 |
|
|
| DAY 1: DEPART HOME |
| | Overnight flight from home city to Rio de Janeiro. |
| |
|
|
| DAY 2: RIO DE JANEIRO (WD) |
| | Arrive in Rio de Janeiro.
Brief city tour of Rio de Janeiro for early arrivals. Rio de Janeiro is quite simply one of the world's most beautiful and vibrant cities. Its unique setting, with dramatic mountains and beaches at its very center, sets it apart from the other great cities of the world. Lush vegetation, stunning scenery - a city wedged between the ocean and the mountains offers you the unique "carioca" way of life: lots of sun, engaging natives, excellent dinners in world-renowned restaurants, a gamut of cultural/entertainment options, the lure of aquamarines, emeralds and other precious stones, and boutique shopping that will keep you at it for days.
Sugar Loaf Tour. Depart for a guided sightseeing tour of Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar). Guarding the entrance to Guanabara Bay, the monolithic granite and quartz Sugar Loaf Mountain rises 1,300 ft above the waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean. You will take a cable car to the summit. The glass walls of the cable car allow sweeping views of the city. The summit provides unforgettable views out over Copacabana, Ipanema, and the scenic Corcovado and Tijuca.
Check in to the hotel.
Free time for lunch on your own.
Welcome Dinner.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
|
| |
Copacabana Beach Sunset
View of Rio de Janeiro and Sugar Loaf Mountain from Corcovado at Night |
|
| DAY 3: RIO DE JANEIRO (B, L) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Rehearsal for individual choirs and their own conductors.
Corcovado Tour. Depart for a guided sightseeing tour of Corcovado Mountain (Morro do Corcovado) and Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue. The 2,316 ft Corcovado Mountain derives its name from corcova (hunchback), which describes the physical appearance of the mountain itself. On the summit, the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue towers over Rio, and is Brazil's most recognizable landmark. Work on the statue began in Paris in 1926, with French sculptor Paul Landowski working on the head and hands. Having been shipped from France to Brazil, the 98 ft statue was faced in limestone and hauled up the mountain by rail to be assembled and attached to supporting pillars. It was officially inaugurated in 1931 to mark the centenary of Brazil's independence. The enormous statue sits in the center of the gorgeous tropical jungle of Parque Nacional da Tijuca. As of July 7, 2007, Christ the Redeemer was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Group lunch.
Visit a Local Music School at the largest disadvantaged community. Enjoy a Cultural Exchange with a local choir.
Concert # 1: Individual Ensemble Concert featuring all festival participants with their own conductors in Ipanema Church or similar venue.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
|
| |
Minnetonka Chamber Choir at Corcovado |
|
| DAY 4: RIO DE JANEIRO (B, L) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy shopping at the Hippie Market. The most famous arts and crafts market in Rio is the Hippie Fair (Feira Hippie de Ipanema), taking place every Sunday in and around Praça General Osório in Ipanema. The fair, which first began in 1968, runs from 8:00 am to 6:00 PM and is the perfect place to pick up souvenir paintings or Brazilian arts and craft works.
Cultural Exchange and Performances by individual festival ensembles at a Samba School; festival participants will be joined by the Cidade de Deus Children's Choir from the favela City of God. Includes dancing and Brazilian rhythms.
Traditional Brazilian Feijoada lunch for all participants at the Samba School.
Concert # 2: Individual Ensemble Concert featuring all festival participants with their own conductors at the famous Candelária Church or similar venue.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
|
| |
Melodia! at the Samba School
Miami Children's Chorus and Minnetonka Chamber Choir -- Melodia! Performance at Candelária Church
|
|
| DAY 5: RIO DE JANEIRO (B, D) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day to explore the city on your own, or go to Copacabana, one of the world's most celebrated beaches.
Lunch on your own.
Singing Dinner featuring informal performances by festival ensembles and individual participants.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
|
| | 
Copacabana Beach
|
|
| DAY 6: RIO DE JANEIRO - BUENOS AIRES (B, D) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out of the hotel.
Flight to Buenos Aires.
Arrive in Buenos Aires.
Free time for lunch on your own.
City Tour of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is not only the capital of Argentina; it is also one of the 10 most important metropolises in the world and the center of the political, economic and intellectual life of the country With 13 million inhabitants it is also the most elegant and busy city in South America. This cosmopolitan city - with great European cultural influence - displays a refined taste in its cooking, in its "boutiques" and in the elegance of its inhabitants. Despite modern construction and dynamic activity, it has managed to preserve old traditions and charming corners. The atmosphere, the individual personality of each of its neighborhoods, the cordiality of its people and the wide selection of its cultural and commercial opportunities, fascinate one.
Drive by viewing of Casa Rosada, the Cabildo, Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza de Mayo, the Congress, and the Obelisk. Visit the Recoleta Cemetery with tombs and crypts houses leading figures of Argentine history, such as Eva Perón.
Group dinner.
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
|
| |
Children's Chorus of Washington in front of the Crystal Palace in Petrópolis after their Melodia! performance
Cabildo buliding in Buenos Aires |
|
| DAY 7: BUENOS AIRES (B, D) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Rehearsal with combined festival ensembles and guest conductor.
