‘Sun, Moon, and Stars’
MANIAGO, FRIULI, ITALY
SUNDAY 25 – SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2024
OVERVIEW
Singers Abroad returns again to beautiful Friuli in 2024! Our course in this region of north-east Italy is based once again in Maniago, in the Province of Pordenone, approximately 100km from both Venice and Trieste. By popular request, our Singers Abroad courses this year will be six nights each, allowing a little more time for additional rehearsals, socialising, and excursions!
The course includes five days of singing under the direction of Graham Ross, leading to a concert on the Friday evening in the intimate 16th-century Antica Pieve, Montereale Valcellina, which has a magnificent acoustic for choirs. Graham Ross directs the course with a beautiful programme, ‘Sun, Moon, and Stars’, with a wide range of works including chant by Hildegard of Bingen, partsongs by Robert Schumann and Fanny Hensel, settings by Samuel Barber and Laura Mvula, and Henry Mancini’s ever-popular Moon River. As always, there is something for everyone!
For part of the concert we share our music-making once again with the Corale Polifonica di Montereale and internationally-renowned maestro and pianist Maurizio Baldin. The Corale Polifonica is an impressive choir with an excellent reputation. After the concert conviviality will continue into the evening with joint rinfresco drinks – in previous years this has always been a joyful and special way to end our course!
The Singers Abroad course comprises a mix of serious singing and holiday, with time off between rehearsals to visit local attractions, to relax with friends old and new, or simply to enjoy a spritz Aperol at the foot of the magnificent Friulan Dolomites. There is group singing every day of the course – some days more than others – working towards the public concert on the Friday evening. Group excursions are organised on the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to explore some of the beautiful nearby areas.​
Rehearsals (and occasional outdoor warm-ups!) take place on site in our hotel, the 4-star Eurohotel Palace Maniago. All breakfasts and five group meals with wine are provided on the course in the hotel and some of the excellent nearby restaurants.
Excursions during the week include the historic and beautiful town of San Daniele del Friuli, famous for its production of prosciutto, the enchanting hilltop village of Profabbro, and a half day visit to the popular historical city of Treviso. The course also includes an optional visit to the town of Spilimbergo with its world-renowned Mosaic School of Friuli, founded in 1922 – this has proved a very popular visit on previous Singers Abroad courses!
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
BOOKINGS
The Singers Abroad course is for those who love to sing together. Participants should have a good level of choral singing experience and sight-reading skills, and have done some private preparation of the repertoire before the course begins. Singers of all ages can apply, either as individuals or with others.
The course runs from Sunday evening, when we meet for a welcome drinks reception and group dinner, to the closing concert on Friday evening and departure the following morning. Concert dress is white shirts/blouses with long black trousers/skirts. Participants should bring their own black folders for the performances. Non-singing partners are welcome to join us, subject to availability, at a discounted price. Should participants wish to extend their stay in Italy, Singers Abroad can arrange for extra nights’ accommodation in Eurohotel Palace Maniago at an extra cost, subject to availability.
Participants should bring their own copies of the repertoire: details of recommended editions and a link to scores that can be downloaded are circulated to participants after bookings have been confirmed.
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Booking is now open for our course ‘Sun, Moon, and Stars’ in Maniago, Friuli, from 25–31 August 2024. We accept applications of all voice parts on a first-come first-served basis.
PRICINGS
“A rare opportunity to experience a masterclass of singing in a holiday setting, with like-minded people” Jane, England
The Singers Abroad course costs £1195 per person sharing a room. There is a single-occupancy supplement of £30 per night. Non-singing partners sharing singers’ rooms are welcome, subject to availability, and pay a reduced fee of £1095. A deposit of £250 per person is required when booking, which is non-refundable after the deadline of 1 May 2024. The full balance is required by 1 July 2024.
What is provided in the cost?
The course includes:
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six nights of bed & breakfast accommodation at Eurohotel Palace Maniago
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five excellent group meals with wine
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welcome and farewell drinks reception on the opening and closing nights
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musical tuition (in English) under the direction of Graham Ross
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a closing concert in the nearby Antica Pieve church in Montereale Valcellina, joining forces with the local Corale Polifonica di Montereale and pianist Maurizio Baldin
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visits to San Daniele, Profabbro, Treviso, and an optional visit to Spilimbergo and its world-renowned Mosaic School, with all transportation included
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great music making and new friendships!
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What is not provided in the cost?
The course does not include:
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transportation to/from Maniago
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purchase of music
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health/travel insurance: we recommend that all singers take out their own holiday and cancellation cover
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Insurance
Singers Abroad Limited is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with the current “The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations” all passengers booking with Singers Abroad Limited are fully insured for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy will also include repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Singers Abroad Limited. This Policy is issued by Evolution Insurance Company Limited which is registered in Gibraltar No. 88737 with a registered office at 5/5 Crutchett’s Ramp, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA. Evolution Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Details about the extent of our authorisation and regulation by the FCA are available from us on request.
