Best of British
BBC Proms – Glyndebourne – RSC – Edinburgh Festival
Amongst the many highlights of the British summer are the BBC Proms, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Edinburgh International Festival. And a multitude of further cultural events surrounding the London 2012 Olympics will only add to the richness already on offer.
This tour has been carefully timed to begin in London ‘post-Olympics’ and ‘pre-Paralympics’. Over a week you will be spoilt for choice with the BBC Proms, the world’s largest classical music festival, plus the London Cultural Olympiad (June – September).
Then it is off to the English countryside for Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In its picturesque setting on the Sussex Downs, Glyndebourne represents ‘country house opera’ at its finest, combining daring productions, established artists, rising stars, an intimate setting and black tie elegance. In 2011 RSC returns to Stratford upon Avon following a four-year rebuilding which will provide a brand new 1,000 seat thrust stage auditorium and state-of-the art facilities. As part of the London Cultural Olympiad RSC will produce the World Shakespeare Festival (April to September).
Finish in the Scottish capital for the Edinburgh International Festival, currently under the artistic direction of Australian-born Jonathon Mills. Since 1947 EIF has brought together the world’s leading music, opera, dance and theatre in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
AT A GLANCE:
- See The Marriage of Figaro and Ravel Double Bill at
Glyndebourne
- Four BBC Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
- Royal Shakespeare Company and the World
Shakespeare Festival
- Discover hidden gems of London with Stuart
Maunder
- Two performances of the Edinburgh International
Festival
BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall
ITINERARY:
Sat 18 August 2012: Depart Australia
Suggested departure from Australia on Qantas / British Airways. Overnight in flight.
Sun 19 August: Arrive London
Arrive London in the morning. Check-in to your hotel located in the heart of Mayfair, with Piccadilly, Bond Street, Knightsbridge, Green Park and Buckingham Palace close by.
Tonight join Stuart Maunder and fellow opera lovers for a welcome briefing and dinner. (D)
Mon 20 August: London – Ashdown Park
Mid-morning departure by coach for Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club (approx 2.5 hrs).
On arrival, a light lunch will be served. Your rooms will be available for check-in at 2 pm (or earlier, subject to availability).
Mid-afternoon, depart Ashdown Park for the drive (16 miles, 30 mins) to Glyndebourne Festival Opera, near Lewes.
GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL OPERA
The curtain rose on the first performance of the Opera Festival at Glyndebourne on 28th May, 1934. It was the culmination of one man’s obsession with the idea of presenting ‘not the best we can do, but the best that can be done anywhere’. Since then, John Christie’s vision, shared by his opera singer wife Audrey Mildmay, has developed into one of the world’s most revered opera houses. For a comprehensive history of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, visit www.glyndebourne.com/archive/history.
Tonight attend a new production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. This opera has particular resonance for Glyndebourne as, in 1934, it was the first opera to be performed by the newly formed company, and it was also the opening production of the newly built opera house in 1994. This production brings together two thrilling artistic talents: conductor Robin Ticciati who will be Glyndebourne’s new Music Director from 2014, and director Michael Grandage who returns for the first time since making his opera debut at Glyndebourne with Billy Budd in 2010.
During the ‘long interval’ dinner will be served in one of Glyndebourne’s several restaurants. Following the performance, return transfer to Ashdown Park. (BLD)
Tue 21 August: Ashdown Park
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a visit to Wakehurst Place, the ‘country estate’ of London’s famous Kew Gardens, not far from Ashdown Park Hotel. Wakehurst consists of 188 hectares (465 acres) with ornamental gardens, temperate woodlands and an Elizabethan mansion (1590). It is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank Project, the largest ex situ plant conservation project in the world. Following an introductory tour with a guide, you will have time to explore Wakehurst Place on your own and enjoy lunch in the café.
Return to Ashdown Park early afternoon. Afternoon at leisure before departure for Glyndebourne for this evening’s performance of a Ravel Double Bill: L’heure espagnole and L’enfant et les sortilèges.
Ravel’s two one-act operas will reunite director Laurent Pelly and conductor Kazushi Ono, who made their Glyndebourne debuts in 2008 with Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel. While L’enfant et les sortilèges shares with that opera a child’s-eye view of a sometimes threatening world, L’heure espagnole is a thoroughly adult confection.
During the ‘long interval’ enjoy a picnic in the grounds, a Glyndebourne tradition. Following the performance, return transfer to Ashdown Park. (BD)
Wed 22 August: Ashdown Park – London
Late morning departure from Ashdown Park for the return to London (approx 2.5 hrs). Check-in again to the May Fair Hotel. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure before attending the first of four included BBC Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall*. (B)
Thu 23 August: London
After breakfast join Stuart Maunder for ‘A day in the West End’. Start with a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. Receive an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions (subject to confirmation).
Continue to the nearby Savoy Hotel for a traditional afternoon tea which is an enduring custom where guests can choose from a range of teas served with finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream & jam and a mouthwatering selection of cakes and pastries.
