With Nabucco (Roland Wood, Tamara Wilson, Rihab Chaieb, Matthew Cairns & Simon Lim) and Faust (Long Long, Kyle Ketelson, Kseniia Proshina, Simone McIntosh, Simon Melchlinski, Megan Latham) at the Canadian Opera Company, plus the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Mozart, Brahms) in Toronto; One Man, Two Guvnors, My Fair Lady (2024), The Orphan of Chao, The Mystery of the Human Heart, Witness for the Prosecution and Candida (2024) at the Shaw Festival; Twelfth Night, Wendy and Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet and Something Rotten! at Stratford.
There is no better time to be in Ontario than early October, and we will spend eleven nights marvelling at the autumn palette, seven at two world-class theatre festivals in two of Canada's most charming towns, and four in "Toronto the Good"—arguably the cultural capital of the nation.
Our tour begins in Niagara-on-the-Lake, perennially voted the prettiest town in Canada. We will visit Niagara Falls and one of the superb local wineries, enjoy stellar cuisine and, of course attend performances at the revered Shaw Festival. Our hotel will be the Prince of Wales, in the heart of town.
At the Stratford Festival, for my money the finest Shakespeare company anywhere, we see Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Peter Pan and Wendy and Something Rotten. Here we will enjoy some of the finest cuisine in Canada and our hotel will be the outstanding The Bruce.
In Toronto, we stay at the luxurious Royal York Hotel and hear two operas by the Canadian Opera Company: Verdi's beloved Nabucco and Gounod's Faust. We also attend a concert by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Mozart Requiem, Brahms Symphony No. 3) under the baton of Jukka-Pekka Saraste. We will also enjoy excellent meals and some of the best visual art experiences to be had in Canada.
To reserve your space, click here.
ITINERARY
Thursday, October 3
Arrive in Toronto and transfer (included) to the elegant Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, one of the most charming and scenic towns in Canada. This evening we enjoy a relaxed Welcome Dinner at one of Niagara's outstanding restaurants.
Friday, October 4
10.00 This morning we tour the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and tour to Niagara Falls along the scenic Niagara Parkway.
14.00 After a quick bite for lunch, we see One Man, Two Guvnors starring Matt Alfano and Fiona Byrne at the Festival Theatre.
17.30 Dinner is included between performances.
20.00 This evening we return to the Festival Theatre for a performance of the Lerner & Loewe classic My Fair Lady starring David Adams and Sharry Flett.
ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
By Richard Bean
Based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni
With songs by Grant Olding
What do you do when you’re employed by a murderous gangster and a wealthy snob? You do everything in your power to make sure they never meet! This modern take on Carlo Goldoni’s Commedia dell’arte classic, The Servant of Two Masters, has it all: romantic romps, criminal capers and some of the funniest dialogue this side of Brighton. It’s a sure-fire crowd-pleaser that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat but will pull you right out of it!
MY FAIR LADY (2024)
Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe
Adapted from Bernard Shaw's Play and Gabriel Pascal's Motion Picture Pygmalion
This timeless classic has been dazzling audiences since its debut on Broadway in 1956. Based on the play Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw, it’s the story of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl caught in the middle of a bet between Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics and Colonel Pickering, a fellow linguist. With unforgettable songs such as “On the Street Where You Live,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” My Fair Lady is one of the most beloved musicals of all time – and now it’s returning to The Shaw!
Saturday, October 5 11.30 After a restful morning, we meet for a midday one-act matinée, The Orphan of Chao, at the Royal George Theatre.
13.00 We then enjoy a delicious lunch at the Peller Estates Winery.
20.00 Tonight we return to the Festival Theatre for The Mystery of the Human Heart.
THE ORPHAN OF CHAO
Adapted by Michael Man
Based on the classical Chinese drama The Great Revenge of the Zhao Orphan by Ji Junxiang
Considered by many to be the Chinese Hamlet, this is an epic play about revenge, morality, and family. After a bloody palace power struggle leaves an infant orphaned, a benevolent doctor sacrifices his own son to keep the child alive, so he can avenge his family when he comes of age. It’s one of the oldest plays in the Chinese canon, it combines beautiful music and insightful dialogue to create a powerful story that will stay with you long after the curtain closes. It’s a powerful reminder that some family trees are rooted in blood and secrets.
THE MYSTERY OF THE HUMAN HEART
By Reginald Candy
Based on characters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes has never met a villain so clever, so compelling and so lethal. Has Holmes finally met his match? Find out in this new play by Reginald Candy, which delves deeper into the lives of the legendary detective, his trusted confidant Watson and Mrs Hudson, the landlady of 221B Baker Street. It’s the third in our series, and it’s filled with enough twists and turns to leave even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle guessing what happens next. The game is afoot!
Sunday, October 6 We leave the morning at leisure so that you may explore the town.
13.00 This afternoon we see Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution at the Royal George Theatre.
16.30 Early dinner is included between performances.
19.00 We return to the Royal George for Candida (2024).
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
By Agatha Christie
When a wealthy, older woman is found brutally murdered, there is only one suspect: her handsome, charming, and much-younger lover. Sure, he has a motive, but did he actually do it? Due to a strict, no-spoilers policy, we can’t answer that question. Here’s what we can say: the play is full of clever twists, witty dialogue and rising tension. If you’re a fan of riveting courtroom dramas, don’t miss this shocker.
CANDIDA
By Bernard Shaw
Caught in a love triangle with her husband, a charming reverend, and the young man he found sleeping outside, Candida must choose between her head and her heart in this classic comedy from Bernard Shaw. Will she remain the lawfully wedded partner of a pastor, or become the paramour of a poet? Her choice may surprise you, but the story will most certainly delight you.
