, located on the eastern shore of the lake, to explore a little on foot. Little streets lead to Piazza San Giorgio, the town’s central square that houses the Church of San Giorgio built in the 14th-century in a style somewhere between Romanesque and Gothic. Varenna is a charming village, a combination of colourful houses with a backdrop of lake and mountains that will stay in your memory for a long time. Coming by boat we will land near the Passeggiata degli Innamorati (Walk of Lovers), an inspiring and beautiful path following the edge of the lake and offering spectacular views.

Following our exploration of Varenna we make our way to the infamous Villa del Balbianello, a historic villa that sits directly on the water’s edge at Lake Como. On the tip of a small promontory on the lake’s western shore, Balbianello is particularly lovely, with luxurious interiors, scenic loggia, beautiful gardens, and romantic lake views. We enjoy a private guided tour of the villa and then have some free time in the gardens. Following our visit, we resume our cruise around the borders of the lake and return to the hotel.

In the early evening we meet for a talk about the music we will hear in the evening’s concert. We then attend a concert in the Festival at the iconic Villa del Balbianello.

LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE - VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO, 8:30pm
Sofferte onde serene

Gabriel Fauré Nocturne No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36
Gabriel Fauré Five Preludes from Nine Preludes, Op. 103
Luigi Nono Sofferte onde serene, for piano and tape
Gabriel Fauré Pavane in F-sharp minor, Op. 50
Gabriel Fauré Ballade in F-sharp major, Op. 19
Gabriel Fauré Theme and Variations in C-sharp minor, Op. 73

Louis Lortie piano

DAY 6 | WEDNESDAY 10 JULY 2024

3RD OF 5 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL IMPERIALE, LAKE COMO

LAKE COMO, BELLAGIO & LACMUS FESTIVAL PRIVATE RECITAL:

This morning our guide will meet us at our hotel and take us on the public ferry to visit Bellagio. It is known as the ‘Pearl of Lake Como’ because of its position nestled at the tip of a promontory jutting into Lake Como, which is picturesque, and offers unparalleled shoreline and Alpine views. We will enjoy a guided tour to explore Bellagio’s historic centre and its surroundings.

Following the tour there is time to enjoy Bellagio on your own. You might like to walk to Punta Spartivento, where you can admire superb views of the lake’s three branches against the alpine background. Or you might enjoy a stroll through the gardens of Villa Melzi, built between 1808 and 1810, a vast botanical garden with many exotic trees, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, as well as numerous items of artistic, cultural, and historical interest. The gardens sit on the shores of the lake and offer a beautiful and uniquely tranquil atmosphere. Another place you might be interested to visit is the Basilica di San Giacomo in Piazza della Chiesa. It is a traditional Romanesque church built between the 11th and 12th centuries and contains a valuable altar from the late 1500s and mosaics from the early 1900s.

After our visit we return by public ferry to our hotel.

In the early evening we have a talk on the music in tonight’s concert. We then enjoy an exclusive private recital overlooking the lake at Piazzetta Brenna, followed by a delicious dinner.

LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE - PIAZZETTA BRENNA, 8:00pm
Private Concert in Campo

Ottorino Respighi Pini di Roma
Gabriel Fauré Dolly Suite, Op. 56
Reynaldo Hahn Le ruban dénué

Louis Lortie piano
Paolo Bressan piano

DAY 7 | THURSDAY 11 JULY 2024

4TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL IMPERIALE, LAKE COMO

LAKE COMO & LACMUS FESTIVAL:

This morning is free. You may like to explore the town of Moltrasio or visit one of the many villas situated on Lake Como. You may also want to visit the weekly markets that occur in Como on this day.

In the early evening we have a talk on the music in tonight’s concert. We then attend a Festival performance at the extraordinary Villa del Balbianello.

LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE - VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO, 8:30pm
Young Stars at the Balbianello

Antonín Dvořák Four Romantic Pieces for violin and piano, Op. 75
Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100, Thun
Béla Bartók Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs for piano
Fritz Kreisler Praeludium and Allegro in the Style of Pugnani for violin and piano
Claude Debussy Beau soir, song, transcribed for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz
Béla Bartók Romanian Dances for violin and piano

Aubree Oliverson violin
Julia Hamos piano

DAY 8 | FRIDAY 12 JULY 2024

5TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT GRAND HOTEL IMPERIALE, LAKE COMO

LAKE COMO, COMO & LACMUS FESTIVAL:

Today we travel to the town of Como, where we go on a private walking tour with a guide who will introduce us to the city and its past. We learn about the architecture from ancient Rome through to the Rationalists, and we see: the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, commonly described as the last gothic cathedral built in Italy and one of the most important buildings in the region; the Teatro Sociale, the opera house in Como; the Ex Casa del Fascio, one of the masterpieces of Italian Modern Architecture; the Basilica di San Fedele, a Romanesque building dating from 1120; and the Porta Torre, a fortified 40 metre high tower which was built in 1192, to defend the main entrance of the city.

Following the tour there will be time to enjoy and explore Como before returning to the hotel.

In the early evening we have a talk on the music we will hear in tonight’s concert. Following the talk, we attend our final festival performance at Villa Carlotta. The history of this iconic villa dates back to the late-seventeenth century where it has since passed through the ownership of various nobility through the world.

LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE - VILLA CARLOTTA, 8:30pm
Hommage à Gabriel Fauré

Reynaldo Hahn Nocturne in E-flat major for violin and piano
Gabriel Fauré First Piano Quartet in C major, Op. 15
Eugène Ysaÿe Poème élégiaque for violin and piano, Op. 12
Gabriel Fauré Second Piano Quintet in C minor, Op. 115

Amaury Coeytaux violin (Modigliani Quartet)
Loïc Rio violin (Modigliani Quartet)
Laurent Marfaing viola (Modigliani Quartet)
François Kieffer cello (Modigliani Quartet)
Louis Lortie piano

DAY 9 | SATURDAY 13 JULY 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

LAKE COMO TO VERONA VIA BERGAMO, & ARENA DI VERONA FESTIVAL:

Today we depart Lake Como and travel to Verona, with the wonderful indulgence of a visit to spectacular Bergamo en route.

