SARASOTA

With Ariadne auf Naxos, La traviata, Jenûfa and H.M.S. Pinafore. Apprentice Artists Concerts,

Superb tours/cuisine/wine, the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg. Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Our favourite winter opera festival always has an excellent and varied programme, and it's just a wonderful, warm (in every way) and unpretentious opera experience. Although we are very sad to see the departure of the real architect of this marvellous company, Maestro Victor DeRenzi, the company and Festival are in good with General and Artistic Director Richard Russell and his remarkable team. We can't wait to get back to Sarasota.

The 2027 Sarasota Opera season features four vastly different works: Verdi’s La traviata, Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, Janáček's Jenûfa, and Gilbert and Sullivan's musical H.M.S. Pinafore. We will also include the always-popular noontime Apprentice Concert and a performance by the Sarasota Orchestra. We'll embark on a day trip to St. Petersburg to visit the Dalí Museum, and, as always, we include superb meals at some of Sarasota’s finest restaurants, tours of the city and at the Ringling Museum, and we enjoy deluxe rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Sarasota's finest hotel.

Click here to register.

ITINERARY

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Upon arrival in Sarasota you are met and transferred to the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Sarasota's most prestigious address.

19.00 Once settled in our rooms, we gather in the hotel's restaurant and make the short walk to Ocean Prime for a Welcome Dinner, with spectacular views over Sarasota Bay.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10

09.30 This morning we enjoy a private 2-hour tour of Sarasota by trolley.

13.30 Lunch is included at Duvall's.

19.00 Gather and depart for our first performance of the festival, Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. A dazzling operatic fusion of myth and comedy, the story begins with a lively backstage prologue in which an opera troupe and a comedy ensemble are forced to perform together. The resulting spectacle sets the mythical, mournful Ariadne alongside the playful Zerbinetta and her band of comedians. The opera showcases Strauss’s gift for intertwining emotional depth with theatrical spectacle, masterfully balancing lush lyricism and clever playfulness.19.30 curtain.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11

10.00 Transfer to the Opera House for a special backstage tour.

11.45 Take our seats for an hour-long concert featuring Sarasota Opera’s Apprentice and Studio artists. Noon start.

13.00 Afterward, lunch is included at Café Epicure.

15.00 We return to the Opera House for a brief concert of popular songs selected by company understudies.

18.45 Transfer to Sarasota Opera for Verdi's La traviata. 19.30 curtain. One of the most enduring works in the repertoire, this is the moving story of Violetta Valéry, a celebrated courtesan whose unexpected love for Alfredo Germont conflicts with her world of parties and pleasure and forces her to make the ultimate sacrifice. Verdi’s music seamlessly weaves elegance and drama, underscoring the timeless tale of Violetta’s love and selfless devotion.

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

10.00 Depart by coach to the Ringling Ca`d’Zan Mansion and Museum of Art, with a strong and varied collection.

13.30 Lunch is included at the excellent Crab & Fin on St. Armands Circle.

19.00 Transfer to Sarasota Opera for Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore. 19.30 curtain. This is Sarasota Opera's inaugural staging of a cornerstone work of Victorian comic operetta, where questions of love and social rank spark humour and delight. At the centre of this story, set aboard a British Navy ship, is the earnest sailor Ralph Rackstraw and Josephine, the captain's daughter, whose affection challenges the strict hierarchies of their world. The uproarious satire includes witty patter songs and memorable melodies that make it a perennial favourite for audiences of all ages.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13

09.45 Depart by coach for St. Petersburg and the Dalí Museum, home to one of the most acclaimed collections of a single modern artist in the world, with over 2,000 works representing every moment and medium of Salvador Dalí’s creative life. The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating, has been deemed “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime” by AOL Travel News, and was named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. Back to the hotel by 15.30.

19.00 This evening we dine at the elegant Michael's on East.

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

12.45 Following a morning at leisure, we transfer for the final performance of the tour—Janáček's Jenûfa. This landmark Czech opera is a captivating work of realism and emotional depth, following young Jenůfa as she endures hardship, love, and the unyielding expectations of her village. Central to the drama is the Kostelnička, Jenůfa’s stepmother – played by world renowned soprano Karita Mattila in her Sarasota Opera debut – whose desperate attempt to protect her stepdaughter leads to tragic consequences.

16.30 After the final curtain, we make the short walk to our Farewell Dinner at perennial favourite, the refurbished Bijou Garden Café.

MONDAY, MARCH 15

Transfers (included) to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Details re-confirmed a few days prior.

TOUR INCLUDES

• Top Category seats for 3 operas, 1 operetta and 2 additional performances

• 6 nights Deluxe accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel

• Full breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 3 dinners 

• 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 Sarasota (SRQ) for arrival on March 9, departure on March 15. For assistance with flight bookings or for VIP airport service, click here.

TRANSFERS

We provide airport/rail station—hotel transfers for arrivals and on departure, within within 3 days of the start/end of our tour from the cities listed above. We also provide transfers for group meals and performances.

MOBILITY

There is minimal walking with some stairs and cobblestones 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.