Parsifal (Garanča, Pape), Tosca (Lungu, Korchak) and a Wim Wenders production of The Pearl Fishers at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and The Flying Dutchman at the Deutsche Oper; Manon Lescaut in Prague.
5-Star Hotels (Regent Berlin, Aria Prague).
Following last year's successful Staatsoper Unter den Linden Ring, we will return to Berlin in April of 2025 with a varied programme including three Wagner operas: a Philippe Jordan-conducted Parsifal starring Elīna Garanča and René Pape at Staatsoper, and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and The Flying Dutchman at the Deutsche Oper. We also hear two more at the Staatsoper: Tosca and The Pearl Fishers. Mid-tour, we include a stay in Prague's wonderful Castle District, at our favourite hotel in the city, the music-themed Aria (of course!). There we will hear another Puccini gem, Manon Lescaut, and enjoy tours of The Estates Theatre, the Klementinum and Strahov Library.
In Berlin, we will stay in Deluxe rooms at the 5-Star Hotel Regent in the historic Gendarmenmarkt, a short walk from the Staatsoper. Our touring will include the most interesting and important historical sites in the city as well as the finest museums and galleries. We will also visit Potsdam and Dresden and, as always, our included meals (and wines) will be second-to-none.
ITINERARY
Thursday, April 17
Independent departures from North America.
Friday, April 18
Upon arrival in Berlin, you are met and transferred to the elegant Hotel Regent on the historic Gendarmenmarkt. Tonight we gather in the lobby for introductions and cocktails prior to our Welcome Dinner at Bocca di Bacco.
Saturday, April 19
10.00 Following breakfast (included each day), we gather in the hotel lobby and depart for a guided coach/walking tour of the city’s most significant points of interest (Brandenburg Gate, Pariser Platz, Unter den Linden, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church).
13.30 We then depart for late lunch/early dinner in RDO at the Deutsch Oper before the 16.00 curtain of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Conducted by Ulf Schirmer, with Thomas Johannes Mayer as Hans Sachs.
Sunday, April 20
10.00 Depart for a guided tour of the Gemäldegalerie, with its collection of masterpieces, including paintings by van Eyck, Bruegel, Dürer, Raffael, Titian, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer.
13.00 Lunch is included at the hotel.
17.30 We make the short walk to the Staatsoper for Parsifal, with an interval reception. Maestro Philippe Jordan conducts a Dmitri Tcherniakov production, starring Elīna Garanča, Lauri Vasar, René Pape, Andreas Schager and Tómas Tómasson. 18.00 curtain.
Monday, April 21
09.45 Depart for the Neue Nationalgalerie for a guided tour. We have time to explore the collection after the tour.
16.00 The Flying Dutchman at the Deutsche Oper, under the baton of Giulio Cilona. With Patrick Guetti, Flurina Stucki, Kieran Carrel and Stephanie Wake Edwards.
19.00 Dinner is included afterward.
Tuesday, April 22
10.00 Coach to Prague via Potsdam to visit Sanssouci, Frederick the Great’s vast Rococo complex of gardens, palaces and pavilions, and Cecilienhof, site of the Potsdam Conference that ended WWII.
17.00 Arrive in Prague and check in at the Aria Hotel.
19.30 Dinner at the hotel.
Wednesday, April 23
10.00 This morning we tour Prague by coach with some walking in the Jewish Quarter and Castle District.
13.00 Lunch is included at Kampa Park.
19.00 Tonight we hear Manon Lescaut at the State Opera.
Thursday, April 24
10.00 Estates Theatre tour and the Klementinum.
19.00 Tonight we enjoy a Special Dinner.
Friday, April 25
09.00 Back to Berlin via Dresden, where we tour the city. Lunch is included.
16.30 Arrive back at The Regent in Berlin.
19.00 Tosca at the Staatsoper. Conductor: Nicola Luisotti. Starring Aleksandra Kurzak, Michael Fabiano, Lucio Gallo.
Saturday, April 26
Day at leisure in Berlin. We offer an optional tour to the Jewish Museum in the Kreuzberg section of the city. Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the museum is one of the outstanding institutions on the European museum landscape.
19.00 Norma at the Staatsoper. Francesco Lanzillotta conducts a cast that includes Irina Lungu, Dmitry Korchak, Elmina Hasan and Riccardo Fassi.
Sunday, April 27
The final morning is at leisure.
13.00 Farewell Lunch at Lutter & Wegner.
18.00 Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers at the Staatsoper. Giedrė Šlekytė conducts a Wim Wenders production, starring Juliana Grigoryan, Anthony León, Gyula Orendt, David Wakeham.
Monday, April 28
Transfers to your departure airport are included.
TOUR INCLUDES
Top Category seats for all performances as listed
10 nights in Deluxe rooms: 7 at the Hotel Regent Berlin (5-star) and 3 at the Aria Hotel prague (5-star)
Full breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 5 dinners and 2 receptions
Private tours as listed
Airport-hotel transfers
On-site Tour Direction
Comprehensive Tour Guidebook
FLIGHTS
Flights are not included in tour pricing. Return flights should be booked to Berlin for arrival on April 18, departure on April 28.
TRANSFERS
We provide airport/rail station—hotel transfers for arrivals and departures within within 3 days of the start/end of our tour from the cities listed above. We also provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
MOBILITY
There is minimal walking with some stairs during the guided tours. As for all of our tours, we are happy to accommodate you regardless of your mobility level. Please make clear your mobility concerns at the time of registration. We provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that all tour members purchase cancellation insurance upon registration. We can assist you with this, though you are welcome to purchase a policy at your own discretion. For more information about our travel insurance, click here.
Your Tour Director
Emanuela Moroni
Since 1993, Emanuela Moroni has been a professional guide in Turin and the entire region of Piemonte, as well as in Milan. Between 2010-2014, she was the President of the Piedmont Tour Guides Association. Since 1991, she has directed tours for groups in Italy, the U.K., Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Russia, France, Switzerland, Spain (mainland, Balearic and Canary Islands), Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, South Africa, Maldives, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, China and Mongolia, Indonesia, Canada, U.S.A. (East and West Coast, Florida with Keys Islands, Louisiana, National Parks), Cuba, Jamaica, Caribbean Islands, Brazil, and Polynesia.
In addition to being a warm and professional director and guide, Emanuela is a committed ecologist and cyclist, often leading her tours on two wheels! She speaks Italian (mother tongue), English, French, German, and Chinese (Cantonese).