La Scala in Milan Opera Breaks

Arblaster & Clarke offer independent tailor-made opera holidays with first class tickets to the classic Italian Opera house Teatro alla Scala in Milan with central 5* hotel accommodation.

La Scala is arguably the world’s greatest Opera venue has without doubt had its dramas over the past few years with political wrangles, a star tenor walking out mid perfomance and the occasional strike. This should not over-shadow the fact that there have also been many triumphant, emotional and sublime performances too. There is always something really thrilling about sitting down to watch a great opera at La Scala.

We have access to the best seats and boxes and even to tickets to otherwise ‘sold out’ performances. From time to time A&C offer escorted Opera & Wine tours based in Milan.

Milan is known more as a centre of business and fashion, rather than a weekend destination – yet there is a wealth of cultural interest to explore on your Opera holiday. The cathedral is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world. Many of the churches, which in themselves are fascinating architecturally, house works of art, including the most famous of all at the Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the monk’s refectory is home to Da Vinci’s truly magnificent Last Supper fresco (pre-booking essential, visit www.cenacolovinciano.it). Museums include the Castello Sforzesco with a fine collection of furniture and art, including Michelangelo’s unfinished Rondanini Pieta sculpture. The splendid glass and metal domed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is near our hotel, and when you are not busy window shopping in the elegant shops, don’t forget to look at the wonderful mosaics and up at the dome.

Laura-Marie Taylor Stoakes, Arblaster & Clarke’s Administrator who looks after the Opera breaks, has written a blog of the very special A&C visit to Grange Park Opera to see Simon Keenlyside and her Visit to La Scala, Milan.

Opera Packages available from Arblaster & Clarke:
(see below for dates, prices and cast lists)

Includes 2 nights staying classic 5* hotel, central Milan.
One First Class ticket to Teatro alla Scala.
Milan pocket guide.
Arblaster & Clarke restaurant notes and Opera synopsis.

The hotel is within easy walking distance of Teatro alla Scalla, and of course the Duomo, La Scala Museum, the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele and several good restaurants. Upgrades normally available to either deluxe rooms or suites. Additional nights and Opera tickets can be arranged according to availability.

Approximate price per person is subject to exact hotel room and ticket prices, please call the office to discuss your options.

Opera	Cast	Performance Dates
La Boheme di Puccini	Mimi: Angela Gheorghiu Rodolpho: Piotr Beczala	26,28 September 2012 1,4,8,10,12,19,22,24,26 October 2012
Siegfried di Wagner	Siegfried: Lance Ryan Brunnhilde: Nina Stemme Wanderer: Juha Uusitalo	23,27,31October 2012 4,18,22 November 2012
Rigoletto di Verdi	Rigoletto: Zelijko Lucic Gilda: Nino Machaidze	6,8,10,11,13,15,17 November 2012
Lohengrin di Wagner	René Pape Jonas Jaufmann Anja Harteros	7, 11, 14, 18, 21 December 2012
Falstaff di Verdi	Tamar Iveri Bryn Terfel Ambrogio Maestri	15, 20, 23, 26, 29, 31 January 2013 2, 6, 8, 12 February 2013
Nabucco di Verdi	Leo Nucci Ambrogio Maestri Nino Surguladze	1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 20 February 2013
Der fliegende di Wagner	Bryn Terfel Klaus Florian Vogt	28 February 2013 2, 6, 9, 12, 15 March 2013
Sobachye Serdtse di Raskatov	Conductor: Valery Gergiev	13, 16, 21, 27 March 2013 3 April 2013
Macbeth di Verdi	Conductor: Valery Gergiev	28 March 2013 2, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 18, 21 April 2013
Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio di Verdi	Michele Pertusi Fabio Sartori Sonia Ganassi	17, 20 23, April 2013 2, 5, 10, 14 May 2013
Götterdämmerung di Wagner	Waltraud Meler Marina Poplavskaya Anna Samuil	18, 22, 26, 30 May 2013 3, 7, 22, 29 June 2013
Das Rheingold di Wagner	Anna Samuil Anna Larsson Anna Lapkovskaja	17, 24 June 2013
Die Walküre di Wagner	René Pape Waltraud Meier	18, 25 June 2013
Siegfried di Wagner	Anna Larsson	20, 27 June 2013
Un Ballo in Maschera di Verdi	Marcelo Álvarez Patrizia Ciofi	9, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 25 July 2013
La Scala di Seta di Rossini	Accademia Teatro alla Scala	20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 September 2013
Don Carlo di Verdi	René Pape	12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29 October 2013
Aida di Verdi	Director: Franco Zeffireli	25, 28, 31 October 2013 3, 5, 14, 16, 17, 19 November 2013

For more information on any of these Operas and for prices for the tickets, please call the office ask to speak to Laura-marie, alternatively e-mail contact@winetours.co.uk.

To Book

Please email us or phone us on 0044 (0)1730 263111.

The booking procedure is as follows:

• Please click on the ‘Register Interest’ button below and send your details and the dates that you would like to travel (The dates shown and hotels mentioned are subject to availability).
• We will call or email to discuss hotels and other aspects of your trip with you.
• If you wish to go ahead with the trip we will check availability for you on receipt of a credit or debit card number as a guarantee.
• Full payment is due at time of booking. In the event of your cancellation this is non-refundable. Please ensure that you have relevant travel insurance in place to cover you in the event of insurable reasons for your cancellation. All payments made directly to us are protected by our 100% financial guarantee.

Travel: Meet at Destination

We recommend you fly into Milan Linate airport, this is approximately a 20 minute taxi ride from the centre of town. Malpensa airport is also possible but it is a 40-45 minute taxi ride from the centre of town. Alternatively, there are trains direct to Milano Centrale. Given the flexibility we offer in arranging a spectacular Opera break, we strongly suggest you register your interest or call the office and discuss the travel options with us. It may be that you wish us to book accommodation and flights, or perhaps you will only require the Opera tickets and a hotel, this is why no exact price is stated.