Like the traditional pearl-divers of this archipelago country, venture into the waters of the Persian Gulf to explore ancient sites and modern sights, from the mysterious Tree of Life to the bustling Golden Souq.

The smallest of the Gulf countries, Bahrain’s rich history reaches all the way into Antiquity as the supposed origination place of the Phoenicians. Over many centuries, invasions from Arabs and Persians led to a unique demographic makeup comprised of many different Islamic sects, Christians, and Jews. Today, that diversity has been amplified by Bahrain’s status as the fastest growing economy in the Arab world and its luxurious tourism industry combining its 5000-year old history with a modern gulf state culture. Nonetheless, Bahrainis have held on to many of their local cultural practices, including the arts of pearl cultivation, embroidery, and calligraphy.

Classical Movements started traveling to the Middle East in 1994, first with its brochure program under Blue Heart Tours. It has organized 50 different trips with individualized itineraries in recent years for the Collegiate Chorale, Yale Symphony Orchestra, Yale Alumni Chorus, George Washington University, Yale Glee Club and the Yale Institute of Music (among others).We have also worked closely with Middle Eastern musicians: in 2003, we arranged the historical tour of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra to the United States.

Sights & Sounds

  • Souqs and nightlife in Manama
  • National Theater of Bahrain
  • Pearl cultivation
  • White sand beaches
  • Riffa Fort
  • Fidjeri pearl-diving songs
  • Al-Fateh mosque
  • Tree of Life
  • UNESCO sites of the ancient Dilmun people
  • Royal Camel Farm

Testimonials

“We thought you did a wonderful job steering our large group of singers and non-singers through three countries during two jam-packed weeks.”

-Yale Alumni Chorus

“As always, Classical Movements created a fantastic tour for our choir. We were booked in excellent venues with great audiences, and the boys were exposed to some amazing culture experience. Having worked with the top professional musical ensembles in the world, the staff members of Classical Movements care a great deal about the logistics of performing, and they never miss a beat.”

-Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale

Press

“The musical director and conductor of the Yale Glee Club said the group chose the destination ‘because of the wonderful friendships they discovered in Turkey.’ The Turkish word ‘dost’ (friends for life) is the reason we are performing in Istanbul,’ said Jeff Douma.”

-Hürriyet Daily News, Hatice Utkan | August 5, 2010

“Khubat Abbas Abdul Razaq, a cellist and one of the orchestra’s four women members, said: “I just want to say this is an honor to come to Washington and to play here.”

Samir Yosif, a double-bass player, said: “We want to let the American people know that we have a culture, that we have something to give them. It’s a great honor to be here and we thank the people who have helped us here to play.”

-The lndependent/UK, December 12, 2003

“Blue Heart has followed its clients’ suggestions to map out its expanding destinations. Vacationers travel from Guangzhou to Hong Kong by train visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Tian’anmen Square and take in a performance of the famed Shanghai Acrobats.”

-Tour and Travel News, Michael Milligan | May 8, 1995

“The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra visit involved a human element that transcended the usual business of arranging orchestra tours for Neeta Helms, executive vice president of Classical Movements. She ushered the musicians from their first nerve-wracking security checks at New York’s JFK Airport to their last tourist stop at Rockefeller Center on the way out of the country.”

-Symphony Magazine, Rebecca Winzenreid | March, 2004

“Kevin Fox, who is working with the Neemrana Foundation, the Capital City Minstrels and Delhi School of Music in the Capital, says that the Indian singers are very keen on the music and are eager to do more and learn more about choral singing. He adds, ‘I’ve met some excellent directors and teachers here who are working very creatively to spread the musical and social benefits of group singing.'”

-Mail Today, Srijani Ganguly | Feb 15, 2017