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La Scala, Milan is, for most opera lovers, the world’s most revered and important opera house. The theatre opened in 1778 with a performance of an opera by Salieri and since then many of the greatest Italian operas have received their first performance on its hallowed stage. Two very different divas enjoyed their greatest successes at La Scala – Renata Tebaldi and Maria Callas triumphed here season after season at the height of their careers.
Included in our tour to Milan are visits to the city’s great Duomo, the Brera Gallery, which houses one of the most important art collections in Italy, and the wonderful La Scala Museum with displays linked to all the great conductors, performers and designers associated with the opera house. Also included are visits to the Basilica Sant’Ambrogio, named after Milan’s patron saint, and Casa Verdi, founded by Giuseppe Verdi and dedicated to taking care of musicians who have devoted their working lives to opera. This is an exceptionally special visit for everyone with an interest in opera and those who perform it.
...when you travel with Kirker
With its position midway between the Duomo and La Scala, the Hotel De La Ville has the perfect location for a comfortable short break in Milan.
Patrick Bade taught for the University of Glasgow MA programme at Christie’s Education in London. He had worked at Christie’s since 1981, where he also gave courses on the history of opera.
During his career he has lectured at the Jewish Cultural Centre, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Opera House and the University of Barcelona. Patrick has also participated in programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM. His first book Femme Fatale: Images of Evil and Fascinating Women came out in 1978. Since then he has written monographs and essays on numerous 19th and early 20th century artists and his latest publications include a book on the use of music in World War II, Music Wars, 1937-45 and the essay Neo-Neoclassicism: Classicism between the Wars.
Our autumn departure has a choice of two operas. If you would like to attend the second performance, tickets cost £250 (NB Face value of the tickets range from €210 to €250).
May departure
16 May 2023
Andrea Chenier by Giordano
First performed at La Scala, Milan on 28 Marc 1896
Andrea Chenier tells the story of the romantic poet, caught up in the bloody terrors of the French Revolution Chenier’s political beliefs are turned on their head thanks to his love for Maddalena di Coigny, an aristocrat who has lost everything from her former life.
It is one of the most popular verismo operas with every leading tenor and soprano including it in their repertory. At this performance, the ill-fated lovers will be sung by Yusif Eyvazov and Sonya Yoncheva. Ambrogio Maestri sings the role of the servant, Gerard. Marco Armiliato conducts.
October departure
Opera lovers will relish the opportunity to see two contrasting operas from the first half of the 20th century which were landmarks in the musical history of the countries of their composers, Italo Montemezzi and Benjamin Britten. At first glance, an unlikely pair of bed fellows. Britten was at the dawn of post war British music while Montemezzi’s masterpiece was came as the twilight of Italian opera began.
03 November 2023
L’amore di tre Re by Montemezzi
First performed at La Scala, Milan on April 1913
Michele Mariotti conducts this now rarely performed work, often hailed as a masterpiece. The opera calls for four singers of the highest calibre – in this performance Gunther Groissbeck, Roberto Frontali and the soprano Chiara Isotton as Fiora, one of the most demanding and challenging roles written for soprano, sing the leading roles. At the premiere the conductor was Tullio Serfafin whilst at the opera’s first performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on 4 March 1918, Enrico Caruso led the cast. The opera was last performed at La Scala in 1953.
OR
02 November 2023
Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten
First performed at Sadler’s Wells, London on 7 June 1945.
Simone Young conducts the American tenor Brandon Jovanovich as the distressed fisherman, Nicole Car is the woman who tries to save him and Olafur Sigurdarson is Balstrode. A special occasion to see Peter Grimes in one of the world’s most historic opera house.
Tour Leader
Patrick Bade taught for the University of Glasgow MA programme at Christie’s Education in London. He had worked at Christie’s since 1981, where he also gave courses on the history of opera.
During his career he has lectured at the Jewish Cultural Centre, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Opera House and the University of Barcelona. Patrick has also participated in programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM. His first book Femme Fatale: Images of Evil and Fascinating Women came out in 1978. Since then he has written monographs and essays on numerous 19th and early 20th century artists and his latest publications include a book on the use of music in World War II, Music Wars, 1937-45 and the essay Neo-Neoclassicism: Classicism between the Wars.
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