Ffestiniog Travel

In association with Wilmslow Guild Centre for Adult Education

Tuesday 8 October to Tuesday 15 October 2013

Venice, one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating cities, also has a long and distinguished musical history. Many original venues associated with that history survive more or less intact – e.g. the Basilica di San Marco, the Scuola di San Rocco, and the Pietà. Several of the palazzi which line the Grand Canal originally housed aristocratic families who engaged leading composers and commissioned significant compositions first performed in these same palazzi. Venice saw the inauguration in 1637 of the Teatro San Cassiano, the first opera-house opened to a paying public. This, with most of Venice’s other opera-houses, has long been demolished, while others have changed their purpose; but we hope to have a guided tour of Teatro La Fenice, one of the world’s most celebrated opera-houses.

We plan to visit San Marco, the Pietà, the Frari and San Pietro di Castello, Venice’s original cathedral, and two major libraries housing manuscripts and printed music by Venetian composers. Other highlights will include the Music Conservatory, possibly to include a recital from current students and guided tours of the sites of some of Venice’s former opera-houses to see the palaces where important musical compositions were premiered. Famous musical visitors to Venice included Rossini and Verdi, Tschaikovsky, Wagner and Stravinsky (the last two men died here); we will look for the palazzi where these men resided.

The tour will fly from Manchester Airport direct to Venice and will stay in one centrally located hotel throughout.  If buildings are in use for rehearsals or functions we will arrange to visit alternative suitable sites of interest.

The tour leader will be Roger Wilkes. Roger read music at Clare College, Cambridge and at London University. He has been a music tutor at Wilmslow Guild for nearly 20 years, having previously been Staff Tutor in Music at the College of Adult Education in Manchester. He is President of the North West Early Music Forum, and serves on the Council and Academic Board of the Guild of Church Musicians. Proprietor of Mostly Music, he has taken singers to France, Spain, the Holy Land and to Italy, including visits to Venice where he directed singers in church concerts and also in Sung Mass in St Mark’s.

The tour is open to the public as well as Guild members and will fly from Manchester Airport. Our stay in Venice will be based in one centrally located hotel. If buildings we plan to visit are in use for rehearsals or functions we will arrange to visit alternative suitable sites of interest.

Day 1   Manchester to Venice

Fly with Monarch Airlines departing at 7.30 am to Venice where we are met by our local English speaking guide for a private boat transfer to our four star hotel in the central area on Venice island. The afternoon is free to relax and, at 5.30, we have a short meeting at which Roger can explain in more detail what is in store for the coming days. A three course evening meal is included tonight and throughout our stay.

Days 2 to 5   Venice with English Speaking Guide

Most of the sightseeing and visits will be undertaken on foot in morning and afternoon guided walks with a break for lunch (not included in the price of the tour). In addition to Roger who will be your main guide, we also have the services of an English speaking guide throughout these days – in addition to the wealth of local knowledge that this will bring, translation services will almost certainly be needed at some stage. The hotel meeting room will again be available for an hour before dinner on Day 3.

Days 6 and 7   Time to Explore Further

There will be no fixed itinerary on these days. Roger will, of course, continue to show around those who wish but, if you prefer, you are entirely free to go and explore at your own leisure. Day tickets are available for the frequent water bus services and, in addition to plying the Grand Canal and central areas, the water bus will also take you to the island of Murano where you can visit the famous glass workshops. On Day 6 (Sunday), Roger will attend Solemn Mass at the Basilica di San Marco where the choir is likely to perform some music by one or more Venetian composers (e.g. Monteverdi). Group members are invited to join him for this.

Day 8   Arrivederci Venezia

Transfer by boat with English speaking guide to the airport for flight to Manchester arriving at 1.10 pm.