In the unlikely event of Insolvency of Singers Abroad Limited please follow the procedures below: Claims should be submitted in writing within 14 days of the Administration order or Singers Abroad Limited being declared insolvent supported by documented evidence quantifying the value of the claim. Claims should be submitted to: Evolution Insurance Solutions Limited, 53A High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1AA or via email to claims@evo-insurance.com. Policy exclusions: This policy will not cover any monies paid back to you by your Travel Insurance or any losses which are recoverable under another insurance or bond (with the exception of Credit and Debit card). This policy will also not cover any loss sustained by Passenger(s) booked on a flight-inclusive package sold and commencing within the United Kingdom. Policy Period covers bookings made within the dates 1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024 regardless of date of travel.
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PERSONNEL
Graham Ross (Course Leader and Conductor) has established an exceptional reputation as a sought-after conductor and composer of a very broad range of repertoire. His performances around the world and his extensive discography have earned consistently high international praise. He is Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he conducts the internationally-renowned Choir, co-founder and Principal Conductor of The Dmitri Ensemble, and in demand as a regular guest conductor around the world. Recent collaborations have included the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Mozart Players, BBC Concert Orchestra, Aalborg Symfoniorkester, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Norwegian Wind Ensemble and BBC Singers.
In recent seasons his work has taken him to Sydney Opera House, Washington’s Library of Congress, Notre Dame Cathedral and across Europe. At the age of 25 he made his BBC Proms and Glyndebourne debuts, with other opera work taking him to Jerusalem, London, Aldeburgh and Provence. He studied music at Clare College, Cambridge and conducting at the Royal College of Music, London.
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Maurizio Baldin (pianist) is an Italian conductor, composer and arranger, with a specialism in lyric opera productions of the Italian tradition. He studied at the Conservatory of Udine in Italy and now teaches in Italy, with his conducting work taking him around the world.
OUTLINE SCHEDULE
Sunday 25 August 2024
Check-in from 2pm onwards at Eurohotel Palace Maniago
Welcome evening drinks reception
Group dinner at hotel
Monday 26 August 2024
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon rehearsal
Group dinner in Barcis
Tuesday 27 August 2024
Morning rehearsal
Group lunch in San Daniele
Afternoon excursion to San Daniele and Profabbro
Wednesday 28 August 2024
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon excursion to Treviso
Group dinner in hotel
Thursday 29 August 2024
Morning rehearsal
Group lunch in hotel
Short afternoon rehearsal
Evening rehearsal with Corale Polifonica di Montereale Valcellina in Montereale
Friday 30 August 2024
Free morning, with optional visit to Spilimbergo and its Mosaic School
Afternoon Dress Rehearsal in Montereale
Evening concert in Montereale
Farewell drinks reception
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Saturday 31 August 2024
Participants depart (check-out by 10am)
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“This was the trip of a lifetime! I loved learning, singing and experiencing Italy with the wonderful folks at Singers Abroad” Lisa, Canada
TRAVEL
REPERTOIRE
Travel to and from Maniago is organised by participants directly, and is not provided in the cost. However, with permission, we are happy to share details of participants’ travel plans amongst the group in advance to facilitate the option of booking group transfers to/from airports.
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By air: nearby airports are Venice Marco Polo (BA, Easyjet); Venice Treviso (Ryanair); Trieste (Ryanair). Car hire is available at all these airports, and there is parking available at the hotel.
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By bus: there is a direct bus from Venice Marco Polo to Pordenone city centre by ATVO Pordenone Express bus line 68 (www.atvo.it/index.php?lang=en). A taxi from Pordenone bus and train station to Maniago takes approximately 30 minutes, and costs approximately EUR 50 per taxi.
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By train: it is possible to travel by train from Venice (Santa Lucia or Mestre stations) to Pordenone (60 minutes) (www.trenitalia.com). Venice Mestre station can be reached from Venice Marco Polo airport via the ACTV line 15 bus or the ATVO Mestre Express Shuttlebus. A taxi from Pordenone bus and train station to Maniago takes approximately 30 minutes, and costs approximately EUR 50 per taxi.
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By Eurostar: It is also possible to travel all the way by train from London St Pancras, via Paris and overnight to Venice.
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For the adventurous and lovers of rail travel!: it is possible to travel to Maniago directly by train from Venice: take the train to Sacile (c. 55 mins), and change there for the single-track train to Maniago from Sacile (a further 25 mins). Please note this is a limited service!
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For this course Graham Ross has programmed ‘Sun, Moon, and Stars’: a beautiful and varied choral programme with works ranging from Hildegard of Bingen and Robert Schumann to Laura Mvula and Henry Mancini. The concert programme will include selections from the following:
‘Sun, Moon, and Stars’
Hildegard of Bingen O coruscans lux stellarum
William Byrd Sing Joyfully
Fanny Hensel Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald
Bob Chilcott Sun, Moon, Sea and Stars
Samuel Barber Sure on this shining night
Herbert Howells A Hymn for St Cecilia
Rani Arbo Crossing the bar
Philip Stopford Ave Maris Stella
Robert Schumann Gute Nacht
Laura Mvula Sing to the Moon
Ä’riks Ešenvalds Stars
Giacomo Puccini Humming Chorus
Henry Mancini Moon River
