La Fenice Opera House
La Bohème at the Venice Carnival
La Fenice Opera House Interior
Opera Holiday La Bohème at La Fenice Carnival 2011
It is hard to overstate the historic importance of Venice’s opera house, La Fenice. Five of Verdi’s great operas including La Traviata were first perfomed here, and that was after its baroque heyday or when one great belcanto opera after another by Rossini and his contempories was produced here. The beautiful but small opera house of La Fenice, so tragically destroyed by fire a few years ago has been lovingly restored, indeed connoisseurs say that the acoustics are better than ever. Since then it has definitely hit its stride with interesting and varied programmes and imaginatively staged productions. This year’s Opera programme looks particularly good.
In February Venice hosts it’s historic, traditional Carnival, with masked costumed participants filling the streets for the different events across the two weeks. A far cry from our half-hearted pancake day!
The Venice Carnival has its origins in the mid to late 1100’s though it was not until 1268 when the event had grown and masks first made an appearance. By 1296 the Carnival of Venice became an official event and the Senate of the Republic declared the day before Lent as a public holiday. Like Carnivals around the world the specific dates for the Carnival of Venice are dictated by Easter and so they vary somewhat from year to year. The whole of Venice becomes a platform for the Carnival with different events happening here and there. St Mark’s Square is usually the hub, but during the nearly 2 weeks of celebrations you’ll find people wearing masks all over the city. You can combine your Venice Carnival experience with sightseeing around this truly beautiful city; enjoy a gondola on the canals, cross the famous Rialto Bridge, marvel at the architecture of St Mark’s Square, and visit just a few of the many excellent museums.
In 2011 – to coincide with this carnival at the opera House, La Fenice, put on a spectacular performance of La Bohème by Puccini, which we include tickets to on this unescorted Opera break. In due course a package will be updated for the 2012 performances during this time – please register your interest for details.
La Bohème at La Fenice – Cast from March 2011
Mimì: Lilla Lee
Musetta: Ekaterina Sadovnikova / Beatriz Díaz
Rodolfo: Sébastien Guèze
Marcello: Seung-Gi Jung / Damiano Salerno
Colline: Luca Dall’Amico
Benoît: Matteo Ferrara
Arblaster & Clarke offer tailor-made unescorted breaks, all with first class Opera tickets to the great Italian Opera house La Fenice with hotel accommodation in central Venice 4* hotel within easy walking distance of the Opera house. This can be with or without flights, depending what suits you best. On this particular date see below for what is included.
If you would prefer a fully escorted Wine & Opera tour please see our Wine & Opera Escorted Holidays
