Bordeaux or Berlin? Help me decide!

Which trip do you prefer? Help me decide!
 

Alas, I still haven't mastered that "be in two places at once" thing.
Next June there are two juicy possibilities for ballet trips --
but they're the same week! Toulouse and Bordeaux? Or Dresden-Berlin-Hamburg?
If you are interested in either possibility, please vote for one or the other
(or both if you'd be happy with either one)
by emailing me at toursenlair@gmail.com
to help me decide which one to keep on the schedule.

Toulouse and Bordeaux
June 21 - July 2, 2019

Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, Photo by Guillaume Flandre on Unsplash

 The Tours en l'air trip to the south of France in 2017 was one of our most popular ever! After a year hiatus I am thrilled that the ballet companies' schedules have lined up again so that you can discover these two beautiful but often overlooked cities.

Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse
Vaslav (Neumeier), Faun (Dawson), Kiki La Rose (Kelemenis), Petrushka (Celis)

Ballet de l'Opéra National de Bordeaux
Notre-Dame de Paris (Petit)

The ideal trip if you have a travelling companion who is less into ballet and more into food, wine, history, gardens, sightseeing... The itinerary would be essentially the same as last time. Click here to see the 2017 brochure. Bear in mind there is no guarantee I could make this trip happen in 2020 instead.

More info: Toulouse and Bordeaux

Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg
June 21-30, 2019

Berlin State Ballet

Romeo and Juliet (Cranko)

Dresden Semperoper Ballet

Four Seasons (Dawson), The Dream (Ashton)

Hamburg Ballet

The Glass Menagerie (Neumeier)

Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, Liebeslieder Walzer (Balanchine)

Don Quixote (Nureyev)

The itinerary would be essentially the same as this year's similar trip. Click here for the 2018 brochure.

Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here

Katherine Barber

Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays

email: toursenlair@gmail.com

www.toursenlair.blogspot.com

201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496

BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647

DVD of John Neumeier's Nijinsky now available

https://youtu.be/VpZsayeLIz4 


NIJINSKY
Ballet by John Neumeier
Music: Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Dmitri Shostakovich
Choreography, Set and Costumes: John Neumeier
based partly on original sketches by Léon Bakst and Alexandre Benois

"Nijinsky" is the title of this "choreographic approach" to a dance phenomenon that has been part of Neumeier's life ever since the beginning of his career.
During his approximately ten years as a dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky set a new standard both technically and expressively, while in his choreographic work he pointed the way towards modern dance. His personal fate and mental illness that forced him to spend the last 30 years of his life in various asylums and in the keeping of his wife gave his short artistic career an even more awe-inspiring and sensational quality.
All three aspects - the dancer, the choreographer and the person Nijinsky - form the starting point for John Neumeier's latest creation. Neumeier, who as early as 1979 presented a short ballet "Vaslav", is regarded as one of the leading Nijinsky experts worldwide. Nevertheless, it was not without reluctance that he took up the task of honouring through dance a dance legend: "In creating a work about a historical person, what aspect should we concentrate on? Who was he truly: The man? The artist? Which witness, what information can we trust, which theories should one follow? What point of view can we take towards the complex puzzle Nijinsky? An instinctive choice must be made..." and sensational quality.

In the main roles:
Vaslav Nijinsky: Alexandre Riabko
Romola Nijinsky: Carolina Agüero
Bronislava Nijinska: Patricia Friza
Stanislav Nijinsky: Aleix Martínez
Serge Diaghilev: Ivan Urban
Eleonora Bereda: Anna Laudere
Thomas Nijinsky: Carsten Jung
Tamara Karsavina: Silvia Azzoni
Leonid Massine: Jacopo Bellussi

The Dancer Nijinsky:
as Arlequin in "Carnaval" and as the spirit of the rose in "Le Spectre de la rose": Alexandr Trusch
as the Golden Slave in "Scheherazade" and as the Faun in "L'Après-midi d'un faune": Marc Jubete
as Petrushka in "Petrushka": Lloyd Riggins

Recorded live at the Hamburg State Opera (2017)
Video Director: Thomas Grimm
Producers: C Major Entertainment, NHK, NDR, arte

Bonus:
Interview with John Neumeier
Languages: German (Subtitles: English and Japanese)
Ballet: 135 minutes / Bonus: 18 minutes
Filmed in High Definition, 1080i, 16:9
Sound Formats: PCM Stereo / DTS-HD MA 5.1
Region Code: 0 (worldwide)

>> Order direct from Hamburg Ballet

also available from amazon.co.uk, amazon.com, and hopefully, amazon.ca in the next few weeks. 

