INTRODUCTION
For this tour we are offering you a two-city experience, in which you will spend one night in Bologna and two nights in Ravenna.
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Bologna is bustling city that stands at the crossroads between the north and the south of Italy. It is a city with a rich history, boasting the oldest university in Europe, and once held the dubious reputation of being the place to go for anyone wanting their sons to be castrated so that they could perform the great castrati roles of 17th and 18th century opera.
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Whilst in the city, we shall be attending a performance of Puccini's Il Trittico at the Teatro Nouveau.
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It is then on to the much quieter, yet fascinating, city of Ravenna.
Boasting the final resting place of the Nation's poet, Dante, it is also home to eight designated UNESCO sites, including the fabulous sixth century San Vitale basilica with its mosaics of Empress Teodora and Emperor Giustiniano overlooking the altar.
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Each year, from May to July, the city is also home to the Ravenna Festival which offers plays, concerts, speakers and much more, performed throughout the city in some of the most stunning venues in the world.
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We shall be offering two events in the city that are bound to attract your attention.
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On the first evening, you will attend a performance Danilo Comitini's new opera 'Galla Placidia' then on the following evening you will have the opportunity to see one of the world's leading conductors, Riccardo Muti, put the Cherubini Youth Orchestra through its paces.
Please note that places are restricted to ensure that we can offer you individual attention and that the meeting with Danilo Comitini has a degree of personal contact.
Photograph reproduced with kind permission from the Ravenna Festival.& Zani-Casadio
Photograph reproduced with kind permission from the Ravenna Festival & Silvia Lelli
FULL ITINERARY
Roberta Mameli as Teodora. Photograph reproduced with kind permission from Ravenna Festival & Marco Borrelli
July 5th: Arrive Bologna Airport. Transport by taxi to your hotel
17:00: Meet & Greet with drinks and snacks
20:00: Performance of Puccini's Il Trittico
July 6th: Morning free to explore Bologna.
11:00: Depart for Ravenna.
13:00: Lunch at Ca' da Vén
16:00: Meet composer, Danilo Comitini
19:00: Performance of his chamber opera Galla Placidia
July 7th:
10:00: Guided tour of Ravenna, including entrance to Galla Placidia's mausoleum and San Vitale Basilica
13:00: Lunch at Osteria Dei Battibecchi
15:30: Guided tour of Museum and Dante's grave
21:00: Evening concert with Riccardo Muti
July 8th: Depart Ravenna by mini-bus for Bologna Airport
BOLOGNA
Il Trittico (1918) by Puccini (1858-1924)
THREE OPERAS
GIANNI SCICCHI
Starring Roberto de Candia
SOUR ANGELICA
Starring Chiara Isotton
IL TABARRO
Starring Franco Vassallo
Conductor: Roberto Abbado
Director: Pier Francesco Maestrini
RAVENNA FESTIVAL
Maestro Riccardo Muti conducts The Cherubini Youth Orchestra
Programme:
Sollima: Stabat Mater
Schubert: Symphony No 4
Photograph reproduced with kind permission from Ravenna Festival
Photograph reproduced with kind permission from the Ravenna Festival & Zani-Casadio
In Bologna, you will be staying in a 4-star hotel, only a short walk from the Teatro Nouveau.
Your room will be in the well-equipped Junior Suite category.
Situated on the outskirts of the city centre, the hotel is easily reachable by taxi, which is supplied free of charge as part of your total package.
YOUR HOTELS
In Ravenna you will be staying at the luxurious 4-star Hotel Bezzi, a short walk to the city's historical sites.
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A MESSAGE FROM DANILO COMITINI
Composer of Galla Placidia
I am very happy to be able to send you this message and to share with you the excitement of the Ravenna Festival.
This historic and wonderful city forms the backdrop of what is a very special festival, which hosts many world renowned artists.
I am particularly thrilled to have been given the opportunity to write an opera for the festival. The character of Galla Placidia will be revived, taking us back in time to observe the life of one the most unique women in history. We will be able to listen to her conversations with some of the historical figures who accompanied her through her life.
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The performance will take place inside one of the most sublime and fascinating buildings in Ravenna, the Basilica of San Vitale.
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I look forward to seeing you there!
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Danilo Camitini