Free time for lunch on your own.
Sightseeing and shopping in the colorful neighborhood of La Boca. Perhaps the most colorful neighborhood is the lively Italian section of La Boca, along the waterfront. Stroll through the artists' market in the Caminito, an open-air gallery whose corrugated iron and timber houses are covered with bright scenes depicting the tango and local architecture.
Group Dinner and Tango Show.
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
|
| |
Melodia! Group Dinner |
|
| DAY 8: BUENOS AIRES (B, L) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Rehearsal with combined festival ensembles with guest conductor.
Latin American Music Workshop.
Group lunch.
Rehearsal with combined festival ensembles and orchestra with guest conductor.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
|
| |
Caminito in La Boca |
|
| DAY 9: BUENOS AIRES (B, D) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day to rest or explore the city on your own.
Lunch on your own.
Dress Rehearsal with combined festival ensembles and orchestra with guest conductor.
Concert # 3: Grand Concert featuring combined festival ensembles with guest conductor at the La Plata Cathedral or similar venue.
Return to Buenos Aires.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
|
| |
Tango Show |
|
| DAY 10: BUENOS AIRES (B, D) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Full free day to explore this magnificent city on your own. Time to shop on the famous pedestrian shopping street of Florida or go to Palermo, the zoo, the Tigre Delta, or Malba Museum, on your own.
Lunch on your own.
Sound Check.
Concert # 4: Grand Concert featuring combined festival ensembles with guest conductor in Buenos Aires.
Group Dinner.
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
|
| |
Melodia! at Teatro Colón
Cafe in San Telmo, Buenos Aires |
|
| DAY 11: BUENOS AIRES (B, FL) |
| | Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out of the hotel.
Morning visit to San Telmo Flea and Antique Market. San Telmo is the best kept historical neighborhood and eldest district of Buenos Aires. Here we have time to stroll around Plaza Dorrego, where you can find many antique shops. If you did not find the right souvenir yet, you will certainly find it here. Along the streets actors and dancers perform and artisans sell handmade crafts.
Depart for a Gaucho Ranch Tour with lunch. This excursion is an excellent opportunity to get in close touch with the argentine Gauchos and traditional music and dances. You can stroll around on the farm, have a horse or wagon ride, visit the museum or watch the Gauchos preparing your barbecue, called asado al asador.
Farewell Barbecue-Lunch.
After lunch, the owner of the Estancia, will play the typical music and show how they use to dance in the Pampas. The gauchos mount up and begin their displays of horsemanship, we have front row seats.
Evening overnight flight to your home city.
|
| |
Melodia! Rehearsal at Teatro Colón
Melodia! Performance at Teatro Argentino |
|
| DAY 12: ARRIVE HOME | | | Arrive Home.
|
| |
|
|
B=Breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner; WD=Welcome Dinner; FD=Farewell Dinner
| |
|
|
YOUR MELODIA PACKAGE CAN INCLUDE:
- Round trip airfare to South America
- Airfare for flights within South America
- Transportation to all included sites and venues within South America
- Nine (9) breakfast meals
- One (1) Welcome Dinner
- One (1) Farewell Lunch
- Eight (8) other meals (lunches or dinners, per the final itinerary)
- Nine (9) nights of twin, double, triple, or quadruple accommodations, including all taxes and service charges, at 3-star hotels, based on the final itinerary
- One (1) local English speaking Tour Manager and local English speaking guides as needed for each chorus
- Classical Movements Representatives for the duration of the festival
- Deluxe motor coaches and professional drivers as per the final itinerary
- Tips to guides and drivers
- Extensive sightseeing as per the final itinerary
- Entrance fees to Corcovado, Sugar Loaf, and fees for city tours as per the final itinerary
- Cultural events such as a Samba demonstration, Tango show, and visit to an Argentinean Estancia (ranch) as per the final itinerary
- One (1) cultural exchange/outreach activity with a local children's chorus
- One (1) workshop with a Latin American composer/conductor
- At least two (2) concerts with multiple choirs - each choir sings individually conducted by its own Music Director
- Two (2) concerts with the combined Festival Choirs (one with orchestra), led by a distinguished Guest Conductor. Subject to a minimum of 100 paid Melodia participants.
- One (1) rehearsal for individual performances
- Rehearsals as needed of festival literature with Guest Conductor (one with orchestra)
- Classical Movements Fees
- Concert arrangements for at least four (4) concerts, including:
- Venue hire and promotion, including flyers and posters
- Concert programs
- Concert agent fees
- Music royalties
- Guest Conductor fees and travel expenses
- Orchestra for orchestral rehearsal and concert
- Bottle of water backstage during concerts for singers and staff
- One (1) festival t-shirt for every chorister and staff member
- One (1) pocket tour book for each tour participant with detailed instructions on your trip and travel tips and information on visited countries
- One (1) free space per thirty-five (35) paying passengers (36th and 72nd free) in twin or double accommodations, including all taxes and service charges, at 3-star hotels, based on the final itinerary
- Medical and travel Insurance
Itinerary subject to change
Venues are tentative and may be replaced with alternatives
| |
|
