New York Holiday Weekend

December 13th—17th, 2001

An escorted four night, five day tour

New York City

458 West 52nd Street #1D
New York, NY 10019
(800) 916-0312

 

Thursday December 13th

Independent arrivals at the four-star Empire Hotel, ideally located on West 63rd Street, directly across the street from Lincoln Center.  Having recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, the elegant Empire features beautifully decorated rooms with a number of acclaimed restaurants both on the premises and close by.  Coach arrival from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  Welcome wine and cheese reception.

 

We are thrilled to be attending the New Production Premiere of Richard Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten at the Metropolitan Opera under the baton of Christian Thielemann.  The production by Herbert Wernicke will feature Deborah Voigt, Gabriele Schnaut, Hanna Schwarz, Thomas Moser, Wolfgang Brendel, and Eike Wilm Schulte.

 

Friday December 14th

 

This morning we present the option to attend a special concert by the New York Philharmonic and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the combined direction of Kurt Masur and Wynton Marsalis.  The unique program includes music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker performed by the Philharmonic interspersed with the corresponding movements from the Ellington/Strayhorn jazz arrangement of the score performed by the Jazz Orchestra.  In addition, the program will also feature selections from Marsalis’s All Rise.  Past concerts combining these two ensembles have been outstanding, so we look forward with great anticipation to this exciting event. (Supplemental Ticket Price $75)

 

Afternoon at leisure  -  a perfect opportunity to take care of holiday shopping or visit some of New York’s festive holiday displays.

 

This evening, we return to the Metropolitan Opera to see one of the great actresses of the operatic stage, soprano Catherine Malfitano, as Cio Cio San in Giancarlo del Monaco’s beautiful production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.  Walter Fraccaro and Kim Josephson are also featured in the cast, conducted by Marco Armiliato.

 

Saturday December 15th

 

This morning, we will enjoy a private tour of the Guggenheim Museum, including the special exhibition Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People, the most comprehensive exhibition ever assembled of the art of one of America's most popular artists. The exhibition features works spanning more than 60 years of the artist's career, including more than 70 oil paintings and all 322 of the iconic covers he created for The Saturday Evening Post. The exhibition will also feature materials tracing the artist's complex working method, including rough sketches, photographs of models, and studies in pencil and oil.   Following our tour, you will have time to explore the many masterpieces of the Guggenheim’s permanent collection.

 

This afternoon, we return to the Metropolitan Opera for Richard Strauss’s Arabella under the baton of world renowned conductor Christoph Eschenbach in his Met debut.  The all star cast includes Renée Fleming, Barbara Bonney, Raymond Very, Falk Struckmann and Eric Halfvarson. We are thrilled to be able to attend two rarely seen Strauss masterpieces in one weekend!

 

 

This evening, we have the good fortune to see another one of the world’s greatest conductors, Valery Gergiev, conducting the Kirov Orchestra at Carnegie Hall with pianist Alexander Toradze.  The all Prokofiev program includes the Scythian Suite, Piano Concerto No.2, and Symphony No.5.

 

Sunday December 16th

 

Morning at leisure.

 

This afternoon, we return to Carnegie Hall for a solo recital by Baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky with pianist Mikhail Arkadiev.  The program will feature songs by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.

 

Following the concert, we will enjoy a special holiday dinner at one of New York’s finest restaurants (Details TBA).

 

Monday December 17th

 

Independent departures from New York.  Coach Return to Ottawa, Canada.  Check out time from the Empire Hotel is Noon.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Private Coach Transportation is included for tour and performance transfers.

 

 

PERFORMANCES

Metropolitan Opera: Die Frau ohne Schatten, Madama Butterfly, Arabella

Carnegie Hall: Kirov Orchestra Prokofiev Program, Hvorostovsky Recital

Avery Fisher Hall:  New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (optional)

 

INCLUDED MEALS

Welcome Wine and Cheese Reception, Holiday Dinner

 

TOUR PRICE

Land Arrangements (Based on Double Occupancy) US$ 1995

Single Supplement US$ 450

$1000 Deposit is required to secure your space on tour.  Balance due on November 1st, 2001.

 

TRANSPORTATION

Lowest airfare at time of booking is available directly through Pro Musica Tours, at cost, for your convenience.  A Saturday night stay is included to assure you the lowest airfare possible.

 

Private Coach transportation for tour members from Ottawa, Canada is included  -  Please call for details.

 

We are pleased to provide a FREE ROOM UPGRADE to Deluxe Rooms at the Empire Hotel for early registrants.  Room upgrades are limited and will be filled in order of registration.