Mozart - Marriage of Figaro

Champagne Montagne de Reims vineyards

Mozart

Paris Opera & Wine

Here is another innovative small party wine and opera tour from the world’s leading wine tours specialists! Attend great opera in Paris on one evening, stay in a comfortable 4* hotel in the Opera region, close to Galarie Lafayette and the Opera Garnier, and enjoy days out in the most famous French wine regions which are easily reachable by train in each direction making for wonderful and unique wine day’s out! You simply will not find this special wine tour elsewhere!

To the North East is Champagne, just a 45 minute train trip away. For some of the greatest white wines of France we head to Chablis via Auxerre, which is also just a short train journey away. What more perfect combination for wine and opera lovers can there be than this?

If you want to explore Paris more, you can arrive early (and catch an afternoon performance of Carmina Burana) or stay on as you wish, and we can book you into the main trip hotel for a very advantageous price if you book this at the time of the main booking.

The Marriage of Figaro returns to Opera National de Paris in a revival of Giorgio Strehler’s legendary production (a co-production with La Scala, Milan). The cast includes some of the finest Mozartians of our day. Erwin Schrott – Figaro; Julia Kleiter – Susanna; Christopher Maltman – Count Almaviva; Dorethea Roschman – the Countess.

The performance takes place in the modern Opéra Bastille which is the work of the Canadian-Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, who was chosen in November 1983 after an international competition and was selected from 1700 entrants. The theatre was inaugurated on July 13th 1989. This vast arena is famed for its acoustics and all round good visibility for the audience.

As there are so many options for travelling to Paris, from the direct TGV if you live in the UK (just a fast and comfortable two hour journey) or flights from around the UK and beyond, we do not include the travel to the destination but of course we are happy to book this for you ex uk or to advise. As a fully bonded tour operator we are able to book your flights as well as your trains.

On the first day after checking into our central 4* hotel in Paris, there is the option to attend an afternoon performance of Carl Orff’s cantata Carmina Burana by the Orchestre National d‘Île-de-France at 3 pm, please call for details. The evening is free to explore Paris and enjoy dinner at one of the many good restaurants with great wine lists or a Michelin star dinner.

In the morning, you’ll take the train to Auxerre, and meet your Wine Guide for the two days, you’ll spend the first day tasting at Chablis and Irancy domaines. A long relaxed lunch at William Fevre’s wine bar follows, before returning to Paris in time for a late-ish supper! The evening is unescorted for you to make your choice from the many restaurants in Paris, where there is the highest concentration of Michelin starred restaurants in France, as well, of course, as numerous brasseries and cafes.

Next morning, you take the 45 minute train journey to Reims Champagne to be met again by our wine guide, for a private tour of Taittinger’s beautiful underground cellars, dug from the chalk by the Roman’s as building materials for the city. After this, lunch is at a local bistro accompanied by more Champagne!

We have another visit to a grower Champagne in Aÿ before returning to Paris for the Opera! We will also arrange a snack and a drink for you in the interval so that you don’t have to queue, so have plenty of time to discuss the opera so far with your fellow travellers in comfort.

Depart when you wish the next day or stay on longer to enjoy more time in Paris.

The opera tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL 21 FEBRUARY 2011, so if you intend to join this tour you must confirm your booking by this date.