Upcoming Tours en l'air Ballet Trips: click here
Subscribe to newsletter: click here
About Tours en l'air: click here
10 Reasons to Travel with Tours en l'air: click here
Travel Tips for Ballet Lovers: click here
FAQ: click here
Testimonials: click here
Search this site: click here

Katherine Barber

Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays

email: toursenlair@gmail.com

www.toursenlair.blogspot.com

201 Hanson St, Toronto, ON Canada M4C 1A7 416.693.4496

BALLET MAKES LIFE BETTER

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, TICO 1892647

 

Ballet in Dresden, Berlin, and Hamburg Summer 2018

escorted by

Canada's Word Lady,

Katherine Barber

presents

Ballet in 
Dresden, Berlin, and Hamburg

DRAFT ITINERARY

BOOKING WILL OPEN FALL 2017 AT WHICH TIME FINALIZED PRICING WILL BE AVAILABLE

 

29 June – 9 July 2018

11 days, 10 nights

6 ballet performances by four major ballet companies

BALLET-LOVERS' BUCKET LIST

♥ The Hamburg Ballet performing works by John Neumeier

♥ Neumeier's Illusions...like Swan Lake

♥ Jerome Robbins' Dances at a Gathering

Semperoper Dresden

Friday June 29 DRESDEN

Arrive Dresden. Check in to five-star Hyperion Hotel Dresden am Schloss, 5-minute walk from opera house.

Saturday June 30 DRESDEN

Attend daily ballet class and working rehearsals of Dresden Semperoper Ballet (TO BE CONFIRMED). Rest of day at leisure. Three-course welcome dinner.

Sunday July 1 DRESDEN

Morning: Private guided walking tour of beautiful historic Dresden, with a visit to the mind-boggling “Green Vault” priceless treasure chamber of the Saxon dukes. Afternoon at leisure. Early evening performance of Dresden Semperoper Ballet: Gods and Dogs (Kylian), Heatscape (Peck), Political Mother (Schechter) at the palatial Semperoper Dresden. Three-course dinner.

https://youtu.be/SIs3uMG8DlY?t=46s 

Justin Peck's Heatscape

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Monday July 2 DRESDEN – BERLIN

Morning: check out of hotel. Transfer by private coach to Berlin (approx. 2½ hours).

2-hour private guided coach tour of Berlin. Mid-afternoon: check into the superior 4-star Arcotel John F hotel in the Unter den Linden district of central Berlin. 3-course dinner before Berlin State Ballet: Don Quixote.

Tuesday July 3 BERLIN

Backstage tour of the newly refurbished Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Rest of day at leisure. Suggested activities: Visit one or more of the museums on Berlin's famous Museumsinsel, about 5 minutes walk from the hotel.

Sanssouci Palace

Wednesday July 4 BERLIN – HAMBURG Morning: Check out of hotel. Private guided tour of the magnificent Unesco World Heritage Sanssouci Palace, home of Frederick the Great, and Cecilienhof Palace, the site of the Potsdam conference to end the Second World War. Afternoon: continue by express train (1 ½ hours) to Hamburg. Check in to Scandic Hotel Emporio Hamburg. Evening: 3-course dinner before National Ballet of Canada performance: Dreamers Ever Leave You (Binet), Emergence (Pite), The Man in Black (Kudelka)

https://youtu.be/65YLQeqCb4E

Colonnaden, Hamburg

Thursday July 5 HAMBURG

Morning: 2-hour walking tour of central Hamburg. Afternoon at leisure. Recommended activities: take a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Hamburg and its port or discover Hamburg's many canals on a boat tour. Take a tour through the City Hall or visit the chocolate museum. Go shopping along the elegant Colonnaden. Evening: Hamburg Ballet performance of John Neumeier's brilliant reinterpretation of Swan Lake.

Friday July 6 HAMBURG

day trip to LÜBECK

Morning: depart by train for the Unesco World Heritage medieval town of Lübeck (45 minutes from Hamburg). 2-hour walking tour, followed by free time to shop for or indulge in the famous local Niederegger marzipan. Late afternoon: return by train to Hamburg. Evening: Hamburg Ballet performance: Beethoven Project (Neumeier)

Bremen Market Square

Saturday July 7 HAMBURG

Day trip to BREMEN

Morning: depart by train for Bremen (1 h 10 minutes from Hamburg), Germany's oldest maritime city, with one of its most beautiful market squares. 2-hour private guided walking tour of the old town followed by free time to explore. Mid-afternoon: return to Hamburg. Evening: Hamburg Ballet all-Robbins performance: The Concert, Dances at a Gathering.

