At the time of going to press, the performance schedule was yet to be released however you can be sure that whichever operas are performed, the Puccini magic will sweep over the audience yet again. We have heard that there will be three new productions in 2009 – Tosca, Manon Lescaut and La Boheme together with performances of Turandot. Please call us for more information on which performances will be included for each tour – this information will be available from September 2008.

Operas

Turandot - The icy Princess Turandot despises all men. When the Persian prince Calaf arrives to claim her hand in marriage she asks him three riddles. Many men before him have failed to answer them and lost their lives as a result. Calaf gets all the right answers and his prize is Turandot. Horrified, she does all she can not to keep her side of the bargain but Calaf persists and wins her heart.

Tosca - Jealousy, sex, revenge, rape, murder – it’s all here in Puccini’s thrilling opera where all the three protagonists, the opera singer Tosca, her revolutionary lover Cavaradoss and the evil Chief of Police in Rome, where the opera is set, all end up dead.

Manon Lescaut - Manon Lescaut is the archetypal woman on the make, a girl destined for a convent but, after mixing with the wrong crowd in Paris, finds herself on the road to ruin. She dreams of a romantic idyll with a young poet, Des Grieux, only to find that true love doesn’t often mix with money so she deserts her lover for an elderly roué who dresses her in mink and jewels…

La Boheme - This is the world’s most popular and best-loved opera. The poet Rodolfo is visited by his neighbour, the seamstress Mimi. They fall in love and embark on a bitter-sweet love affair which is doomed to disaster. Unbeknown to Rodolfo, Mimi is terminally ill. In the most heart-wrenching scene in all opera, Mimi expires on her bed. The music tells us that she has died with a series of searing chords as Rodolfo sobs uncontrollably, all hope of love extinguished.

Second category tickets are provided for all three performances.

A comfortable, modern hotel situated just outside the impressive city walls that circumnavigate Lucca and just a few minutes’walk from the historic centre.The hotel has 62 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and a pleasant terrace.

What is included...

Return scheduled flights to Pisa
Six nights’ accommodation with breakfast
Three pre-opera dinners in Torre del Lago, second category tickets for all three operas
All excursions as detailed above
Synopses on the three operas
The services of a tour lecturer

Price details...

22nd July - from £1,746pp (single supplement £148)
30th July - from £1,440pp (single supplement £169)

Our price is per person based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy is as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS
London Gatwick departure with British Airways:
Depart 11.55 arrive Pisa 15.05; return 15.55 arriving 17.05.

How to book...

To book please call 0845 003 2211 or 01543 258 631

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