“Verona stands on the banks of the Adige in a setting of cypress covered hills. . . It is, after Venice, the finest art center in Venetia.”
- Michelin

“Lake Como remains a place of consummate partnership between the beauties of nature and those of humanity. . . Like so many of Italy’s most beautiful villa gardens, those of Como owe their beauty to the landscape architecture of two eras: the Renaissance Italian, with its taste for order, and the 19th-century English, with its fondness for illusions of natural wildness.”
- Fodor

“La Scala is closer to a cathedral than an auditorium. Here Verdi established his reputation and Maria Callas sang her way into opera lore. It looms as a symbol – both for the performer who dreams of singing here and for the opera buff who knows every note. . .”
- Fodor

Our annual summer Tour to Northern Italy is consistently sold out whenever we are able to combine the spectacular Italian operas in Verona’s ancient outdoor Roman Arena, a relaxed sojourn in the idyllic village of Bellagio on the shore of Lake Como, and the experience of a performance in Milan’s legendary La Scala. We look forward to welcoming many old and new friends on our July 2009 Tour which in fact will include all three of these elements.

We will begin our program in the Northern Italian city of Verona, which has long been among our most important summer destinations due to the Renaissance beauty of the architecture and the overwhelming experience of the outdoor opera performances in the Roman Arena. For the 2009 season, the Arena has announced a thrilling program of Rossini, Verdi and Puccini – a fitting tribute to a towering trio of Italy’s native-son composers. Our Italian immersion will include a three-night stay at the deluxe five-star Hotel Victoria and three spectacular performances of Rossini’s comic masterpiece Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Verdi’s immensely popular Aida (the Arena’s unforgettable signature staging), and Puccini’s final work for the stage, Turandot. (All Verona casts To Be Announced at a later date.)

Between Verona and Milan, a relaxed change of pace will take us for two nights to the idyllic village of Bellagio on the shores of Lake Como. It is difficult to imagine a more breathtaking site than the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, where we will enjoy a leisurely schedule following our late nights in Verona. The magnificent views and the intoxicating charm of the village will provide a welcome respite without any performances.

Our final two nights in Milan will give us the unusual opportunity to include a pair of evening performances at the renowned Teatro alla Scala. First will be an orchestral/choral Concert by the visiting forces of Moscow’s Bolshoi Opera in a program of Russian music. Second will be Tchaikovsky’s melodic 19th century opera Eugene Onegin in the Bolshoi’s romantic production. Our choice of the Starhotel Rosa is ideal for the location only a few minutes’ walk from La Scala.

The cuisine of Northern Italy is justifiably celebrated, and we have carefully selected our appealing hotels. A full dinner with wine is included on a half-pension basis on both evenings in Bellagio. There will be ample free time to enjoy the wealth of artistic treasures in Verona and Milan and the luxurious hotel facilities and shops in Bellagio. This Tour combines the incomparable natural and architectural splendor of Northern Italy, the remarkable acoustics and visual power of Verona’s famous Arena, and the international standards of Milan’s La Scala.

Thursday, July 9th, departure from New York’s Kennedy Airport at 5:40 pm on Lufthansa flight #411, arriving in Munich at 8:10 am on the morning of the 10th. This connects with Lufthansa flight #3934, departing Munich at 9:20 am and arriving in Verona at 10:30 am. Or independent travel to Verona.

VERONA: July 10 - 12

Our accommodations for three nights with buffet breakfast are at the deluxe Hotel Victoria, ideally located in the heart of the old city within easy walking distance of the Arena, the Castello Museum and the Piazza delle Erbe. The Victoria is fully air-conditioned, and the stylishly updated rooms are spacious and peaceful, reflecting the quiet residential district. The Victoria does not have its own restaurant, but there are many ‘trattorias’ and cafés between the hotel and the Arena.

IMPORTANT: There WILL be a performance on our first night. If you prefer to arrive a day early to adjust to the time change, we will be happy to reserve your room for the extra night of July 9th. You should inform us NOW if you want the early night.

LAKE COMO: July 13 & 14

Accommodations for two nights with a generous buffet breakfast included at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio. This sumptuous hotel is surrounded by luxurious gardens and dramatic mountains bordering Lake Como, the most beautiful of the romantic Italian lakes. The scenery is magnificent around the village of Bellagio, the “Pearl of the Lake”, which enjoys a unique promontory site on the northern shore. The bedrooms are richly furnished in Italianate style, and the dining room is renowned for its imaginative cuisine. There is a large outdoor swimming pool adjacent to the lake shore. The Villa Serbelloni has just completed a major renovation and is even more splendid than before.

MILAN: July 15th & 16th

Accommodations for two nights with a generous European buffet breakfast included at the first-class Starhotel Rosa, a four-star property centrally located on the Piazza Fontana only a short walk from La Scala and the exclusive shops of the via Montenapoleone. The stunning Gothic spires of the Duomo are viewed from the hotel’s higher floors, and the air-conditioned rooms feature warmly colored tapestries and cherry-wood furniture. The excellent restaurant on the premises is ‘Al Caminetto’. (We have chosen the Starhotel Rosa instead of a five-star hotel, because it is far better situated for our evenings at La Scala.)