*Click on the titles which are in RED to see the full itinerary.* GALA MUSIC CRUISE on board the deluxe MS DEUTSCHLAND September 18 - October 1, 2008 Hamburg, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, Lorient, Lisbon, Valencia, Sète, Monte Carlo Distinguished classical music celebrities in concert and recitals. A magnificent program. Free shore excursion package. CLASSICAL MUSIC CRUISE on board the MV MOZART October 5 - 12, 2008 Cruising the Danube River Passau, Durnstein, Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Melk, Grein, Passau Five classical musicians perform on board. Evening performances in both Vienna and Budapest. HOLIDAY in ALSACE, FRANCE October 5 - 12, 2008 Not an opera tour, but a gourmet tour with TV celebrity David Rosengarten. Accommodations at the Chateau d'Isenbourg in Rouffach. Call for the detailed itinerary. ITALIAN OPERA GALA Verdi Festival in Parma, La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, La Scala in Milan October 24 - November 4, 2008 Parma: GIOVANNA D’ARCO, RIGOLETTO. Busseto: IL CORSARO. Venice: NABUCCO and a concert. Genoa: I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI. Milan: THE MERRY WIDOW. MUSICAL POLAND Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow November 5 - 12, 2008 Warsaw: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR. Wroclaw: NABUCCO, RIGOLETTO, IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA. Krakow: Paderewski’s MANRU; DON PASQUALE. A sensational opera program in still-affordable Poland, a veritable living museum. NEW YEAR’S IN VIENNA December 28, 2008 - January 2, 2009 DIE FLEDERMAUS, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic dress rehearsal concert for its famous NEW YEAR’S DAY CONCERT. Option to attend the IMPERIAL BALL. Lipizzaners at the Spanish Riding School. Deluxe Ring Hotel. CLASSICAL MUSIC CRUISE on board the MV MOZART April 26 - May 1, 2009 Cruising the Danube River Passau, Durnstein, Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Melk, Grein, Passau Five classical musicians perform on board. Evening performances in both Vienna and Budapest. The detailed itinerary will be released shortly. Wagner's DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN The Metropolitan Opera - New York City May 4 - 10, 2009 This is the last of the Ring Cycles to be performed by the Metropolitan Opera during its 2008-2009 Season and the last time this classic production will be staged by the Met. The performances will be conducted by James Levine with leading roles sung by Wendy Bryn Harmer, Yvonne Naef, Jill Grove, Kim Begley, Gerhard Siegel, James Morris, Richard Paul Fink, René Pape, John Tomlinson, Adrianne Pieczonka, Lisa Gasteen, Plácido Domingo, Jon Fredric West, Margaret Jane Wray, Iain Paterson. The production is by Otto Schenk, with sets and projections designed by Günther Schneider-Siemssen, costumes by Rolf Langenfass and lighting by Gil Wechsler. GALA MUSIC CRUISE on board the deluxe MS DEUTSCHLAND May 21 - June 3, 2009 Hamburg, London, Aberdeen, Ullapool, Dublin, Cobh, Zeebrugge, Hamburg The detailed itinerary will be released shortly. ITALIAN OPERA May 27 - June 7, 2009 Venice (at La Fenice): MADAMA BUTTERFLY. Trieste: L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI. Turin: QUEEN OF SPADES. Genoa: RIGOLETTO. Milan (at La Scala): A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. The detailed itinerary will be released shortly. SANTA FE OPERA August 4 - 9, 2009 LA TRAVIATA, ALCESTE, L'ELISIR D'AMORE, THE LETTER, DON GIOVANNI.. Deluxe hotel, great sightseeing, a lot of fun in the Land of Enchantment. The detailed itinerary will be released shortly. CLASSICAL MUSIC CRUISE highlighting JOHANN STRAUSS August 15 - 21, 2009 Cruising the Danube River Cruising from Passau to Budapest. As a special guest, Johann Strauss's great grandson will be on board to lecture. The detailed itinerary will be released shortly. Wagner's DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN The Seattle Opera - Seattle, Washington August 25 - 31, 2009 Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle as performed by the Seattle Opera: production directed by Stephen Wadsworth; sets by Thomas Lynch; costumes by Martin Pakledinaz. The cast includes Greer Grimsley, Janice Baird, Stephanie Blythe, Marie Plette, Stuart Skelton, Richard Paul Fink, Andrea Silvestrelli, Stig Fogh Andersen; Robert Spano conducts. CLASSICAL MUSIC CRUISE on board the MV MOZART October 4 - 10, 2009 Cruising the Danube River Passau, Durnstein, Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Melk, Grein, Passau Five classical musicians perform on board. Evening performances in both Vienna and Budapest. The detailed itinerary will be released shortly. Wagner's DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN The Washington National Opera - Washington, DC November 16 - 22, 2009 Wagner's complete Ring as The American Ring, the first Ring cycle created for and produced in the nation's capital. This production will be directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Heinz Fricke. The cast includes Alan Held, Iréne Theorin, Gordon Hawkins, Christopher Ventris, Anja Kampe, Ian Storey, Elizabeth Bishop, Gidon Saks, Robin Leggate, David Cangelosi.