THE TOUR INCLUDES: Top Category seats for 2 operas in Paris (Cunning Little Vixen, La Donna del Lago); 1 opera/ballet (Pygmalion, Anacréon) and 2 concerts (Handel/Vivaldi, Mozart) in Beaune; 2 operas in Aix (Don Giovanni, Alceste); 1 opera (Tosca; Alagna, Struckmann) and a lyric concert (Dessay and Florez) in Orange 13 nights deluxe accommodations (Paris: Hotel Saint Vincent; Beaune: Hotel Le Cep; Lyon: Château de Bagnols; Aix: Le Pigonnet; Orange: Château de Massillan) full breakfast daily, 5 lunches and 4 dinners airport-hotel transfers and deluxe transfers between cities Cost: $10,975 US Single Supplement: $1700 US Deposit: $3000 Balance Due: April 4, 2010 * 8 person maximum for the tour

OPTIONS FLIGHTS We will be happy to make any flight arrangements, including reward travel with your preferred carrier, for $75 per person. Outbound flights should be booked to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, arriving on July 5; inbound flight should depart Avignon International Airport late morning (or after) on July 18. TOUR ADDITIONS The itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and desires. Please call us to discuss any changes or amendments you wish to make. INSURANCE We strongly recommend that all tour members purchase cancellation insurance upon registration. We can assist you with this, though you are welcome to purchase a policy at your own discretion. If you would like information on the policies offered by our supplier, please contact us for details, or click HERE for an insurance brochure and application.

This luxurious tour offers the best of Paris and a "dream trip" survey of Burgundy and the south of France. Superb opera, Baroque music, the world's best art, the best cuisine, wine and hotels in all of France. This is everything that a trip to France should be, and more...

We begin in Paris, the beating heart of France and still a beacon of all things considered to be “culture”: is there better art, music, fashion, cuisine or architecture anywhere? To answer this, you must travel—and we can help you with that....While in Paris we will attend two performances: Janácek’s The Cunning Little Vixen at the Bastille (Jean-Phillipe Lafont, Paul Gay, Adriana Kucerova), and Rossini’s La Donna del Lago (Javier Camarena, Simon Orfila, Colin Lee, Karine Deshayes, Daniela Barcellona) at the hallowed Palais Garnier. We will also tour the Musée d'Orsay, the Rodin Museum, Versailles, and of course, the Louvre. Deluxe accommodations at the Hotel Saint Vincent.

Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy, has an excellent annual Baroque Festival. We will attend three performances: Pygmalion and Anacréon (Rameau; William Christie conducts), plus two concerts (Handel/Vivaldi and Mozart). Our Deluxe accommodations are at the 16th century Hotel Le Cep (Louis XIV stayed here--why shouldn't we?).

Rarely do we spend only one night in any spot, but when we have the chance to spend it in the finest vineyard hotel in the world--the 13th century Château de Bagnols, we take it. The Château is set among vineyards, forests and green hills in the heart of the beautiful Beaujolais countryside near Lyon. With a dramatic entrance across a drawbridge, the Château de Bagnols is one of France's major historic monuments as well as a unique luxury hotel with 21 of the most superb rooms and suites in France. We will dine at the Michelin Salle des Gardes restaurant, with its spectacular view of the Beaujolais countryside.

From here, we move south to Aix-en-Provence, where we attend two performances at the Festival: Alceste (Ivor Bolton conducts), Don Giovanni (Louis Langrée conducts). We stay at the picturesque Le Pigonnet, set in immaculately-maintained gardens with views of magnificent Mount Sainte-Victoire.

In Orange, we enjoy two performances in the spectacular Roman amphitheater: Tosca (Mikko Franck conducts a cast that includes Roberto Alagna and Falk Struckmann), and a lyric concert (Bellini and Donizetti) featuring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez. Accommodations at yet another unforgettable venue--the magnificent Château de Massillan, the former hunting lodge of Henry II.

THE ITINERARY

Sunday, July 4
Departure flights from North America to Paris. We can assist with flights upon request ($75 fee).