Fischauktionshalle, Hamburg

Sunday July 8 HAMBURG

Day at leisure. Suggested activities: enjoy Hamburg's lively fish market (not just fish: fruit and vegetables, flowers, clothing, souvenirs...), a Sunday morning tradition since 1703 . Visit the art galleries, go for a stroll in the botanical garden or take a guided tour through the spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Evening: Farewell three-course dinner.

Monday July 9 HAMBURG

Check out of hotel and depart Hamburg.

Hamburg

GROUP SIZE LIMITED TO 25!

Dresden

LAND-ONLY PACKAGE allows you the flexibility of arranging travel from your most convenient departure point,

on the dates and times you prefer,

and to extend your stay if you wish.

Victor Travel's experienced agents

will be happy to assist you with

flight arrangements.

Package includes:

10 nights double-share accommodation (guaranteed single occupancy available on payment of single supplement)

Premium seats for 6 ballets

Transfer by private luxury coach from Dresden to Berlin

Private guided coach tour of Berlin

Excursion by private luxury coach to Potsdam

Admission to Sanssouci Palace and Cecilienhof Palace with private tour

Train transfer to Hamburg

Day excursions by train to Lübeck and Bremen

Private guided walking tours of Dresden (including “Green Vault”), Hamburg, Lübeck, and Bremen

Visit to Dresden Semperoper Ballet daily class and rehearsals (TO BE CONFIRMED)

Five 3-course dinners

Beverages with group meals (mineral water, tea or coffee, and 1 glass wine or beer or soft drink)

Tips for group meals, bus excursions, and guides

Free wifi in hotels

Ballet enrichment program: ballet notes and informal pre-performance talks and post-performance reviews with tour leader

Not included:

Airfare

Meals and transfers not specifically mentioned in this itinerary

Items of a personal nature, e.g. phone calls

Cancellation insurance

and hospital/medical insurance

All items and activities listed as optional in this brochure

To be added to the priority notification list for when this trip opens for booking, please send an email to toursenlair@gmail.com

This program must be sold as a package. Extra hotel nights can be added on (subject to availability), but we cannot offer individual components separately or break the package into shorter installments. As a significant benefit of the Tours en l'air package is sharing the complete experience with those with common interests, we do not offer an “accommodation only” option.

Travellers wishing to share will be

put in touch with one another.

Mobility issues should be discussed with the travel agent before registering

What the critics say:

“Semperoper Ballett, under the direction of Aaron S. Watkin, is a company

that can take anything on.”

Deborah Weiss, Dance Europe, July 2015

Visit http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/p/upcoming-ballet-trips.html

for more fabulous escorted vacations

for ballet lovers
and 
http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2017/02/ballet-appreciation-course-fokine.html 

for information on Katherine's highly popular

ballet appreciation courses

For more information about this trip:

email: toursenlair@gmail.com

phone: 416.693.4496

Ballet trip: Hamburg Ballet Days July 2015

Friday 3 July - Sunday 12 July 2015

Hamburg  6 performances

Hamburg Ballet:  

Shakespeare Dances (Neumeier)

Death in Venice (Neumeier)

  Winterreise (Neumeier)

  Giselle (Neumeier)

  Othello (Neumeier) 

Guest company TBA

BALLET BUCKET LIST*:

♥ Hamburg Ballet
♥ The unique experience of the ballet-every-night Hamburg Ballet Days
♥ John Neumeier

* Your checklist for ballets, companies, performers, experiences that every ballet lover should enjoy at least once in their life.

Day trips to picturesque and historic Celle and Lubeck.

If you are even tentatively interested in this trip, it is very important that you email me to let me know. This does not commit you to anything. Once I am sure there is enough interest to justify planning the trip, I will produce a brochure with a firm cost and you will have priority booking.

Shakespeare Dances
http://youtu.be/9YsexOuOOKQ 



Death in Venice
http://youtu.be/oA9hnmL7F94


Neumeier's Giselle

If you love ballet, please check out my season of outstanding ballet trips by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

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You can sign up to have my ballet updates delivered directly to your inbox (and be entered in this month's prize draw) here.

Ballet trip: Copenhagen & Hamburg January 2015

Sunday 4 January – Tuesday 13 January 2015

Copenhagen and Hamburg

4 performances

Royal Danish Ballet:  
Corpus (Ekman), Etudes (Lander)

Hamburg Ballet:  
Napoli (Bournonville, staged by Lloyd Riggins)

Othello (Neumeier)

The Nutcracker (Neumeier)

BALLET BUCKET LIST*:

♥ Royal Danish Ballet
♥ Hamburg Ballet
♥ Neumeier's Nutcracker
♥ Napoli
♥ Etudes

* Your checklist for ballets, companies, performers, experiences that every ballet lover should enjoy at least once in their life.

