Arrive in London 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 Donna Cusack and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing and talk followed by dinner.

(D)

In the morning, discover the fascinating world of the craftspeople who create the stunning costumes, scenery and sets for the Royal Opera House on a tour of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop and Costume Centre in Purfleet.

Stop in Greenwich for lunch before returning to the hotel.

This evening, attend the world premiere of a new production of Tchaikovsky’s beloved classic The Nutcracker by the English National Ballet at the London Coliseum.

(BL)

After a talk by Donna on the coming days’ performances, travel to Leighton House for a private tour through the former studio home of Victorian artist Frederic Leighton. Considered a ‘private palace of art’, paintings and sculptures by Leighton and his contemporaries are hung throughout the intriguing home, which is embellished with Islamic tiles, a golden dome and intricate mosaics.

Tonight, enjoy a performance of Cinderella by The Royal Ballet’s founding choreographer, Frederick Ashton, with evocative music by Prokofiev and some innovative stagecraft.

(BL)

The day is at leisure to further explore London at your own pace.

This evening, attend Matthew Bourne’s audacious reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Bourne’s genre-defining work is still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a male ensemble, causing a sensation when it premiered almost 30 years ago.

(B)

This morning, transfer to London St Pancras International train station to board the Eurostar train to Paris (train journey included in tour price).

Arrive in Paris in the afternoon and check in to the hotel.

Enjoy some time at leisure before dining at one of Paris’ charming local restaurants.

(BD)

After a talk by Donna, embark on an art-themed walking tour of the lesser-known corners of Montmartre. See the 17th-century Moulin de la Galette, immortalised by painters Renoir and Van Gogh, Château des Brouillards and the Clos Montmartre, Paris’ last working vineyard. Then, walk along the picturesque Rue de l’Abreuvoir and admire its Maison Rose, a pastel pink café that was a frequent haunt of Dalí and Picasso.

Following lunch, the afternoon is at leisure.

Tonight, attend the joyful performance of Play by the Paris Opera Ballet at Palais Garnier. The acclaimed work by Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman features an offbeat yet impressive set design, dreamlike scenes punctuated by Mikael Karlsson’s jazzy music and a whimsical approach that thumbs its nose at the seriousness of adulthood.

(BL)

In the morning, return to 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.

After lunch, enjoy some time at leisure to stroll the glowing streets of the ‘city of lights’.

This evening, transfer to the Opéra Bastille, the primary home of the Paris Opera Ballet, to attend a performance of Paquita. Late choreographer Pierre Lacotte, a lover of the Romantic repertoire, portrays a picturesque Spain combining mime and characterful dances with dazzlingly vivacious virtuoso technique.

(BL)

In the morning, transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for a flight to Berlin (flight included in tour price).

Arrive in Berlin in the afternoon and check in to the hotel. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore Berlin’s colourful Christmas markets adorned with festive lights and the air filled with the scent of cinnamon apple, and browse the colourful shop window Christmas displays.

This evening, embrace a true German-style Christmas Eve as you join Donna and fellow travellers for a special Christmas Eve dinner.

(BD)

The morning is at leisure.

After a talk by Donna, transfer to the Deutsche Oper for an afternoon performance of Bovary by the Berlin State Ballet. The riveting dance piece, choreographed by artistic director Christian Spuck, is based on Flaubert’s classic but scandalous novel of 1856 about a young country woman who wants much more than a suffocating provincial life at the side of her petit-bourgeois, unambitious husband.

(BD)

This morning, explore over 280 years of performance history on a private backstage tour of the opulent Berlin State Opera (subject to rehearsal schedule). Then, enjoy a farewell lunch with Donna and fellow travellers.

The afternoon is at leisure to further explore Berlin at your own pace.

In the evening, return to the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s great ballet masterpiece, Swan Lake, following renowned choreographer Patrice Bart’s version. The ‘white acts’ of this ballet classic are an iconic part of European Christmas festivities.

(BL)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

If you are returning home today, make your way to Berlin 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)