Luxury music and ballet holidays specialist Travel for the Arts launches its new brochure with a selection of new escorted tours to inspiring worldwide destinations and performances from world-renowned artists including Plcido Domingo, Daniel Barenboim and Anna Netrebko. Escorted tours to Berlin, Ravenna, Chemnitz and Oman sit alongside a collection of tours for the festive season, including Noël at the Paris Opéra and New Year in Milan.

Destination highlights

With destinations as diverse as Athens, New York, Malta and Oman, Travel for the Arts is about experiences that offer not only world class opera but also the opportunity to discover culturally vibrant countries and cities.

Athens Odyssey from 22 to 26 March is a perfect tour for those keen to match opera with discovering the iconic sites of the Greek capital and Delphi, ancient town and seat of the most important Greek temple and oracle of Apollo.. Athens is a new destination for Travel for the Arts and on this trip, the group will enjoy two performances by the Greek National Opera, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Following last year's success Treasures of Oman is on offer for the second time from 8 to 13 February with a performance of Verdi's La Traviata starring Plácido Domingo. Accommodation is at the 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel and the trip includes not only visits to the Royal Opera House and The Grand Mosque in Muscat but also excursions to the Desert Nights Camp, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the desert at Wahiba Sands, the impressive mountain Jebel Akhdar and the city of Nizwa and its atmospheric souk.

New York makes a return this year from 6 to 10 May, with a ballet themed tour including three ballet performances with a particular emphasis on Balanchine, a guided tour of Manhattan and a visit to the Guggenheim Museum as well as some precious time to explore New York at leisure.

Malta makes a come-back this year from 12 to 16 January for the Valletta International Baroque Festival in January. Perfect for a spot of Winter Sun, Valletta is also European Capital of Culture in 2018 and the tour includes visits to all the key sites in and around the city as well as performances in Teatru Manoel, one of the oldest working theatres in Europe and Our Lady of Victories Church, the oldest church.

Festive breaks

In Berlin, Paris and Milan, Travel for the Arts has put together some outstanding tours with memorable experiences and performances to celebrate the end of year in style. Falstaff at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden conducted by Daniel Barenboim and featuring Michael Volle and Barbara Frittoli is a real highlight of the Berlin tour together with Christmas lunch at Käfer Restaurant at the Reichstag, the world's only public restaurant in a governmental building and offers incredible views of the city.  Meanwhile, in Paris, a guided tour of the historical Opéra Garnier will be a highlight and the Christmas Eve performance of Rossini's La Cenerentola will be truly unforgettable. In Milan, prepare to be dazzled by Teatro La Scala as the trip not only includes a performance of Verdi's Attila at Teatro la Scala but also a tour of the Museum of La Scala and an exquisite New Year's Eve dinner at Gualtiero Marchesi's restaurant Il Marchesino located inside the iconic theatre.

For the Wagner fans

Travel for the Arts have assembled a selection of tours perfect for fans of Wagner, from traditional Ring cycles to performances of his other works. The Ring in Chemnitz places the theme of “Woman” at the heart of its programme with each opera directed by a different female director; Verena Stoiber for Das Rheingold, Monique Wagemakers for Die Walküre, Sabine Hartsmannshenn for Siegfried and Elisabeth Stöppler for Götterdämmerung. The Berlin Festtage at Easter is conducted by Daniel Barenboim and includes Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and a concert by the Berlin Staatskapelle with soprano Anna Netrebko in the Philharmonie. Wagner in Dresden from 28 February to 3 March offers two key works in one weekend, Der Fliegende Holländer and Tannhäuser both performed at the Semperoper.  This tour has no single supplement and includes a walking tour in the footsteps of Wagner, Carl Maria Von Weber and Johann Sebastian Bach and an excursion to Wackerbarth Castle.

Travelling solo – no single supplement

Travel for the Arts offers an increasing number of tours with no single supplements for people who wish to travel on their own. This new brochure includes four tours:

• Christmas Ballet in Baden-Baden
• New Year in Dresden
• Wagner in Dresden
• The Mariinsky Opera in St Petersburg

Anniversary

2018 marks the 150th anniversary of Rossini's death and to commemorate this event in October La Fenice, Venice, is staging a new production of Semiramide, the composer's final Italian opera which premiered in the Opera House on 3 February 1823 as well as a revival of Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

A La Carte

Travel for the Arts can also organise trips to see performances around the world independently. The service is completely bespoke and organises top category tickets to chosen performances, accommodation, transport and visits and experiences including backstage tours, sightseeing and restaurant bookings.

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For further information on Travel for the Arts, please contact Charlotte at Charlotte's Web Public Relations at charlotte@charlotteswebpr.co.uk or call 07867785091]

Images for the new brochure can be accessed here

About Travel for the Arts

Travel for the Arts is a leading opera, ballet and classical music specialist travel company. It operates as a division of Specialised Travel Ltd who offers a complete travel service to the performing arts worldwide. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018, Travel for the Arts organises over 100 Group Tours each year with between 10 and 30 participants, each led by a professional tour manager or lecturer. Tours generally include best available category tickets for included performances, four or five star accommodation, transfers, opera synopses, restaurant guides and city notes as well as the services of a local guide. Some tours are available without a single supplement. An A La Carte service is also available for those wishing to travel independently.