Monday, October 7
10.00 Depart for Stratford (2.5 hrs). 12.30 Arrive in Stratford and check in at The Bruce.
19.00 Dinner is included in the hotel's excellent restaurant.
Tuesday, October 8
10.00 Walk from our hotel through adjacent Confederation Park to the Festival Theatre for our Backstage Tour.
14.00 After lunch at leisure, we make our way to the Avon Theatre for Wendy and Peter Pan, the North American premiere of Ella Hickson's adaptation of J.M. Barrie's timeless tale.
17.00 Dinner is included at Revival House prior to Twelfth Night at the Festival Theatre (20.00).
WENDY AND PETER PAN
The Stratford Festival is proud to bring award-winning writer Ella Hickson’s smash adaptation of Peter Pan to the North American stage, hot on the heels of its critically acclaimed run at The Royal Shakespeare Company. Wendy and Peter Pan gives Wendy pride of place in a reimagined journey to Neverland, home of Hook and the Lost Boys. Join Wendy Darling, Peter Pan and all your favourite characters in this thoroughly modern adventure that delivers all the unforgettable thrills, spills and fairy dust of the beloved children’s classic. A wonderful introduction to live theatre for our youngest fans and an enchanting way to spend family time!
TWELFTH NIGHT
By William Shakespeare
A terrible storm leaves Viola shipwrecked on the island of Illyria. A woman alone in a strange land, Viola disguises herself as “Cesario” and enters the service of Duke Orsino to deliver love letters to Countess Olivia. Orsino’s plan backfires when Olivia falls for Cesario, whose heart now belongs to Orsino, who is still smitten with Olivia. When Viola’s twin brother appears, complications peak! Twelfth Night remains one of the Shakespeare’s most beloved romantic comedies, a sumptuous feast of unrequited love, mistaken identity, high poetry and riveting drama, reimagined in a setting closer to our time and around the corner from the Summer of Love: the late ’60s.
Wednesday, October 9
12.30 After a leisurely morning, we walk to the Festival Theatre for Shakespeare's enduring Romeo and Juliet.
17.00 Dinner at Revival House
ROMEO AND JULIET
By William Shakespeare
When two young star-crossed lovers lock eyes across a crowded dance floor, their hearts are forever bound. But can their love survive the brutal blood feud that has torn apart their rival families, the Capulets and Montagues? The greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet has captivated audiences and artists for centuries and provided the inspiration for hundreds of films, ballets, operas, novels and the iconic Broadway musical West Side Story. This production, which features lavish period sets and costumes, is a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare and a welcome return to a beloved story.
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell
Music and Lyrics by Wayne and karey Karey Kirkpatrick
The Bottom brothers, two struggling playwrights in Renaissance London, need a hit. That’s easier said than done when your chief competition is local rockstar William Shakespeare. The Bottom brothers’ plan: write the world’s first musical! This rollicking song-and-dance extravaganza, which was nominated for ten Tony Awards during its smash Broadway run, sends up the Bard and Broadway and everything in between. Best of all, it can be enjoyed without CliffsNotes!
Thursday, October 10
09.30 Depart for Toronto (2 hrs).
13.00 After check in and time for lunch, we meet for a highlights tour of the area near our hotel.
17.00 Tonight we dine at the hotel before walking to nearby Roy Thomson Hall to hear former Music Director Jukka-Pekka Saraste conduct the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The program features Mozart’s final words, his haunting Requiem, famously featured in the film Amadeus. Experience the profound emotions of this monumental work, powerfully delivered by the voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Brahms Symphony No. 3 is alos on tap.
Friday, October 11
10.00 Today we visit the Art Gallery of Ontario for a guided tour.
19.00 Tonight we enjoy a special dinner at Don Alfonso 1890 (Michelin star).
Saturday, October 12
10.00 Today we ascend to the top of the nearby CN Tower, which at the time of its construction in 1975 until 2007 was the world's tallest free-standing structure. We then visit the wonderful Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, adjacent to the tower.
13.30 Lunch is included today at the stellar Black + Blue Steak.
19.30 Verdi's Nabucco at the Fours Seasons Centre (19.30 curtain).
Sunday, October 13
Enjoy the final morning at leisure. 14.00 Faust at the Canadian Opera Company (Four Seasons Centre).
17.30 Farewell Dinner at Canoe on the 54th floor of the TD Tower.
Monday, October 14
Departures to the airport are included.
TOUR INCLUDES
Premium seats for 10 plays and 2 operas
11 nights Deluxe accommodation (4 at the Prince of Wales Niagara, 3 at The Bruce in Stratford & 4 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto)
Full breakfast daily, plus 10 additional meals
Private tours as listed
Airport-hotel transfers
On-site Tour Direction
Comprehensive Tour Guidebook
FLIGHTS
Flights are not included in tour pricing. Return flights should be booked to either Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) for arrival no later than 15.00 on October 3, with departure on October 14.
TRANSFERS
We provide airport/rail station—hotel transfers for arrivals and departures within within 3 days of the start/end of our tour. We also provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
MOBILITY
There is minimal walking with some stairs and eneven terrain during the guided tours. As for all of our tours, we are happy to accommodate you regardless of your mobility level. Please make clear your mobility concerns at the time of registration. We provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
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. For more information about our travel insurance, click here.
Your Tour Director
Richard Koegl
For over three decades, Richard has journeyed to over 140 countries on all seven continents. His world is a daily immersion in cultural and educational realms which he passionately shares with fellow travelers and friends. An expert organizer and always engaging host, Richard has worked with Aria Tours since 2010.