Opera in Berlin

Day 1 London to Berlin, Germany.

Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the Westin Grand Hotel for a four night stay. Settle into your room before meeting for dinner this evening at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 Berlin.

After breakfast we will start our morning city tour of Berlin which will include parts of the old East Berlin and West Berlin, along with the new modern sections of the city. We will see Potsdamer Platz, formerly bisected by the Berlin Wall but today a symbol of the reunited city, the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial before continuing along Unter den linden, once Berlin’s showcase boulevard. Passing Checkpoint Charlie, we will continue to Alexanderplatz and see the TV Tower and of course see remainders of the Berlin Wall. Going west we will drive along the famous Ku’damm, the heart of the former West Berlin. In this period, the Kurfurstendamm could be compared to the Champs Elysees in Paris but since reunification in 1990, the Boulevard became less important and Potsdamer Platz was transformed into the hub of the city. The tour will end at the Reichstag, the seat of the German government, where we will enjoy lunch at the rooftop restaurant for panoramic views over the city. The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration. The city’s famous Museum Island is only a short walk or train ride away. Meet early this evening for canapés with wine followed by an evening at the Berlin State Opera House for our evening performance. (B, L, C*)

‘Madame Butterfly’ by Giacomo Puccini – February departure

Set in the early 20th century, ‘Madam Butterfly’ explores themes of love, heartbreak, betrayal and cultural differences. This enduring tale encapsulates a tragic love story between a young Japanese girl called Cio Cio San and an American naval officer, Pinkerton. After marrying each other, San is soon abandoned by Pinkerton, but stays hopeful waiting for his return. However, she is eventually reunited with Pinkerton and his American wife. Cio Cio goes on to make a devastating decision, which inevitably leads to her own fall.

‘Don Carlo’ by Giuseppe Verdi – March departure

Verdi’s ‘Don Carlos’, commissioned by the Paris Opera where it premiered in 1867, brought a new direction to the composer’s musical inspiration: a dark and intense score, in which political, religious and moral issues stir characters in the throes of inner torment. This is a story of love and devotion conflicting with political and religious upheaval. Marco Arturo Marelli brings Verdi's epic opera classic to the stage in a visually stunning way. The struggle for freedom and independence under the rule of the absolutist King Philip II is emphasised as a central theme. The unshakeable power of the church, which is chiseled into the foundations of this society, is always present behind everything. conditions.

Day 3 Potsdam & Sanssouci Palace.

This morning, we will drive westwards from the city centre to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Potsdam. We will visit Sanssouci, the Summer Palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The palace, built 1745–1747, was not merely a summer residence but his favourite place. The many rooms of the palace retain their original elegant designs and furnishings and give you a glimpse at the opulence of the age. There will be time to explore the superb gardens as well. After lunch we will enjoy a walking tour through the historic centre of Potsdam taking in the Dutch Quarter with its distinct red brick buildings and the Nikolai Church before returning to Berlin. In the early evening we will meet for canapés with wine before enjoying our evening performance at the Berlin State Opera House. (B, L, C*)

‘Elektra’ by Richard Strauss – February departure

‘Elektra’ tells the story of Elektra, a princess consumed by grief and a thirst for revenge after her father King Agamemnon is murdered by her mother Clytemnestra and her lover. Elektra along with her sister Chrysothemis and Brother Orest, plot to avenge their fathers death. This production aims to show that the lines separating passion and obsession are dangerously blurred and we see this every day in the news and in our daily lives. Elektra refuses to grieve and has constructed an existence that rules out the possibility of finding closure after loss. Deep, existential feelings such as anguish require a channel of expression.

‘L’Italiana in Algeri’ by Gioacchino Rossini – March departure

Rolando Villazón tackles one of the great comedies of the bel canto genre. ‘L’Italiana in Algeri’ remains one of the most popular works by Gioacchino Rossini, who is said to have dashed the piece off in less than a month and was a tender 21 years of age when the opera premiered at Venice’s Teatro San Benedetto in 1813. This titillating tale belongs to the ranks of “rescue operas” - a favourite genre of the era that usually stipulated having a beautiful young woman being captured and awaiting torture or death until her heroic beloved arrives on the scene to rescue her. In this case, a resourceful young Italian woman is kidnapped by an Algerian bey yearning for a new wife and outwits him herself – to everyone else's great satisfaction. The title character, Isabella, is one of the wittiest and most wonderful female characters in the entire operatic literature.

Day 4 Berlin.

After breakfast a short coach transfer takes us to Berlin’s largest Palace complex, the Charlottenburg Palace. The palace is embedded in a beautiful garden, with an Orangery, palace park and numerous ancillary buildings. Built between 1695 and 1699 for Sophia Charlotte, wife of King Frederick I of Prussia. After Sophia Charlotte’s death in 1705 the palace and the nearby village was named after her, Charlottenburg. Over the centuries the palace has been added to and expanded and has encapsulated the changing architectural tastes of its residents. During our visit to the palace we will explore the state rooms, the Rococo ballroom known as the Golden Gallery, as well as the Silver Vault that includes stunning gold and silver tableware and the 100 table services that have survived intact. Return to the hotel and the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. In the evening we meet for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 5 Berlin to London.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the return scheduled flight to London. (B)