posted on 09/03/17
Next year, Willy Decker’s acclaimed staging of Der Ring des Nibelungen returns to Dresden. It’s a mouthwatering prospect. Wagner specialist Christian Thielemann will direct the Dresden Staatskapelle, while the magnificent Semperoper provides the setting. No doubt, its highly-rated acoustics – noted for their clarity and warmth – will add to the sense of wonder.
Opera at Verona is a heady mix: musical performance of the highest international standards, an audience which is as enthusiastic as it is unconventional, a theatre which is 2,000 years old (and holds 5,000). The surrounding city is one of the most enchanting in Italy and possesses a wonderful array of artworks and architecture. Our trip will include tickets to two performances. Details will be available in July 2017.
Ever since Jan van Eyck mastered the techniques of oil painting in the early 15th century, Dutch and Flemish painters have played a central role in the development of Western art. On this trip, we’ll examine their achievements, in the handsome towns, soaring churches and enthralling museums of the region. We’ll also pay our respects to the star of the 19th century who shone so brightly in the south: Van Gogh.