March 21 – March 27, 2022
The Vancouver Opera Guild welcomes you back to its popular spring tour to New York featuring four 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 serving breakfast, lunch and dinner are in the immediate vicinity.
Operas you will see on the Tour
Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
Soprano Eleonora Buratto takes on the touchstone title role of the tragic geisha following earlier Met successes as Norina in Don Pasquale and Liu in Turandot. Tenor Brian Jagde is the callous American naval officer who betrays her, alongside mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong as her devoted maid Suzuki and baritone Davide Luciano as the consul Sharpless. Alexander Soddy conducts Anthony Minghella’s evocative, ever-popular staging.
Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Ailyn Pérez has excited Met audiences in several of operas benchmark soprano roles, and she adds another one this season as Tatiana, the naïve young girl who grows into a sophisticated beauty in Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous opera of unrequited love. Baritone Igor Golovatenko returns on the heels of an impressive 2019 Met debut in The Queen of Spades to sing the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects Tatiano, much to his later dismay: star tenor and audience favourite Piotr Beczala is the hot-headed Lenski.
Rodelinda by George Frideric Handel
A model of virtuosity and versatility, soprano Elza van den Heever further expands her Met repertoire, adding the noble heroine of Handel’s grand Baroque drama Rodelinda. Harry Bicket, a champion of the composer’s operas, takes the podium to conduct the Met’s moving production which also stars mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, countertenors Iestyn Davies and Anthony Roth Costanzo, tenor Paul Appleby and bass-baritone Adam Plachetka.
Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi
For the first time in company history, the Met presents the original five-act French version of Verdi’s epic opera of doomed love among royalty, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition. Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads a world-beating cast of opera’s leading lights, including tenor Matthew Polenzani in the title role, soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Elisabeth de Valois, and mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča as Eboli. Bass Gűnther Groissböok and bass-baritone John Relyea are Philippe II and the Grand Inquisitor and baritone Etienne Dupuis rounds out the all-star principal cast as Rodrigue.
Tour Costs
- Guild Members: Cdn. $2,935 per person based on sharing twin accommodation.
- Non-Guild Members: Cdn. $2,985 per person based on sharing twin accommodation.
- Single supplement: Cdn. $860
Tour Includes
- Return airfare Vancouver to New York
- Airport transfers in New York
- 6 nights accommodation at the Park Central Hotel, baggage handling and hotel tax
- Welcome reception
- Four 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. $145
- Meals in New York and other items of a personal nature
Tour Schedule
March 21, 2022: 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, located on Seventh Avenue at 56th Street, a short walk from Lincoln Center.
March 22, 2022: New York
Free day.
Welcome reception at the hotel late this afternoon.
March 23, 2022: New York
7:00 p.m. performance of Madama Butterfly.
March 24, 2022: New York
7:00 p.m. performance of Rodelinda.
March 25, 2022: New York
7:00 p.m. performance of Eugene Onegin.
March 26, 2022: New York
12:00 p.m. performance of Don Carlos.
March 27, 2022: New York – Vancouver
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Newark Airport for an evening non-stop flight with Air Canada to Vancouver.
CONTACT
Great Expeditions
221- 1433 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, BC V7M 2H9
tel: 604 257-2040
toll-free: 1-800-663-3364
tours@greatexpeditions.com
www.greatexpeditions.com
For further information:
Elisabeth Dawson, 604-922-8008
Genny MacLean, 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. 2622
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 requested in the Grand Tier Balance section for the four opera performances. Great Expeditions is not responsible for last minute changes in the opera program nor to the performers.
DOCUMENTATION
A valid passport is required. Current Met Opera safety measures include a mandatory vaccination policy. Updates will be provided.