Tonight attend your second BBC Proms concert*. (B / afternoon tea)
Fri 24 August: London
Today join Stuart Maunder for an exploration of the area ‘South of the Thames’. Start with a guided tour of the iconic Globe Theatre and auditorium, bringing the space to life with colourful stories of the 1599 Globe, of the reconstruction process in the 1990s, and of how the ‘wooden O’ works today as an imaginative and experimental theatrical space.
After lunch at a local restaurant explore the Dulwich Picture Gallery, England's first public art gallery, home to masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Gainsborough amongst others. Tonight attend your third BBC Proms concert*. (BL)
Sat 25 August: London
Morning visit to the theatre and performance collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum. The collections were founded in the 1920s when a private collector, Gabrielle Enthoven, donated her extensive collection of theatrical designs, memorabilia, books and photographs to the Museum. Since then the collection has continued to grow and has provided a home for many other significant objects and archives. Remainder of the day at leisure to remain at the museum. (B)
Sun 26 August: London
Excursion to Richmond. Visit Ham House which has remained virtually unchanged for 400 years and is internationally recognised for its superb collection of textiles, furniture and art. Largely the vision of Elizabeth Murray, Countess of Dysart, who was deeply embroiled in the politics of the English Civil War and subsequent restoration of the monarchy, Ham House and Garden is an unusually complete survival of the 17th century.
Enjoy lunch at Petersham Nurseries where Australian head chef Skye Gyngell works almost exclusively with seasonal produce, creating simple food inspired by what she sees growing and flowering around her in the heated, plant filled Victorian greenhouse.
Tonight return to the Royal Albert Hall for your fourth concert of the BBC Proms*. (BL)
Mon 27 August: London – Stratford upon Avon
After breakfast depart London and travel to Stratford upon Avon (approx. 160KM, 2.5hrs).
The birthplace of William Shakespeare, set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, is steeped in culture and history.
In the afternoon explore the public and private areas of the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre complex. Learn about origins of the RSC and its theatres in Stratford, as well as exploring a production in more depth to learn about the theatre making process. Continue with a visit to the Tower, rising 36 metres above the River Avon, it offers an iconic anchor for the theatres while providing fantastic views of Shakespeare's home town.
After a pre-theatre dinner in the Rooftop Restaurant see Shakespeare’s Richard III in the Swan Theatre. (BD)
Tue 28 August: Stratford upon Avon
Excursion to the medieval Warwick Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and rebuilt and updated a number of times. Today it combines castle ruins, largely of the fourteenth century with one of the finest great houses in England.
In the eighteenth century Capability Brown, was commissioned to redesign the gardens of Warwick and in 1750 brought a new fashion of landscaping using classical influences and artistic talent to the grounds of Warwick. Return to Stratford upon Avon mid-afternoon.
Tonight see The Tempest in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. (BL)
Wed 29 August: Stratford upon Avon - Edinburgh
Today’s journey takes you from Stratford upon Avon to Edinburgh (approx. 525KM, 6hrs).
Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh. (BD)
Thu 30 August: Edinburgh
After breakfast begin your exploration of Edinburgh with a walking tour of the Royal Mile ending at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence in Scotland of The Queen. On a guided tour see the Royal Apartments which reflect the changing tastes of successive monarchs and are renowned for their fine plasterwork ceilings and magnificent furnishings, particularly the unrivalled collection of Brussels tapestries.
Afternoon at leisure to stay at Holyroodhouse and visit the magnificent gardens and Queen’s Gallery.
Tonight attend the first of two included Edinburgh International Festival performances*. (B)
Fri 31 August: Edinburgh
Day at leisure to explore Edinburgh’s Old Town. (B)
Sat 01 September: Edinburgh
Begin with a drive through the New Town, built in stages between 1765 and around 1850. Retaining much of the original Georgian neo-classical architecture, the UNESCO-listed New Town is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning. Continue past the Royal Botanic Gardens to the Ocean Terminal and the port of Leith where you visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia. One of the world's most famous ships, the Royal Yacht was launched in 1953 and proudly served Queen and country for 44 years. During that time Britannia carried The Queen and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages, until being decommissioned in 1997. After intense competition from cities around the UK, the British Government announced that Britannia would be permanently moored in Edinburgh's historic port of Leith and visitors can discover what life was like on board the ship for the Royal Family and crew.
Continue to a special venue outside Edinburgh for a farewell lunch with Stuart Maunder and fellow Music Lovers’..
The tour concludes tonight with a second performance of the Edinburgh International Festival*. (BL)
Sun 02 September: Depart Edinburgh
Transfer to the airport for evening departure on British Airways via London to Australia. (B)
Mon 03 September: In Flight
Tue 04 September: Arrive Australia
Evening arrival in Australia.
* The BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Festival will announce their programs in March/April 2012. From the final programs, Stuart Maunder and Renaissance Tours will make a selection of included performances, featuring symphonic concerts, recitals, opera and ballet. Additional optional performances (not included in tour cost) may be offered.
