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Vienna was the undisputed centre of musical life from the mid-18th century until the early years of the twentieth. As the capital of a vast and wealthy empire, Vienna was able to provide all the conditions for musical creativity to flourish on a magnificent scale. The works of an impressive list of composers, some of whom were not even Austrian, let alone Viennese, are woven into the fabric of life in Vienna to this day. Artists too made Vienna the centre of cultural Europe from the late 19th century. Add to this the beauty and grandeur of the city’s architecture and its great art collections, and you have one of the world’s leading cultural destinations.
...when you travel with Kirker
Flights with British Airways:
Depart London Heathrow 11.35 arrive Vienna 14.45
Depart Vienna 14.20 arrive London Heathrow 15.50
A hotel of excellent quality, located in a small side street just outside the south-western corner of the Ringstrasse, some ten minutes' walk from the Opera House and the heart of the historic city centre.
Declan Hamilton has been leading music tours since 1995. He read History and French at the University of Bristol before training as a singer at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and the Royal Academy of Music. He sang major roles in a number of operas both as a student and a professional, notably Mozart's baritone roles.
Declan worked at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in Education and House Management for many years, during which period he led over 1600 backstage tours, gave pre-performance talks, and interviewed some of the great singers of the day for the 'In Conversation' series. In 2007 he moved back to Bristol, where he worked in the Alumni Relations Department at his alma mater. He has since worked as Alumni Relations Manager at the Royal College of Music, and is currently Alumni Relations Manager at Trinity College, Cambridge.
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.
Each departure has a choice of two operas. If you would like to attend the second performance, tickets cost £248.
20 March departure
22 March: Simon Boccanegra by Verdi
Placido Domingo sings the title role. Eleonora Buratto is Amelia and Francesco Meli is Gabriele Adorno.
23 March: Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni and Pagliacci by Leoncavallo
A double bill: Elīna Garanča is Santuzza and Yonghoon Leesings Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana; Marina Rebeka and George Petean sing the leading role in Pagliacci.
10 May departure
11 May: Macbeth by Verdi
Tatiana Serjan and George Petean are the murderous couple. James Conlon conducts.
12 May: Rigoletto by Verdi
Christopher Maltman sings the title role; Joseph Calleja is the cynical Duke of Mantua and Aida Garifullina the luckless Gilda.
20 June departure
22 June: Aida by Verdi
The leading roles are taken by Ekaterina Gubanova, ElenaGuseva, Gregory Kunde and Simone Piazzola.
23 June: Tosca by Puccini
Swedish diva Nina Stemme returns to Italian opera as Tosca, Piotr Beczala is Cavaradossi and Carlos Alvarez the lustful Scarpia.
Tour Leader
Declan Hamilton has been leading music tours since 1995. He read History and French at the University of Bristol before training as a singer at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and the Royal Academy of Music. He sang major roles in a number of operas both as a student and a professional, notably Mozart's baritone roles.
Declan worked at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in Education and House Management for many years, during which period he led over 1600 backstage tours, gave pre-performance talks, and interviewed some of the great singers of the day for the 'In Conversation' series. In 2007 he moved back to Bristol, where he worked in the Alumni Relations Department at his alma mater. He has since worked as Alumni Relations Manager at the Royal College of Music, and is currently Alumni Relations Manager at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Our expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.
