AN AUTUMN TOUR OF THE ITALIAN COMPOSERS 5-11 OCTOBER   An early autumn tour to northern Italy includes a visit to the Donizetti Festival in Bergamo, a concert in Busseto to mark Verdi's birthday and a performance of Macbeth in Parma. Around the performance programme a leisurely tour of the gardens, villas and castles of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna has been arranged including visits to some privately owned properties.

FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER

Depart London Heathrow on British Airways at 0835. Arrive Milan Malpensa Airport at 1140 and transfer to Bergamo. Check in at the 4 star Hotel San Lorenzo in Bergamo's medieval and renaissance centre in the upper town.

Welcome drink. Evening performance of DON PASQUALE (Donizetti) at the Teatro Donizetti.

SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER

This morning join your local guide for a tour of Bergamo, hometown of Gaetano Donizetti. Visit the Citta Alta, the historic centre of the city. The Piazza Vecchia has been described by diverse architects including Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier as one of Italy's finest.

The square is lined by a magnificent ensemble of medieval and renaissance buildings overlooking a lion fountain. Continue to the ornate Colleoni Chapel which reflects in its style the city's history as part of the Venetian Republic.

Continue to the Carrara Academy housing a fine collection of renaissance art. The tour will end at the Donizetti Museum devoted to the master of bel canto who was born in 1797 and composed 75 operas in his short life which ended in Bergamo in 1848.

Afternoon and evening at leisure.

SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER

Depart from Bergamo after breakfast and spend the day visiting some of the beautiful villas and gardens of the region. Travel by coach to the Villa della Porta Bozzolo.

Continue to Bisuschio for a private visit of the Villa Cicogna Mozzoni. Tour the villa and grounds. Admire the fine walled garden, a good example of a formal Italian garden and take morning coffee at the villa.

Continue to Villa Il Pizzo in Moltrasio. We take lunch en route before checking into the elegant 4 star Starhotel du Parc in Parma.

Evening performance of MACBETH (Verdi) at the Teatro Regio. C: Evelino Pido. D: Dominique Pitoiset. Cast: Valery Alexejev, Tiziana Fabbricini.

MONDAY 8 OCTOBER

The remainder of the tour is based in Emilia Romagna, the homeland of Giuseppe Verdi. Morning visit to Busseto where Verdi undertook classical studies from 1823 at the Upper School and became the protégé of the Busseto Philharmonic Society.
Lunch at the restaurant I due foscari, owned by tenor, Carlo Bergonzi. After lunch continue to the Villa Sant' Agata, the estate acquired by Verdi in 1851 after he achieved international fame. He built the villa here as a retreat where he found the solitude he needed to compose.

TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER

The province of Parma is known for its beautiful castles and today is devoted to a tour of three of them. Set out from Parma and visit the medieval Castle of the Rossi. This crenellated, fairytale castle contains a delightful series of frescoes depicting Aesop's Fables.

Continue to Soragna where the 8th century castle was converted into a palace in the 18th century by the Princes of Meli Lupi who still own it to this day. The castle contains original furnishings as well as frescoes by Parmigianino. After lunch at the Locanda del Lupo restaurant continue to Fontanellato and visit the moated Castello Sanvitale.

Evening at leisure.

WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER

Morning tour of the elegant city of Parma. The heart of medieval Parma is the Piazza del Duomo. The beautiful Romanesque Duomo and the graceful octagonal baptistry in rose coloured marble were both designed by Antelami and contain frescoes by the late Renaissance artist, Correggio.

Visit the birthplace of Arturo Toscanini which contains memorabilia and a copy of every record he ever made. Continue to the Palazzo della Pilotta which contains the remarkable Teatro Farnese, constructed all in wood by Palladio's pupil Giambattista Aleotti. The theatre had rotating scenery. Afternoon at leisure.

Evening transfer to Busseto for a Symphony Concert to mark the birthday of Giuseppe Verdi. Programme to be announced.

THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER

Afternoon transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport and depart on British Airways at 1755

Arrive London Heathrow at 1900.

	PRICE per person 7 Day Tour Price £1395.00 Single Room Supplement £230.00 Deposit required £375.00 Booking Deadline 30 May Tour Code PAR Tour price includes flights and airport taxes - transfers - accommodation - sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees - buffet breakfast daily - two lunches - top category ticket for Don Pasquale, Macbeth and Symphony Concert - tour manager or local representative. Dress: Lounge suit