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Glittering New York: Opera, Art, Fine Dining, Holiday Lights
A very special holiday opera experience with the inimitable Fred Plotkin! This opera itinerary includes four incredible productions, one of which is Met’s hundredth anniversary of the world premier of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. Whether you are joining us again for our opera series with Fred or are a new-comer to our opera itineraries, be prepared to enjoy an unforgettable week full of great opera, delicious food, and lively conversation.
Fred Plotkin, author of Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera, sets the gold standard as a study leader for opera, food, wine and all the pleasures of life. You will join him on your Met opera tour for all performances and for outstanding meals at peerless New York restaurants.
Please do not miss the chance to join Fred for another season of superb opera and camaraderie. Tickets will go fast, so act now!
Price Per Person
Single Occupancy: $5,700 per person
Double Occupancy: $4,400 per person
This program requires a deposit of $1000 per person.
Tour Dates
Please Inquire
What's Included
- Orchestra Prime seating to the four performances
- Lectures by Fred as per the itinerary
- Five meals at superb local restaurants, as per itinerary
- Five nights accommodation at the Empire Hotel
- Arrival on your own and check into the hotel.
- Welcome dinner and talk with Fred at 8 pm at a major New York restaurant.
- Morning at leisure
- At 2-3 pm hear Fred give a lecture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art about Puccini and his opera, La Fanciulla del West. Ticket includes admission to the museum and you are free to come early and/or stay late to see exhibitions and do holiday shopping.
- At 5:30pm, dinner an excellent local restaurant.
- Depart for the Metropolitan Opera House at 7:30 pm.
- At 8 pm, Puccini’s La Bohéme starring Krassimira Stoyanova, Ellie Dehn, Joseph Calleja, Fabio Capitanucci and Paul Plishka in the legendary Franco Zeffirelli production.
- Morning at leisure.
- At 1 pm, join Fred for lunch at another great restaurant.
- From 3:30-4:45 pm Fred will discuss the role of France in three of this week’s operas and the pre-eminent role of Paris in the 19th-century opera.
- At 7:30pm depart for the Metropolitan Opera House.
- From 8 -11pm attend Bizet’s Carmen in the Richard Eyre production that was the Met’s biggest success last season. Stars include Hei-Kyung Hong, Viktoria Vizin, Brandon Jovanovich and John Relyea conducted by Edward Gardner.
- Meet with Fred at 1pm for a superb lunch.
- From 3:30 – 4:45pm Fred will discuss Verdi’s towering Don Carlo.
- Depart for a historic night at the Metropolitan opera at 7:30 pm.
- This is the hundredth anniversary of the world premiere of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West), which the composer wrote expressly for the Metropolitan Opera. The Met will celebrate in grand style with Deborah Voigt, Marcello Giordani and Lucio Gallo in the leading roles with Nicola Luisotti —the Tuscan maestro who is now music director of the San Francisco Opera— conducting. (8-11 pm)
- Morning at leisure.
- At 12 pm, depart for the Metropolitan Opera House.
- From 12:30-5:45pm attend a new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo, Fred’s favorite opera, with an all-star cast including Marina Poplavskaya, Anna Smirnova, Roberto Alagna, Simon Keenlyside, Eric Halfvarson and, in his signature role of King Philip II, the legendary Ferruccio Furlanetto. The conductor is one of the hottest young stars of today, Yannick Nézet-Seguin, who just became the head of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
- At 8 pm join Fred for a farewell dinner at one of New York’s best restaurants.
- Departure on your own.
