The 2016 Choral Cruise
The final event of the 2016 Spring Series of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London took place NOT in London - but at sea!
The team on our may 2016 cruise
After presenting sell-out concerts for the last six years, we teamed up with the prestigious Voyages to Antiquity to create a very special Come & Sing experience, culminating in a performance on board the MV Aegean Odyssey just outside the beautiful Italian city of Ravenna.
Pretty much everything was included: shore excursions - like the private evening tour of St Mark's, hotels, excellent wines with dinner, lectures, gratuities, transfers, flights, etc,
as well as a special $100 on-board spend too.
The cruise sailed from Athens to Venice, taking in some incredible historic destinations along the way. Joining the tour as a discrete group, our Come & Singers enjoyed daily singing of repertoire selected by them, special Brandenburg-only social events and a final concert off the coast of the Italian city of Ravenna. Our choral workshops were a highly popular addition to the cruise!
“It was my first cruise and I chose this one because of the extra singing element as well. Bob is a fantastic musical coach and conductor, he made the whole trip enjoyable but also a learning experience. This trip was an excellent combination of music, cultural events, leisure time, good food, comfortable surroundings and the opportunity to meet new, lovely people.
Floating along on board was very relaxing and the Aegean Odyssey is a beautiful and elegant ship. The rehearsal time each day, always seemed to fly by and even though we had been out and about ashore much of the day, Bob was able to inspire us and really get the most out of us. The final performance was great fun and a tribute to all our hard work and Bob’s excellent direction. Having an audience of fellow passengers (many of whom are now friends) made it feel like being at home. I am basking in my memories of all the wonderful places I visited and the echoes of ‘Something Stupid’ are still ringing in my ears.
If I had to sum it up in one word? Fantastic!”
THE 2016 SCHEDULE
Mo 9 May - ATHENS, Greece - arrival, transfer to hotel
Tu 10 May - ATHENS, Greece - choice of sightseeing tours: Athens & Acropolis or Byzantine Athens
We 11 May - ATHENS, Greece - free morning, optional tours in Athens, transfer to Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus
Th 12 May - GYTHION, Greece - choice of tours: Sparta & Mystra or a visit to the Dyros Cave
Fr 13 May - KATAKOLON, Greece - morning tour of ancient Olympia; afternoon cruising the Ionian Islands. Evening arrival in ITHACA, Greece
Sa 14 May - CORFU, Greece - choice of tours: Venetian or Byzantine Corfu. Then to
SARANDE, Albania - the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint
Su 15 May - DUBROVNIK, Croatia - cruising Kotor Bay in the morning, evening arrival and overnight.
Mo 16 May - DUBROVNIK, Croatia - morning tour featuring city walls, Baroque church of St Blaise, Cathedral and Rector's Palace. Optional afternoon tour of Cavtat and Croatian riviera
Tu 17 May - SPLIT, Croatia - city tour of Diocletian's Palace, Temple of Jupiter. Optional tour of Salona and Trogir
We 18 May - ZADAR, Croatia - sightseeing tour including old town and Roman Forum, now the site of Zadar's most beautiful churches
Th 19 May - RAVENNA, Italy - visit the superb church of San Vitale, famous for its Byzantine mosaics and the mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Fr 20 May - VENICE, Italy - disembark and transfer to hotel. Venice orientation tour, and exclusive visit to St Mark's in the evening.
Sa 21 May - VENICE, Italy - optional tours and free time in Venice
Su 22 May - VENICE, Italy - transfer to Venice airport for return flight