Monday, July 5
Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Saint Vincent—a hidden gem hotel in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Early evening we gather for a Welcome Dinner in an historic café near the hotel.

Tuesday, July 6
Early afternoon we gather for a guided tour of the incomparable Louvre, tracing the history of French painting from the 14th to the 19th century. This evening we attend a performance of Janácek’s The Cunning Little Vixen at the Bastille.

Wednesday, July 7
This morning we tour Château de Versailles, concentrating on the Grands et Petits Appartements and the glittering Hall of Mirrors. We end by wandering through Le Nôtre's "Garden of Eden". Afterward, lunch is included at the Petit Trianon. This evening we attend a performance of Rossini's La Donna del lago at the Palais Garnier.

Thursday, July 8
Enjoy the full day at leisure. We will include passes to the Rodin Museum and the stellar Musée d'Orsay.

Friday, July 9
After breakfast, we depart for Burgundy, stopping in historic Auxerre for lunch (with a sampling of some of the locally-produced Chablis). Upon arrival in Beaune, we check in at the elegant 16th century Hotel Le Cep. This evening we attend a recital by mezzo Romina Basso, featuring Handel and Vivaldi arias.

Saturday, July 10
Today we explore Beaune, the heart and soul of the Burgundy wine region. It is a charming walled town with delightful shops, restaurants, and cafés. We dine in the hotel’s excellent restaurant Loiseau des Vignes prior to performances of Rameau’s 1748 opera Pygmalion, and also his acte de ballet Anacréon.

Sunday, July 11
Today we tour to nearby Dijon, capital of Burgundy, home to Rameau, Eiffel and some of the finest wine and cuisine in France. We will see the main cathedral and its 11th century crypt, the Ducal Palace, the market (designed by Eiffel), and many fine examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Capetian architecture. A stop at one of the finest vineyards in the world completes the day. This evening, we enjoy a gala concert of Mozart arias in Beaune’s Cour des Hospices (Idomeneo, Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte).

Monday, July 12
Today we move south toward Lyon, the “second city” of France, where we stop for a guided tour. Settled by the Romans and nestled between two of the country’s best wine regions (Beaujolais to the North, and the Côtes du Rhône to the South), Lyon is the culinary capital of the country and also has spectacular architecture, of which we will have a brief survey. In the afternoon, we arrive at the finest 5-star deluxe château in France—the Château de Bagnols. Time to rest or explore the property prior to an unforgettable meal in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Tuesday, July 13
Reluctantly, we check out of the Bagnols and move south again today, to Aix-en-Provence, the City of a Thousand Fountains, settled by the Romans in 123 BC. Once settled at the charming Le Pigonnet, we make our way to the famous theatre in the cour de l'Archevêché for Gluck’s Alceste. Ivor Bolton conducts.

Wednesday, July 14
Enjoy Bastille Day morning at leisure. After noon we dine in the hotel garden before our evening performance: Louis Langrée conducting Mozart’s timeless Don Giovanni at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché.

Thursday, July 15
This morning we check out and visit some sights in Aix (Pavillon de Vendôme, Atelier Cézanne and the Cours Mirabeau) before departing for Orange. We will pass through Arles, where Van Gogh famously resided and painted some of his finest work, before arriving at the sublime Château de Massillan, the former hunting lodge of Henry II on the Côtes-du-Rhône. Once settled into our gorgeous rooms we explore the breathtaking 24 acre parkland setting of the château before making our way to the Roman amphiteater in Orange for Puccini’s Tosca (featuring Roberto Alagna and Falk Struckmann).

Friday, July 16
Today we tour to Avignon to see the Palais des Papes. Pont du Gard and Chateuneuf-du-Pape. This evening we enjoy a superb meal at the Massillan, prepared by our host and chef, Andreas.

Saturday, July 17
Our final day is at leisure at the Massillan. In the evening, we gather for a Farewell Reception before our final performance--a concert featuring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez at the Roman amphithater in Orange.

Sunday, July 18
Transfer to the airport in Avignon (45 minute drive) is included.