Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Teatro alla Scala

View from the boxes, inside La Scala

Milan Duomo (Cathedral)

New Year Ballet & Music in Milan

29 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

Spend four enchanting nights celebrating the start of 2013 in cultural Milan and enjoy first class tickets to two wonderful performances; Romeo & Juliette (the ballet) at arguably the worlds leading opera house, La Scala, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Auditorium G Verdi, a theatre created by restoring the old Cinema Teatro Massimo.

This is an unescorted tour for those who prefer to travel independently, yet still have a back up of the Arblaster & Clarke organisation. If you prefer an expert led wine tour for New Year, please see New Year tours.

Milan is well known as a centre of business and fashion, 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. 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. When you are not busy window shopping in the elegant shops, don’t forget to look at the wonderful mosaics and the dome.

You will be based in the Five Star Grand Hotel et de Milan. This extremely elegant city centre hotel is a member of the Small Leading Hotels of the World. Opened in 1863, the Grand Hotel et de Milan retains all the charm of an old Milanese town mansion. The rooms are elegantly furnished with period furniture and object’s d’art relating to its history. Located in the heart of the town it is just a few steps from the fashion district, financial area and duomo (cathedral).

Milan is in the capital of the Lombardia region and its proximity to the Lake District, the mountains and also the plains results in a varied cuisine. Specialities from the region include Bresaola (thinly sliced air dried beef) and Salame Milanese. Risotto alla Milanese (cooked with saffron) is a delight when served alongside ossobuco (veal shin cooked very slowly and topped with gremolata). Lombardia is also famed for an excellent range of cheese including being the original home of gorgonzola as well as the rich stracchino cheese. You will have Arblaster & Clarke’s tried and tested restaurant list, compiled and improved over the 26 years we have been visiting the city, to advise and assist with your dining choices.

For real foodies, a must visit destination is the Peck Food Hall. Four floors bursting with traditional Italian produce along with all the flavour and aromas to go with them, makes it one of the best deli’s in the world!

The Ballet of Romeo & Juliette at the Teatro alla Scala opera house

La Scala was inaugurated in 1778 and was built on the site of a previous theatre that was destroyed by fire. Today it’s seen as one of the leading Opera Houses of the world. We defy you not to be drawn in by the lavish décor and sense of occasion this historical theatre evokes! Here you’ll experience Shakespeare’s tragic love story, Romeo and Juliette choral symphony by the French composer, Hector Berlioz, first performed on 24 November 1839. The score has been the inspiration for many great choreographers to turn their hand to Shakespeare’s story in ballet form.

Teatro alla Scala Ballet’s Company
Music: Hector Berlioz
Choreography: Sasha Waltz
Conductor: James Conlon

There is also the interesting Museo Teatrale alla Scala (Musuem) next door which is a ‘must’ visit for its history of the Opera House, fascinating opera documents and costumes worn by leading ladies including Maria Callas.

Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 at Auditorium G Verdi

The Auditorium of Milano represents the “house of music” of the Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Orchestra (often called simply laVerdi) and Choir of Milano and was created by restoring the hall of the Cinema Teatro Massimo. Inaugurated in October 1999, in just a few years the Auditorium has become one of the most important cultural poles of the city and is considered one of the best concert halls in Italy for its acoustic, technical and attractive features.

Here you will enjoy Symphony No. 9 in D minor, the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, it was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony, making it a choral symphony and among critics it is universally considered to be among Beethoven’s greatest works.

Auditorium G. Verdi Milan
Chorus: Sinfonico di Milano Giuseppe Verdi
Chorus Conductor: Erina Gambarini
Orchestra:Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Orchestra
Conductor: Zhang Xian