EXOTIC OPERA DURING THE 2009 SEASON Liaisons Abroad has teamed up with destination specialist Travel Welcome and are delighted to announce their forthcoming programmes for Opera focused holidays in the exotic destinations of Cuba, Brazil and Mauritius. The programmes in Cuba and Brazil can be enhanced with other special pursuits for the rich cultural legacy deriving from their respective Spanish and Portuguese origins. Cuba is an island in a time warp - a mise-en-scene from a 1950's Hollywood film with its classic American cars roaming the streets, the magnificent crumbling architecture of old Havana (now a Unesco world heritage site and being carefully restored) and the easy, old-world charm of its inhabitants. The city has already restored a dozen or so colonial buildings into charming 'boutique' hotels. Adolfo Casas is the General and Artistic Director of the National Lirico Theatre , which is the main centre for opera in Havana. There is a programme in December of La Boheme with musical direction by Francesco Attardi from Italy. At the same time there are other soirees with Elisa De Luigi, an Italian pianist, a 'Zarzuela' in concert with Luisa Fernada, and concert soloists from the Prats Theatre of Holguin. Other centres for Opera in Havana are the Sala Ernesto Lecuona, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Amadeo Rodan Theatre and the Sala of the Catalan Association. The other destination in Cuba which hold some of the best Operas is in Mayabe, Holguin, in the eastern part of the island. Programme of Operas in Havana 2009 January: El Cafetal February: Cavalleria Rusticana March: La Duquesa del Val Tabarin April: Elixir de Amor May: Rigoletto June: Amalia Batista July: Cosi Fan Tuti August: None - holidays September: Havana theatre festival - Carmen and El Murcielago (The Bat) October: Bodas de Sangre November: La Traviata December: La Viuda Alegre (The happy Widow) Trinidad, a town near Cuba's south coast, makes a perfect combination with the capital. Also a World Heritage site, it embraces a perfect unspoilt past of Sugarcane magnates' mansions together with old world simplicity. Flanked on one side by a beautiful beach and the other by the Escambray Mountains, a natural refuge, Trinidad is a gem. Brazil is a vast country, more like a continent. The Portuguese left a rich colonial architectural heritage but this powerhouse also boasts some stunning modern architecture going back to the 1950's with world famous architects, Oscar Niemeyer and Lucia Costa. Immortalised in the Werner Herzog film, the original Opera house is in Manaus, a bustling city in the heart of the Amazon river basin. Built out of the wealth created by the rubber boom 108 years ago, it was designated as National Patrimony in 1965. The architecture is eclectic with neo-classical styles and was built with material and artists from Europe; it is a composite of the best design and materials of the period, including Alsace tiles and English ironwork from Glasgow, no expense spared. There is an interesting small museum containing objects from artists who performed there. The surrounding jungle and river are an adventurer's paradise. This trip could be combined with Rio de Janeiro and the capital - Brasilia. Opera programme to be advised. Mauritius is a fascinating mix of Creole, French, British, Indian and Chinese races. Port Louis, its capital, was founded in 1735 and boasts a miniature version of the Paris Opera House. The coastal deluxe resorts of this beautiful island are legendary for their service, food and superb accommodation. Opera programme to be advised. Liaisons Abroad offers bespoke travel & opera, with advance information and booking facilities for international music and cultural events in the most popular destinations as indeed for many off the beaten track, as tickets only or in combination with a researched selection of hotels and special arrangements. Travelwelcome (inc. Cubawelcome) is ATOL bonded. It specialises in tailor-made holidays with emphasis on cultural pursuits and have an office in Havana and representatives in Brazil and Mauritius. For any further details please contact Liaisons Abroad Ltd 1 Warwick Row London SW1E 5ER (Great Britain) Tel: +44 0870 4214020 Fax: +44 0870 4214405 www.liaisonsabroad.com email: info@liaisonsabroad.com