Arrive in Paris on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

In the late-afternoon, join your tour leader Mairi Nicolson and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing followed by dinner.

(D)

Begin your exploration of Paris at the Hotel de la Marine, the former home of the Ministry of the Navy, which underwent a major renovation between 2017 and 2021. Enjoy a private tour of the building, where historic events including a ball honouring the coronation of Napoleon I in 1804 and the drafting of France’s decree abolishing slavery in 1848 took place.

After lunch, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

In the evening, see the legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt lead the Orchestre de Paris at the striking Philharmonie de Paris. The 97-year-old maestro puts his experience at the service of Berwald’s rarely-performed Sinfonie capricieuse while delivering his interpretation of Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, composed in the shadow of the great ‘Ludwig van’.

PROGRAM:
Berwald – Symphony No. 2 in D major, Sinfonie capricieuse
Brahms – Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

(BL)

Enjoy a morning at leisure to further explore the French capital at your own pace.

This afternoon, embark on an excursion outside Paris to visit Maurice Ravel’s Museum House – also known as ‘Le Belvédère’ – in the charming medieval village of Montfort l’Amaury. It was here that Ravel composed some of his most famous works, including the Boléro.

After an early dinner, enjoy an evening of Baroque music with Reinoud van Mechelen and his ensemble A Nocte Temporis with the Namur Chamber Choir at the magnificent Chapelle Royale, one of the jewels of the Palace of Versailles.

PROGRAM:
Clérambault – Histoire de la Femme adultère
Charpentier –Missa Assumpta est Maria
Clérambault – Te Deum

(BD)

Begin the day with a talk by Mairi on the coming days’ performances. Then, discover the magic of Ravel’s Boléro as you visit the Cité de la Musique’s special exhibition on the occasion of the composer’s 150th birthday. Experience captivating audiovisual installations and explore the historical context to uncover the genius behind this iconic 1928 masterpiece.

This evening, attend the first of three performances by the Opéra de Paris – Verdi’s Rigoletto, conducted by rising talent Andrea Battistoni with internationally-acclaimed baritone George Gagnidze in the title role and tenor Dmitry Korchak as the Duke of Mantua.

(B)

After a morning at leisure, return to Opéra Bastille for a matinee performance of Puccini’s Il Trittico, a triptych conceived as a whole from the outset. Under the baton of Carlo Rizzi, three one-act operas are interweaved, from Il Tabarro, a drama of passion set on the quays of the Seine in the early 20th century, to Gianni Schicchi,a burlesque farce set in medieval Florence, and Suor Angelica, a mystical tragedy set in a 17th-century convent.

(BD)

This morning, walk to the nearby Palais Garnier for a private backstage tour of the magnificent theatre, commissioned by Napoleon III and built by the architect Charles Garnier. Explore the 19th-century architectural masterpiece, including the lavish gold-leaf Grand Foyer, dominating Grand Staircase and impressive Auditorium.

Tonight, attend the opening performance of Massenet’s Manon at Opéra Bastille, featuring American soprano Nadine Sierra as Manon and tenor Benjamin Bernheim as Le Chevalier des Grieux.

(B)

Depart Paris for the beautiful walled city of Beaune, former residence of the dukes of Burgundy until the 14th century. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Lyon, arriving in the late-afternoon.

(BL)

Following a talk by Mairi, embark on a walking tour of the Mediæval and Renaissance district of Vieux Lyon, whose remarkable preservation has seen it inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walk through the narrow, cobbled alleyways and the famous traboules (passageways) that reveal superbly renovated architectural treasures. Enjoy lunch in one of the city’s famous bouchons (traditional Lyonnais restaurants).

The afternoon is free until this evening’s performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring by the Orchestre National de Lyon led by Finnish conductor Eva Ollikainen and featuring organist Grégoire Rolland at the Auditorium de Lyon.

PROGRAM:
Britten – Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a
Rolland – Organ Concerto L’Arbre de vie
Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring

(BL)

Today, explore the world-famous Beaujolais region, with more than 17,000 hectares of vines under cultivation. Visit the historic Château de Bagnols, a stout castle with origins dating back to the 13th century, and enjoy a wine tasting to appreciate the richness and diversity of the region’s wines.

(BL)

This morning, depart Lyon and travel south through the Rhone Valley, stopping for lunch in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, renowned for its distinctive terroir and diverse blend of grape varieties producing robust, intricate wines with remarkable depth and character.

Continue to the Mediterranean coast, arriving in Nice in the late-afternoon.

(BL)

After a talk by Mairi, enjoy a walking tour of the old town of Nice, including the elegant Promenade des Anglais along the seafront, the neoclassical Palais de Justice and the beautiful Sainte-Réparate Baroque Cathedral.

Enjoy a free afternoon until this evening’s performance (to be confirmed).

(BD)

Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore the market on the bustling Cours Saleya and sample some socca, a pancake made of chickpea flour that is uniquely niçois.

Then, attend a matinee performance of Bizet’s Carmen at the Opéra de Nice. Conducted by Lionel Bringuier, the opera stars Romanian mezzo-soprano Ramona Zaharia, along with tenor Jean-François Borras and bass-baritone Jean-Fernand Setti in the roles of the two rival lovers, Don José and Escamillo.

Tonight, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Mairi and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

If you are returning home today, make your way to Nice Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)