March 24 – 31, 2023
The Vancouver Opera Guild welcomes you to its popular spring tour to New York featuring five productions at the Metropolitan Opera with excellent seating in the Grand Tier Balance section.
Accommodation is at the 4-star Park Central Hotel on Seventh Avenue at 56th Street in midtown Manhattan and within easy walking distance of Lincoln Center. The hotel features Central Market, a grab-and-go shop offering an assortment of light fare plus a bar and lounge. Wi-Fi and access to the 24-hour fitness centre are complimentary. Several family-run restaurants are in the immediate vicinity.
Opera’s you will see on the Tour
Norma by Vincenzo Bellini
Soprano Sonya Yoncheva adds another major heroine to her impressive list of Met roles, starring as the fearless title priestess of Bellini’s scorching bel canto drama. The cast also features tenor Michael Spyres as Norma’s unfaithful Roman lover, mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova as Norma’s protégé turned rival and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as Norma’s warrior father out for blood. Maurizio Benini conducts David McVicar’s fiery production.
Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi
Verdi’s Shakespearean comedy features a brilliant ensemble cast in Robert Carsen’s celebrated staging. Baritone Michael Volle sings his first Verdi role at the Met as Falstaff, tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance. Reuniting after their acclaimed turns in the production’s 2019 run are soprano Ailyn Pérez as Alice Ford, soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano as Meg Page and mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux as Mistress Quickly. Maestro Daniele Rustioni conducts.
Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss
A dream cast assembles for Strauss’s grand Viennese comedy. Soprano Lise Davidsen is the aging Marschallin, opposite mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as her lover Octavian and soprano Erin Morley as Sophie, the beautiful younger woman who steals his heart. Bass Gűnther Groissbőck returns as Baron Ochs and Markus Brűck is Sophie’s wealthy father, Faninal. Maestro Simone Young takes the podium to oversee Robert Carsen’s fin-de-siècle staging.
Lohengrin by Richard Wagner
Wagner’s masterpiece makes its return to the Met stage after 17 years. Director François Girard unveils an atmospheric staging that weds his striking visual style and keen dramatic insight to Wagner’s breathtaking music. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a supreme cast led by tenor Piotr Beczala in the title role of the mysterious swan knight. Soprano Elena Stikhina, as the virtuous duchess Elsa, goes head-to-head with soprano Christine Goerke as the cunning sorceress Ortrud. Bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin is Ortrud’s power-hungry husband,Telramund and bass Gűnther Groissböck is King Heinrich.
Tosca by Giacomo Puccini
Sparks are sure to fly as some of opera’s most electrifying artists light up Puccini’s classic thriller. Soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska takes on the title role of the desperate diva, opposite tenor Yusif Eyvazov as the ardent painter-revolutionary Cavaradossi. Baritone Željko Lučić is the merciless Baron Scarpia.
Tour Costs
Guild Members: Cdn. $3,300 per person based on sharing twin accommodation.
Non-Guild Members: Cdn. $3,350 per person based on sharing twin accommodation.
Single supplement: Cdn. $1,030
Tour Includes
- Return airfare Vancouver to New York
- Airport transfers in New York
- 7 nights accommodation at the Park Central Hotel, baggage handling and hotel tax
- Welcome reception
- Five opera tickets (Grand Tier Balance)
- Vancouver Opera Guild Tour Director
- $150 donation to the Vancouver Opera Guild ($200 for non-members)
Tour Does Not Include
- Airport taxes and GST of approx. $150
Tour Schedule
March 24, 2023: Vancouver – New York
Morning departure via Air Canada non-stop to New York’s Newark Airport. On arrival, transfer to the 4-star Park Central Hotel.
March 25, 2023: New York
12:00 noon performance of Norma.
Welcome reception at the hotel following the performance.
March 26, 2023: New York
Free day.
March 27, 2023: New York
7:00 p.m. performance of Der Rosenkavalier.
March 28, 2023: New York
6:30 p.m. performance of Lohengrin.
March 29, 2023: New York
8:00 p.m. performance of Falstaff.
March 30, 2023: New York
7:30 p.m. performance of Tosca.
March 31, 2023: New York – Vancouver
Afternoon transfer to Newark Airport for a non-stop flight with Air Canada to Vancouver.
CONTACT
Lis Dawson 604-922-8008
or
Genny MacLean
(Great Expeditions) 604-738-5535
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This paragraph defines our responsibility with respect to all our tours. Please read it carefully. Payment of deposit represents an acceptance by purchaser of the following terms and conditions. Great Expeditions (its owners, outfitters, agents and employees) gives notice that all arrangements for accommodation, transportation and/or all related travel services, have been made by Great Expeditions only as agent, upon the express condition that Great Expeditions shall not be liable for any injury, damage, delay, mishap, inconvenience or irregularity occasioned through the default of any company or individual engaged in providing the arranged accommodation. Great Expeditions cannot be responsible for negligent conduct or financial irresponsibility of these suppliers, since they maintain no control over them. Such passenger conveyance, hotel accommodation, etc. is subject to the laws of the state or country where provided. In addition, Great Expeditions assumes no liability resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following causes: acts of God, detention, annoyance, weather, quarantines, strikes, civil disturbance, theft, government regulations, etc. over which it has no control. Great Expeditions reserves the right to substitute hotels and leaders and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary or advisable. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip prior to departure upon the refund of all payments received, which shall release Great Expeditions from any further liability. Great Expeditions reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person or member of any tour should such person’s actions or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights or welfare or enjoyment of other members of the tour, and it is agreed a refund of the amount recovered from suppliers of unused land services is the limit of Great Expeditions’ responsibility.
CARRIER’S RESPONSIBILITY
No carrier shall have or incur any responsibility or liability to any passenger or for property accompanying passengers, except for its liability as a common carrier. In particular, Great Expeditions advises the customer that any air carrier’s liability may be limited by its tariffs, conditions of carriage and international conventions and agreements.
B.C. Reg. 2629
RESERVATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required at time of booking with balance due by January 12. For bookings made after January 12, full payment is required at time of booking.
CANCELLATIONS
The deposit of $500 is non-refundable from date paid. For cancellations received after January 12, any refund is subject to the amount actually recovered from the suppliers.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that tour members purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect themselves against money loss in the event of cancellation due to personal or family illness. We also offer comprehensive insurance which includes trip cancellation/interruption plus excess hospital/medical benefits, baggage and travel accident. Some exclusions for pre-existing conditions do apply. Insurance premiums are age banded. Please ask for an insurance quote at time of booking.
OPERA TICKETS
Seating at the Met is confirmed in the Grand Tier Balance section for the five opera performances. Great Expeditions is not responsible for last minute changes in the opera program nor to the performers. While inside the opera house, everyone is required to wear a properly fitting mask except when eating or drinking in designated areas.
DOCUMENTATION
A valid passport is required.