We will go on a private guided walking tour of the Città Alta (upper city) of Bergamo, a beautiful place with panoramas of lower Bergamo and the surrounding areas, narrow winding Medieval streets, cosy squares and inviting cafés and restaurants. The walk will include fascinating sites including; the castle, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Venetian walls, The Piazza Vecchia, where the geometrical layout of the buildings around the piazza is so harmonic that Le Corbusier, one of the pioneers of modern architecture, said on his visit to Bergamo, “you can’t move a single stone, it would be a crime.” The tour also includes the 15th-century Neoclassical Duomo, Cattedrale di Sant’Alessandro, Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica and the city’s most beautiful building, Colleoni Chapel built in 1487.

Time will be allowed for you to have lunch and to maybe glance at the Accademia Carrara Museum, an impressive art collection of more than 1800 paintings dating from the 15th to the 19th-century, with works of Botticelli, Bellini, Mantegna, Pisanello and Raphael.

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.

After settling into the hotel we meet in the early evening for a talk by Sharon about this evening’s opera. We then walk together to Arena di Verona where we attend a performance of Bizet’s Carmen.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - ARENA DI VERONA, 9:15pm
Georges Bizet’s Carmen

Leonardo Sini conductor
Franco Zeffirelli direction and set design
El Camborio choreography
Anna Anni costumes
Paolo Mazzon lighting design
Aigul Akhmetshina Carmen
Daria Rybak Micaela
Chiara Maria Fiorani Frasquita
Alessia Nadin Mercédès
Freddie De Tommaso Don Josè
Erwin Schrott Escamillo
Jan Antem Dancairo
Vincent Ordonneau Remendado
Gabriele Sagona Zuniga
Fabio Previati Morales

DAY 10 | SUNDAY 14 JULY 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

ANCIENT ROMAN VERONA:

This morning we have the opportunity to extend our knowledge of Roman Verona on a private guided walking tour to see significant remains of the city’s Roman past. We enter the decumanus maximus, one of the two main axes of the typical Roman urban network and walk to the Adige River. The Roman Postumio bridge which carried traffic to the opposite bank and on to Aquileia is no longer there, but the Ponte Pietra, a bridge close to our hotel, is an original Roman arch bridge. It was completed in 100 BC, and it still stands and is in use today. On the other side of the Adige River the steps, arches and remains of the Roman theatre from the 1st-century BC can be seen. We also visit the Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano, a museum that houses a collection of Roman artworks and artifacts of daily life which have been discovered near the Roman Theatre and in the surrounding area of Verona.

The afternoon is free. You may like to rest, or enjoy some shopping, or you could continue your Roman adventure by crossing the Ponte Pietra and visiting the Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano. It is an 8 minute walk from our hotel. The museum includes archaeological finds, such as epigraphs, sculptures, mosaics, bronzes etc., from Verona and from the surrounding area.

DAY 11 | MONDAY 15 JULY 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

ARENA DI VERONA:

This morning we take a guided tour of the Arena di Verona. At the crossroads of three great Roman Roads, Via Postumia, Via Gallica and Via Claudio Augusta, Verona was an important city in Roman Times. The remains of its past are so numerous and well preserved that it is the Italian city with the most viable archaeological finds after Rome. Today we visit the most significant of those remains, Arena di Verona, the third largest Roman amphitheatre in the world. Built in AD 30 on a site which was then beyond the city walls, the games and shows staged there were so renowned that spectators came from far away to witness them. At that time the amphitheatre could host more than 30,000 spectators. The round façade of the building was almost completely destroyed by a major earthquake in 1117, but what remains is one of the best-preserved ancient structures of its kind, and the Arena now hosts the renowned Verona Summer Opera Festival.

We also will visit the Gavi Arch, a monument celebrating an important patrician family from the 1st-century AD, and follow the ancient Via Postumia, one of the main access roads to Verona. We see the Bosari Gate (1st-century AD), ancient entrance to the city.

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 Guardino 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 evening we meet for a delicious dinner at one of Verona’s finest restaurants to celebrate our final evening of the tour.

DAY 12 | TUESDAY 16 JULY 2024

TOUR ENDS:

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

We will arrange one coach transfer from our hotel to Milan Malpensa Airport. The coach will depart the hotel at 7:00am and will drop guests at Milan Malpensa Airport at approximately 10:00am.

INCLUSIONS

5–16 JULY 2024 (12 DAYS)

AUD$13,950 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$3,950
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 5 March 2024)
Final payment due: 2 May 2024

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium seats to six performances including: an opera at Teatro alla Scala in Milan; four chamber music performances at LacMus Festival on the shores of Lake Como; an opera at Arena di Verona. 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 six exclusive private talks by Sharon Grigoryan.

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

• Hotels: 11 nights' accommodation including:

  • Three nights at the 4-star Sina de la Ville, Milan in a Superior Room;

  • Five nights at the 4-star Grand Hotel Imperiale, Lake Como in a Double Executive Room with Lake View and Balcony;

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

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour. Water travel by ferry boat, taxi boat and private boat in Lake Como. There will be one transfer from our hotel in Verona on the final day of the tour to Milan Malpensa Airport – the transfer will depart the Due Torri Hotel at 7:00am.

• 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. 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.

MUSIC ON THE SHORES OF LAKE COMO

WITH OPERA & ART IN MILAN & VERONA