Grosvenor Travel, 8c Penhryn Avenue, Rhos-On-Sea, Conwy, LL28 4RD
Tel: (01492) 547744 - Fax: (01492) 547008 - Email:
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VALERY GERGIEV AND THE MARIINSKY THEATRE ORCHESTRA
Wales Millennium Centre
Mahler – Symphony No 8
Wagner – Parsifal
A combination that is certain to be one of the musical events of the decade; two towering feats of classical composition requiring vast forces, performed in the beautiful setting of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, with accommodation only minutes away at the excellent modern Future Inn.
Whilst not quite the rarity it was once was, performances of Mahler’s Symphony No 8 are still a notable event in the musical calendar, even more so when given by an orchestra of the Mariinsky’s renown under the baton of Maestro Valery Gergiev. To achieve the numbers required for Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand the choir of the Mariinsky is being supplemented with the magnificent sound of Welsh voices and a special syndicate has been formed to support the creation of a children’s choir from all over Wales to perform onstage alongside Gergiev. Auditions for the choir are taking place across Wales this autumn of children between nine and thirteen, and the choir will be trained extensively ahead of the performance. It is intended to create a children’s choir of sufficient strength to project over the other musical forces in a live performance. More than any other of his works, the Symphony No 8 reflects the composer’s dictum that “the symphony must be like the world, it must embrace everything’
In Parsifal Valery Gergiev and the chorus and orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre take us on the ultimate quest for the Holy Grail: an epic story whose final scenes fittingly unfold at the start of Holy Week with music of overwhelming potency. Gergiev’s recording of the work earned many plaudits, receiving CD of the year awards from the New York and Los Angeles Times and five stars with a CD of the month award from BBC Music Magazine. The Observer was also impressed, declaring ‘Mesmerising, a landmark for Gergiev...’ Wagner described his final complete opera as ‘A festival play for the consecration of the stage’. The work has always sparked controversy, mixing moral and religious themes with music of irresistible sumptuousness. The opera was inspired by Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Arthurian poem Parzival. Yet despite the story’s overt Christian imagery, Wagner also draws on ideas from other beliefs including Buddhism. The ‘harmonic experiments’ that he adopted for his previous opera Tristan und Isolde are further refined to create music of astonishing beauty that still retains and reflects the deep morality of the tale. This performance is given in a concert version, which is how many commentators feel it is best presented, with surtitles in English.
Cardiff is a city rejuvenated thanks to devolution and resulting investment, especially evident in Cardiff Bay and in other large scale projects such as the Millennium Stadium. Visitor highlights include the castle, a mixture of Norman keep and Victorian medievalising interiors, the National Museum, with an art gallery containing probably the finest impressionist collection in Europe outside Paris, Llandaff Cathedral and the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans. Cardiff Bay is one of Europe’s largest waterfront regeneration projects. You can sail from Mermaid Quay across the man-created freshwater lake, which is a nature reserve, and disembark to walk along the barrage which protects the area from the tidal surges which previously inhibited development. Besides the Millennium Centre, visit the Welsh Assembly building, the Norwegian Church or the Goleulong 2000 Lightship.
Parsifal opens the weekend at 16.00 on Saturday. The performance has two intervals, during the second of which and after the performance, food will be provided. After a morning at leisure on Sunday we enjoy lunch at the Ffresh Restaurant within the Millennium Centre at 14.30 before the performance of Mahler’s Symphony no 8 at 16.00. Dinner is included at our hotel at 19.30.
Accommodation is at the excellent, modern Future Inn, located within Cardiff Bay and no more than ten minutes easy walking from the Wales Millennium Centre, the restaurants and attractions along the waterfront. All rooms are spacious, bright and well equipped with understated décor. Double rooms have a king-size bed and a seating area with sofa. Twin rooms have two queen-size beds. Friends requesting a room for single occupancy will enjoy either a double or a twin bedded room. The hotel provides free on-site security controlled parking. Meals are provided in the Thomas Restaurant and Bar which advertises itself as offering, ‘great British food with a contemporary Welsh flavour’. Facilities include an exercise room, vending and ice machines, and tea and coffee makers in the rooms. Additional nights accommodation can be booked either side of the main holiday dates.
Offer Details
Price per person sharing a twin/double room is £360, with two nights bed and breakfast at the Future Inn Cardiff Bay, three main meals, two top price stalls seats and the on-site services of a Grosvenor Travel representative. Single room supplement is £85. Additional nights at the Future Inn £49pp bed and breakfast per night in a twin/double bedded room, £90 for single occupancy.
To reserve your place please call Grosvenor Travel on 01492 547744 (there is no booking form in this instance). A non-refundable deposit of £130pp will be required at time of booking. Closing date for reservations is Friday 9 December or sooner if our ticket allocation is exhausted. This opera holiday will operate based on a minimum of 25 Friends booking.
Cancellation insurance is available at £14 per person (conditions apply - £22pp if aged between 75 and 86). Insurance is sold on a non-advised basis as an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Ltd.