Concerts in Venice: Music at the Palace

Musica a Palazzo (Music at the Palace) wants to recreate teh magic of the ‘Salotto Musicale’ or ‘Mucial Parlour’: a piano, a few instruments and one or two singers who gave life to memorable evenings.

LA TRAVIATA
Tuesday – Thursday – Sunday
8.30PM – 2 hours
Act I: Salone delle Feste / Act II: Sala Tiepolo / Act III: Camera con Alcova Reale
Progressive opera: every act is in a different room

The Traviata is bases on the novel ‘La Dame aux Camelias’ by Alexandre Duma fils, published in 1848 telling the story of Marie Duplessis, a noted courtesan an idol of the 1840s’ Parisian society.
With La Traviata, Verdi created history’s first major opera dealing with a contemporary social theme. This was only one of the work’s several aspects that proved unpalatable for the audience at its premiere in Venice, in 1853: beyond that, the audience was similarly shocked by the principal part being assigned to a courtesan, and that moreover, she was portrayed as a heroine.
The premiere ended consequently by a fiasco, nonetheless, soon thereafter, Verdi’s La Traviata scored its first triumphsm, and ever since then has remained a hugely loved repertoire staple.
This production with its refined costumes offers exquisite moments of involvement with the viewing public while walking through the rooms and the ‘stanze di Traviata’.

DUETTI d’AMORE – LOVE DUETS
Monday -Friday
8.30PM – 1.5 hours
Act I: Sala Tiepolo / Act II: Camera con Alcova Reale
Progressive opera: every act is in a different room

Among the most beautiful voices in Italy interpret La Boheme, manon Lescaut, La Traviata and Cavallera Rusticana
Languid love and burning passion in the duets taken from Italian melodramas are exalted by the magnificient colours of the Tiepolo frescoes.
‘Intermezzo’ – Cavalleria Rusticana di Pietro Mascagni
‘Quando men vo’ – La Boheme di Giacomo Puccini
‘Liebesleid’ di Fritz Kreisler
‘Le Cygne’ di Camille Saint-Saens
‘Intermezzo’ – Manon Lescaut di Giacomo Puccini
‘Tace il labbro’ – La Vedova Allegra di Franz Lehar
‘Musica Proibita’ di Stanislao Gastaldon
‘Madamigella Valery’ – La Traviata di Giuseppe Verdi
‘Meditation’ – Thais di Jules Massenet
‘La ci darem la mano’ – Don Giovanni di W.A. Mozart

IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
Wednesday – Saturday
8.30PM – 2.15 hours

Who hasn’t yet heard of Figaro, the famous barber of Seville?
When young Count Almaviva leaves Madrid for Seville to pursue the call of his heart, he not only leaves the court and his family but also the arranged marriage they would make for him. He woos his beloved in disguise to insure that if she will have him it will not be for his title or money, but because she loves him for himself.
By portraying the count’s title and wealth as an impediment to be disguised, Beaumarchais gave voice to the rising revolutionary tide of the 1780s which would soon swamp the once thriumphant Enlightenment and its decaving aristocracy. Similtaneously, his play heralded the beginning of the Romantic era and the rise of democracy.
His portrayal of the Count’s and Rosina’s happy union attacks the aristocracy by endorsing the idea that feelings not property are the desirable basis for marriage. It affirms that in feelings, particularly in love, we are all equal.
Staged amid the exquisite setting of paintings, furnishings and architectural details of the splendid Palazza Barbarigo-Monotto.
Extraordinary voices of virtuoso singers in an evening of sparkling gaiety.

Read Full Post »

Monumental & Christian Rome Sightseeing Tour

Visit: SPANISH STEPS – TREVI FOUNTAIN – PANTHEON – NAVONA SQUARE – ST. PETER’S BASILICA – ST JOHN IN LATERAN – HOLY STAIRS – CATACOMBS – OLD APPIAN WAY – TOMB OF CECILIA METELLA.
Daily – (about 9 hours). Free pick-up service at hotels from 7:15/8:00AM approx.

Our tour will leave from Piazza San Bernardo, adorned by Moses’Fountain, heading to Piazza della Repubblica, previously known as “dell’Esedra” as its central area also called Esedra of the Diocletian Baths is hidden now by the Fountain of Naiadi.

We will continue towards Via Sistina where we’ll leave the bus to start our walking trough the ages, starting from the Spanish Steps and reaching Piazza di Spagna with the famous fountain “la Barcaccia” realized from Pietro Bernini.

Then the guided tour will lead you to the Trevi Fountain, a baroque jewel, and to the Pantheon (meaning “Temple of all the Gods”), a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of Ancient Rome. It is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and perhaps the best preserved building of its age.

At the end of the tour we will finally reach the gorgeous Piazza Navona built on the ruins of the Domitian’s Circus adorned by the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini realized in 1651.
Tour will end reaching the church of St. Peter with a description of his marvellous square.

Lunch at a typical local restaurant

Leaving from Piazza San Bernardo, crossing Piazza della Repubblica, we will run along Via Nazionale to end up visiting the Basilica of St.Mary Major, built on the Esquiline Hill in 352 A.D.
The tour will then continue visiting the Basilica of St.John in Lateran, cathedral of Rome and of the world.
Hence, we will go to the Holy Stairs, climbed by Jesus Christ to reach Pilate’s Palace.

From here the tour will start again by coach, crossing Piazza San Giovanni and Via Latina. Skirting along the Mura Latine, the tour will pass through the Porta di San Sebastiano to arrive on the Ancient Appian Way, where we will find the Chapel of “Domine Quo Vadis”.

We arrive finally at the Catacombs of St.Callixtus, where the visit will take about 45 minutes (on Wednesdays the visit will be at the Catacombs of St.Domitilla).
On the way back, from the coach you will have a view of the Caracalla Baths.

Read Full Post »

Ancient Rome Sightseeing Tour

VISIT: ROMAN FORUM, COLISSEUM, PALATIN HILL.

Daiy in the afternoon (about 3 hours).
Free pick-up service at hotels from 1:30pm to 2:30pm approx. From Nov. 1st to Feb. 28th departures will be 30 mins. earlier.
English guide

With this tour you will enjoy the splendour of the classic Roman Empire. Leaving Piazza San Bernardo, adorned by Moses’ Fountain, we will head to Piazza Venezia. Crossing the square we will admire on one side the Memorial to King Vittorio Emanuele II and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After this ample view of an important part of the city, the guided tour will take you to visitthe Roman Forum, walking along the ancient pavement, which crosses the evocative ruins of the Roman Forum, the Curia, the Reggia.

You will then admire the Temple of Vesta, the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Costantine. The tour will continue with the visit of the massive structure of the Colosseum (internal visit). Originally named Flavian Amphitheatreit is a giant amphitheatre used gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. The amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian’s reign. The excursion will go on visiting the Palatine Hill. The ancient “palatium”, historical residence of the Caesars, from whose name is derived the use of the term “Palace”, to indicate a seat of official power.

Read Full Post »