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WELSH NATIONAL OPERA
Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Bryn Terfel as Hans SachsVerdi - Rigoletto
Private visit to Fonmon CastleFrom the Mercure Holland House Cardiff
28 -30 June 2010 |
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The much anticipated new production of Wagner’s epic opera Die Meisteringer von Nurnberg is to be performed by Welsh National Opera in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Any production of this opera is a major event, but a performance that includes at its very heart Bryn Terfel in his role debut as Hans Sachs, the shoemaker and poet, makes this a special occasion. Equally popular is Rigoletto, one of Verdi’s most powerful operas containing some his most memorable and best-loved music. During the day there will be a private visit to Fonmon Castle, a medieval castle just outside Cardiff occupied as a home since the 13th century with the most stunning Georgian interiors and surrounded by extensive gardens, and if time permits a visit to the attractive small town of Penarth. The Mercure Holland House is a four star luxury hotel with unusually large and spacious bedrooms, full spa and leisure facilities and ideally located in the centre of Cardiff.
Monday 28 June: Arrive and check into the hotel – there will be an early welcome drink and dinner at 1715 hrs before transferring by coach to the Wales Millennium Centre for the evening performance of Rigoletto. The cast for this performance includes internationally acclaimed baritone Simon Keenlyside as Rigoletto. This vividly realised production sets Verdi’s thriller in 1960s Washington DC, creating a tense and compelling evening of deception, corruption and revenge with the unforgettable breathtaking quartet “Bella figlia dell’amore” and of course “La donna e mobile”. Return to the hotel after the performance for dessert and coffee.
Tuesday 29 June: Departing in the morning for a visit to Fonmon Castle with a private guided tour followed by refreshments. Return to Cardiff via Penarth in the early afternoon before returning to the Wales Millennium Centre for the performance that starts at 1600 hrs. Twenty-four hours in the life of a city, a meditation on the transformative power of art, a comedy and a celebration of love – Wagner’s monumental Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg is all this and everything else besides. Bryn Terfel is joined by Amanda Roocroft as Eva and Christopher Purves as Beckmesser. There will be two intervals – during the longer of which we have arranged for a two-course dinner with wine to be served in Gilbey’s Restaurant within the auditorium.
We are fortunate to have already been allocated a limited amount of top price raised stalls tickets for both these performances and are offering this tour first to those who have already expressed an interest or perhaps have come with us on opera tours in the past. As we expect many clients will have already been to Cardiff on our earlier tours we are not repeating previous itineraries but would strongly recommend those coming for the first time to visit Cardiff Castle, the National Museum of Wales or to explore the Cardiff Bay area. The hotel is ideally placed and of course extra nights can be booked if requested or check out of your rooms before midday Wednesday 30 June.
Much too early for deposits! However to secure your place and these will be allocated as they reach this office – please return the form but ensure that we receive either a deposit cheque post-dated for 1st September 2009 or details on the form of your debit card when we will take the deposit of £120 per person on this date. Confirmation of booking and receipt will then be sent. Should we reach our maximum numbers, we will let you know that you are on the waiting list.
Tour Price:
Price per person: £425
Single Supplement: £50
Non refundable deposit: £100 pp
Tour price includes:
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2 nights accommodation and breakfast, welcome reception and one dinner in the hotel |
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Top price tickets for both performances |
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Dinner and wine at the Wales Millennium Centre on Tuesday |
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Private and tour and refreshments at Fonmon Castle |
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Professional guide and executive coaching |
*There is now very limited availability on this tour.
The train service to Cardiff is excellent and the hotel a ten minute taxi ride from Central Station. There is parking (a charge is made of £12 a night) at the hotel.
Welsh National Opera reserves the right to alter the programme or casting at short notice where circumstances dictate a situation that is beyond their control. Our tours are put together in good faith from information available at point of sale.
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Staying at The Mercure Holland House Cardiff
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