Meet tour leader Mairi Nicolson and fellow travellers at the rear entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney on Harrington Street at 9:00am. Then, travel by coach from Sydney to Orange with a stop en-route for lunch.

This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

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This morning, attend a pre-performance talk with Mairi. Then, indulge the taste buds with a wine tasting at a local winery followed by lunch.

In the late afternoon, transfer to the village of Millthorpe to attend the final round of the Italian Opera Foundation Australia Singing Competition and hear emerging Australian opera singers showcase their artistry.

After the performance, return to the hotel for a late supper.

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After a pre-performance talk with Mairi at the hotel, enjoy some time at leisure before lunch at a local restaurant.

In the evening, transfer to Millthorpe Hall for a concert performance of Donizetti’s opera La Favorite. Hear French-Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri sing the role of Léonor de Guzman, Indian-born Australian tenor Shanul Sharma as Fernand, Australian bass Richard Anderson as Balthazar and Australian baritone Andrew Williams as Alphonse XI. They are joined by soprano Barbara Jin as Inès and tenor Thomas Strong as Don Gaspar, with pianists Glenn Amer and Joanne Kim under the baton of conductor Paul Terracini.

ARTISTS
Stacey Alleaume (soprano), Elena Gabouri (mezzo-soprano), Shanul Sharma (tenor), Richard Anderson (bass), Andrew Williams (baritone), Thomas Strong (tenor), Glenn Amer (pianist), Joanne Kim (pianist), Paul Terracini (conductor)

After the performance, return to the hotel for a late supper.

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This morning, transfer to Millthorpe for an in-conversation session with artists from Donizetti’s La Favorite, hosted by Lyndon Terracini.

Return to the hotel for the afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, return to Millthorpe Hall for an opera gala concert featuring the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Paul Terracini accompanying mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri, tenor Shanul Sharma, bass Richard Anderson, soprano Natalie Aroyan, baritone Andrew Williams and soprano Camilla Wright performing a selection of operatic favourites.

After the concert, return to the hotel for a late supper.

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After breakfast, join Mairi for a talk before attending an in-conversation session with artists from the festival, followed by lunch at the renowned Tonic Restaurant. Afterwards, return to the hotel for some time at leisure.

This evening, return to Millthorpe for a concert performance of Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor. Soprano Stacey Alleaume takes the title role, joined by mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri as Alisa, tenor Shanul Sharma as Edgardo, bass Richard Anderson as Raimondo, baritone Andrew Williams as Lord Enrico Ashton and tenor Thomas Strong in the dual roles of Normanno and Lord Arturo Bucklaw. The performance is conducted by Paul Terracini, with Glenn Amer and Joanne Kim at the piano.

ARTISTS
Stacey Alleaume (soprano), Elena Gabouri (mezzo-soprano), Shanul Sharma (tenor), Richard Anderson (bass), Andrew Williams (baritone), Thomas Strong (tenor), Glenn Amer (pianist), Joanne Kim (pianist), Paul Terracini (conductor)

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Check out of the hotel after breakfast and return by coach to Sydney, with a stop en-route for lunch.

Tour arrangements conclude upon arrival in the late afternoon at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney for flights departing from 19:00. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including airport transfers, travel insurance and additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour.

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