Arrive in Brisbane and make your way to the Rydges South Bank hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private transfer to the hotel, accommodation before or after the tour or a room category upgrade.

At 15:30, join your tour leader Christopher Lawrence for a welcome briefing and talk about this evening’s performance.

Enjoy an early dinner with Christopher and fellow travellers before attending a concert performed by renowned soprano Jessica Pratt at the QPAC Concert Hall. Celebrating the music of Vincenzo Bellini, the evening’s bel canto performance includes I Puritani and the rarely performed Beatrice di Tenda. Pratt will be joined by tenors Carlos Bárcenas and Rosario La Spina under the baton of conductor Richard Mills.

(D)

This morning travel by coach to the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts (HOTA) precinct for a guided tour of the art gallery, opened in 2020. Located in a vertical gallery, visitors begin on the sixth level and work their way down through the diverse exhibitions, enjoying panoramic views of the Gold Coast. The contemporary art gallery features touring exhibitions as well as a permanent collection of Australian art.

After lunch at the gallery, return to Brisbane. The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Begin today with a talk by Christopher about tonight’s performance before continuing to a special Bel Canto Long Lunch. Curated by Australian culinary icon Maggie Beer, be treated to a three-course meal inspired by opera while Opera Queensland artists perform a the bel canto repertoire.

After lunch, return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, walk to the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre for a performance of Gioachino Rossini’s Stabat Mater and witness conductor Richard Mills lead an ensemble of acclaimed soloists, including Eva Kong, Deborah Humble, Rosario La Spina and David Parkin.

(BL)

This morning, enjoy a pre-performance talk by Christopher.

In the afternoon, walk to the QPAC Concert Hall for a matinee performance of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Directed by Patrick Nolan and under the baton of Richard Mills, soprano Jessica Pratt reprises her internationally renowned performance of Lucia for the first time in Brisbane, accompanied by tenor Carlos Bárcenas as Edgardo and baritone Sam Dundas as Enrico.

After the performance, enjoy some time at leisure before celebrating the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Christopher and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, travel insurance (highly recommended), a room category upgrade and private airport transfers.

(B)