If you are even tentatively interested in this trip, it is very important that you email me to let me know. This does not commit you to anything. Once I am sure there is enough interest to justify planning the trip, I will produce a brochure with a firm cost and you will have priority booking.

If you love ballet, please check out my season of outstanding ballet trips by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Use the buttons below to share this post on facebook, twitter, by email, or other social media.

You can sign up to have my ballet updates delivered directly to your inbox (and be entered in this month's prize draw) here.

Copenhagen-Hamburg Ballet trip now booking

Carlson Wagonlit Victor Travel

101 - 8800 Dufferin Street, Concord, ON L4K 0C5

TICO Ontario registration #1892647

presents

Tours en l'air

Ballet Holidays

escorted by

Canada's Word Lady,

Katherine Barber

Copenhagen and Hamburg

11-20 March 2014

10 days, 9 nights

6 ballet performances

The best of Bournonville performed by

Royal Danish Ballet, and the world-renowned Hamburg Ballet in works by Neumeier and Cranko

Tuesday 11 March

Arrive Copenhagen. Check in to 4-star Copenhagen Admiral Hotel: www.admiral-hotel-copenhagen.com, 7 minutes walk, 3 minutes by taxi from the Royal Theatre.

Wednesday 12 March

930: “Breakfast with Bournonville”. The Royal Danish Ballet's Junior Company presents excerpts from Bournonville's ballets, e.g. Napoli, A Folk Tale, The Kermesse in Bruges, as well as their own choreographies.

Afternoon: Private guided coach tour of Copenhagen (3 hours, including opportunities to get off the coach at major sights)

6 pm: Welcome dinner

8 pm: Royal Danish Ballet: Manon (MacMillan)

Thursday 13 March

Watch Royal Danish Ballet company class

Rest of day at leisure.

Friday 14 March

Morning: Visit Royal Danish Ballet School (to be confirmed)

Afternoon at leisure

8 pm: Royal Danish Ballet: Napoli

Saturday 15 March

At leisure. Evening: 3-course dinner at the award-winning SALT restaurant before Royal Danish Ballet: Napoli

Sunday 16 March

Depart Copenhagen by air for Hamburg.

Arrive Hamburg. Check in to 5-star SIDE hotel (20 minutes from airport, approx. 1-minute walk from opera house): www.side-hamburg.de/en/side-home.html

Monday 17 March

Morning: Visit to Hamburg Ballettzentrum, home of the Hamburg Ballet and Hamburg Ballet School

Afternoon: 2-hour private guided coach tour of Hamburg, including opportunities to get off the coach at major sights

1930: Hamburg Ballet performance of all-Neumeier program: Vaslav, At Midnight, Chopin Dialogue, Kinderszenen

Tuesday 18 March

130 pm: guided tour of Hamburg State Opera

730 pm: Hamburg Ballet performance of Onegin (Cranko)

Wednesday 19 March

(Optional, weather permitting) Day trip by train to Unesco World Heritage medieval town of Lubeck (one hour from Hamburg)

Farewell dinner

Thursday 20 March

Check out of hotel and depart Hamburg

GROUP SIZE LIMITED TO 20!

Total Package CA$3699 per person

based on double occupancy

Single supplement both cities: CA$1250

Single supplement Hamburg only (if sharing in Copenhagen): CA$550*

*only two twin rooms available

All prices valid till 15 December 2013

LAND-ONLY PACKAGE allows you the flexibility of arranging travel from your most convenient departure point,

on the dates and times you prefer,

and to extend your stay if you wish.

Victor Travel's experienced agents

will be happy to assist you with

flight arrangements.

Package includes:

9 nights double-share accommodation

Daily breakfast

Premium orchestra seats for 6 ballets

Royal Danish Ballet company class

Private guided bus tour of Copenhagen 

Private guided bus tour of Hamburg

Private guided tour of Hamburg opera house

Visit to Hamburg Ballettzentrum

Three 3-course dinners

Ballet enrichment program: ballet notes and informal pre-performance talks and post-performance reviews with tour leader

Please note that this program must be sold as a package. Extra hotel nights can be added on (subject to availability), but we cannot offer individual components separately or break the package into shorter installments. As a significant benefit of the Tours en l'air package is sharing the complete experience with those with common interests, we do not offer an “accommodation only” option.

Not included:

All airfares

Meals and transfers not specifically mentioned in this itinerary

Beverages with meals

Items of a personal nature, e.g. phone calls

Cancellation insurance

and hospital/medical insurance

All items and activities listed as optional in this brochure

For more information:

email toursenlair@gmail.com

phone: 416.693.4496