Introduction...
This music holiday is unique in that the entire event is
organised by our supplier for a limited number of
guests. The concerts are not open to the public at
large and all the musicians have been engaged by our
supplier. The programmes they will give are also the
result of close collaboration between us and the
musicians in order to ensure a stimulating and
well-balanced series of chamber concerts.
The entire duration of the tour is spent on the
idyllic island of Ischia and our concerts are given in
the acoustically-perfect and intimate Concert Hall at La
Mortella. This is the home of Lady Walton, the widow of
the great British composer, Sir William Walton. Since
Walton's death in 1983, Lady Walton has devoted her life
to ensuring that her husband's great cannon of works
does not slip from the public's mind, working hard to
get his music performed all over the world. Her other
great love is, of course, her fabulous garden at La
Mortella. Designed originally for her by Russell Page,
Lady Walton has thrown herself energetically into
developing La Mortella into one of the greatest gardens
in Europe.
Join us for a spectacular week of music-making at the
very highest level on this exclusive holiday in the
glorious Bay of Naples.
Itinerary...
We fly to Naples and transfer by hydrofoil to Ischia where we stay for seven
nights. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the 5 star San Montano
sits on a clifftop above the pretty resort of Lacco Ameno with breathtaking
views out across the Bay of Naples to the mainland beyond.
The hotel has spacious and elegant public rooms, a bar, restaurant and
wonderful swimming pools surrounded by flower-filled terraces. Bedrooms are
comfortably furnished in traditional style. The hotel operates its own shuttle
bus to the centre of Lacco Ameno which has a full range of shops and restaurants
and there is a frequent and reliable local bus connection to Ischia Porto which
is reached in about 20 minutes.
The town of Ischia itself is divided into two halves – Ischia Porto, where we
stay and Ischia Ponte, dominated by its massive Aragonese castle. You can walk
from one to the other or take a bus.
Our holiday will include xx exclusive concerts at La Mortella plus a further
two concerts which form part of Lady Walton's own series of concerts at which
young and promising musicians from the conservatoires of Italy perform.
Dinners will be included every evening after the concert. These are taken at
the hotel except for the final dinner which we enjoy at La Mortella itself.
Over the years Lady Walton has hardly missed a single concert we have
presented and subject to her diary, she will be interviewed about her life with
Sir William and her work since his death by Barry Cheeseman of Kirker Holidays
who accompanies and presents this Festival.
There will be a half day introductory sightseeing tour of Ischia, a beautiful
and verdant island with steep terraces and a dramatic coastline. There is an
astonishing variety of scenery in such a small space. Despite its popularity in
the high season, Ischia is still, away from its coastline, an island of unspoilt
villages.
There will also be a private guided tour of the garden at La Mortella before
the first concert. At subsequent concerts you may wish to stay on to explore the
garden and make your own way back to the hotel by taxi.
During the time in Ischia we will be offering two optional excursions to
Herculaneum and the Villa Oplontis and to Pompeii on the mainland. There will
also be plenty of time for you to use the fast and efficient hydrofoil services
which connect Ischia with Naples and Capri.
The Music Programme
The third Music Festival in Ischia is being celebrated by a veritable feast
of music performed by a selection of the world’s most renowned chamber musicians
– the Belcea Quartet, the Dutch mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn and the
pianist Julius Drake. They will all join together to perform six concerts
at La Mortella in a wide-ranging and stimulating programme of chamber music and
song. The Belcea Quartet will give five performances. Their programmes for
these concerts will include all five middle Beethoven Quartets, the three
Razoumovsky quartets, the Quartetto Serioso and The Harp. They will be joined by
Julius Drake in one performance of piano quintets and by Christianne Stotijn for
a performance of Resphigi’s wonderful work for voice and quartet, Il tramonto.
Our programme will also include two concerts given by two young artists who will
be appearing as part of Lady Walton’s own series of weekend concerts at La
Mortella
What we include...
Return scheduled flights to Naples.
Transfers as described.
Seven night's accommodation with breakfast.
Seven dinners.
Entrance to each of the concerts described plus two additional concerts
organised by Lady Walton.
Excursions as described.
The services of our holiday escort.
A full souvenir programme book, complete with song texts, translations and
background notes on the works being performed.
Our price is per person based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room.
Supplement for a single room is as shown. Supplement for double room for sole
occupancy £83 per person.
Flights Details
Gatwick departure with British Airways:
Depart 10.55 arrive Naples 14.30; return 15.15 arriving 16.55.
Price Information...
Holiday departs 23rd October 2008
Price: £1,740
Our price is per person based on the shared occupancy of a
twin/double room. Supplements for single occupancy are as shown. Supplement for
sea view £376 per person. Supplements for optional excursions available on
request.
