A fabulous opportunity to combine great Puccini opera with a visit to the areas in which he lived and worked. An experienced and knowledgeable guide will be with you to ensure you don’t miss anything!
The annual festival is to be held in a new spectacular open air theatre over looking the lake at Torre del Lago. We enjoy three of Puccini’s operas: Tosca, an early lesser known work – Edgar, and his last opera Turandot. We stay in medieval Lucca, Puccini’s birthplace, nearby.
Led by Adrian Mourby this trip will only be for between 16 and 20 guests – so you will have like-minded travelling companions and an expert guide in Adrian. Adrian was the winner of the Special Puccini Award for Journalism in 2007 and is very knowledgeable in the field of Opera and Italy.
The annual Festival Pucciniamo Torre del Lago is held in the lakeside town of Torre del Lago where the young Giacomo Puccini lived in his Bohemian days before he made a dramatic impact on the world of opera with his Manon Lescaut. Later he returned to this beloved spot and wrote three of the most popular operas ever written, La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly, while living in a house that he built on the lakeside.
At the end of his life Puccini expressed a wish to hear his works performed in Torre del Lago, a setting that had inspired his most successful operas. This wish was put into effect by the composer Pietro Mascagni who in 1930 began the tradition of conducting Puccini in Torre del Lago.
This year a new permanent open air theatre is opening on the lakeside at Torre del Lago and The Travellers’ Club members will receive a special tour of this new facility before watching the performances of three Puccini operas in the inaugural season.
You will be staying in the heart of the beautiful medieval town of Lucca where Puccini was born and also visiting Viareggio, the Art Nouveau seaside resort where Puccini moved to at the height of his success. His heart however always belonged to Torre del Lago where you may get the opportunity to visit Villa Puccini*, the house where his greatest works were written and where he is buried.
Throughout the tour there will be opportunities for discussion with Adrian Mourby on Puccini’s life and works and on the direction and the operas you will be seeing. It is likely that picnics or light meals will be arranged before each of the performances.
Itinerary
7th August - Arrival at Pisa and transfer to Lucca. There will be a walking tour of the city walls and dinner.
8th August - Visit to the Cathedral and Puccini birthplace. Afternoon free to rest or enjoy the city. Transfer to Torre del Lago for the performance of Tosca, preceded by a tour of the new theatre.
9th August (market day in Lucca) - Walking tour of Puccini sites in Lucca including the café where he entertained his friends. Afternoon free to rest or enjoy the city. Transfer to Torre del Lago for a rare performance of Edgar, Puccini’s second opera, which failed with the critics at the time, but which is now being rediscovered. Possible meeting with the director, Puccini expert Vivienne Hewitt.
10th August - Morning free. Afternoon visit to Viareggio to see Caffe Margerita where the Puccini Society met during the last years of his life. Also a possible visit to Puccini’s house where he wrote Turandot. Transfer to Torre del Lago for a performance of Turandot, the last opera written by Puccini.
11th August - Morning free. Transfer to Pisa with opportunity to visit the Duomo and famous Leaning Tower before returning to the UK.
An optional visit to Villa Puccini is planned but cannot be confirmed or costed at the moment.
Tour leader: Adrian Mourby has recently published a AA guide to Venice, has written a novel partly set in Venice and is an experienced tour leader. Adrian has also directed opera at festivals, is an opera critic and a well known writer of opera programmes. Adrian will also be leading the Venice In Winter tour in November, when the group will stay at the luxurious and world famous Danieli Hotel and the plan is to visit the opera at La Fenice Theartre.
Provisional costs: Including flights to Pisa, transfers, 4 nights bed and breakfast in twin rooms in the Hotel Universo in the medieval centre of Lucca; 3 good opera tickets in central 111 seats; guided visits. £825
Extras: Insurance, single room supplement £205, additional meals, entrance charges (some free or reduced for senior citizens), tips.
To book this wonderful trip contact Prestige Holidays on 01425 480600 or by email
a booking form and further information will be made available to you.
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