Roberto Alagna: “Any potential Berlioz tenor must prove himself a vocalist of extraordinary technical skill, a dramatic artist of powerful sensibility, and a real musician. On this showing, Alagna possesses mastery in all three departments. . . For Alagna above all, all praise!"
-- Opera, March ’03

Wagner’s ‘Tannhäuser’: “This music produces in us a strange and delicious impression; we come to understand, for the first time,the true romantic music such as the poets conceived.”
-- Théophile Gautier

“In the title role, Marina Mescheriakova traces lovely, delicate pianissimo lines high in the air. . .”
-- Opera, review of Verdi’s ‘Alzira’ CD

“Salvatore Licitra sang Alvaro (‘Forza del Destino’) with ringing fervour counter-balanced by expressive sensitivity, his tone open and brightly focused, his range broad, his diction crisp.”
-- Opera, April 2003, Carnegie Hall concert

“The outstanding singer was Larissa Diadkova as Azucena. Her contraltoish mezzo had not only the unblemished strength for ‘Stride le vampa’ and other outbursts but also the perfect velvety legato for ‘Ai nostri monti’. She also acted with taste as well as theatrical power.”
-- Opera News, Feb. ’03,

“Peter Seiffert was nearly always vibrant in the title role (Tannhäuser)”.
-- Opera, June ’03

PARIS OPERA:

Price Per Person
(Based on double occupancy):
$4,280

Single room supplement:
$885*

Super Apex Economy Air:
(NY-Paris-NY)
$1,163**

*We regret the high single supplement charged by the Lutétia. We encourage you to let us know if you are willing to share a room to avoid the single supplement.

**We anticipate that this price will be reduced at a later date, but all airlines are currently quoting inflated fares for European flights next April.

L’Opéra National de Paris has risen to new international heights during the past few years, galvanized by the leadership of Music Director James Conlon, who has been responsible for dazzling appearances by Renée Fleming and Natalie Dessay together in Handel’s ‘Alcina’, Bryn Terfel essaying his first por trayal of Don Giovanni, Thomas Hampson as Hamlet, and recent revelatory stagings of such unusual works as Prokoviev’s ‘War and Peace’, Rossini’s ‘William Tell’, and Rameau’s ‘Les Boréades’. Of equal significance for the Parisian music scene, the beloved French Châtelet theatre has re-opened after extensive renovation, and has given us Strauss’ ‘Arabella’ (with Mattila and Hampson) and such French rarities as Charpentier’s ‘Louise’ and Thomas’ ‘Hamlet’. Finally, the ornate Bel Epoque Palais Garnier (the ‘Old’ Opera House) continues to be utilized for the Paris Opera Ballet and Baroque and classical operas from the 17th and 18th centuries. Paris has become one of our most popular destinations, with sold-out Tours during each of the past few springs.

Now we have chosen a marvelous week for April of 2004, which will include FIVE PERFORMANCES. In addition to Four Major Operas (two in new productions), our variety will include a mixed program of dance by the Paris Opera Ballet.We are pleased that this balance will take us to three of the city’s glamorous theatres – the state-of-the-art Bastille Opera, the beloved Palais Garnier, and the prestigious Châtelet..

We will encounter three major works of the Opéra National de Paris, all at the Bastille Opera House. First, Jules Massenet’s master ful French opera Manon will bring the classic Abbé Prévost novel to life with the idiomatic pairing of Alexia Cousin and tenor Roberto Alagna as the doomed lovers. The other landmark operas at the Bastille will be two of Verdi’s melodic and most popular ‘middle period’ operas – La Traviata, starring the Albanian ‘bel canto’ soprano Inva Mula as the free-living ‘Lady of the Camelias’ in Jonathan Miller’s acclaimed producton, and Il Trovatore in an eagerly awaited new production by Francesca Zambello. ‘Trovatore’ is to be sung in French as Le Trouvère and will showcase Italy’s tenor-of-the-moment Salvatore Licitra as the romantic Troubadour and Russian divas Marina Mescheriakova and Larissa Diadkova as Leonora and Azucena.

Our fourth opera will be Richard Wagner’s music-drama, Tannhäuser, which will be given a new production in the Châtelet Theatre, featuring Munich’s reigning heldentenor Peter Seiffert in the punishing title role and conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, who became a favorite of Parisian audiences during his former years as Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris.

Our non-operatic evening will offer the variety of Three Ballets by the celebrated Paris Opera Ballet. Stravinsky’s Les Noces, his notorious Le Sacre du Printemps, and a world premiere enti-tled La Septième Lune will take us into the unique ambience of the Palais Garnier (the glorious ‘old opera house’) which everyone still wants to experience.

Our Paris Tours have all sold out in recent years, reflecting the high quality of musical performance throughout the city’s beautiful theatres. We have again chosen April to include the high points of the cultural season, and to experience Paris in the early spring before the hordes of tourist descend on the French capital. Museums and restaurants will be relatively uncrowded during our optimum week.

Accommodations for seven nights with a generous buffet breakfast at the Lutétia Concorde, a unique turn-of-the-century hotel located in a stylish residential area of the Left Bank. For the past decade, we have been grateful for this quiet First Class alternative to the busy commercial choices near the Place de la Concorde. Built in l9l0, the Lutétia is a monument to Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles typified by high ceilings, wrought-iron balconies and Lalique chandeliers in the public rooms. The friendly surrounding neighborhood is ideal for strolling through quiet streets, shopping in intriguing boutiques, and dining in characteristic French bistros and cafés.