The Four Choral Seasons
MANIAGO, FRIULI, ITALY
SUNDAY 22 – SATURDAY 28 AUGUST 2027
“If you love both singing and travel, don’t miss out on this experience – it’s unforgettable” Dick, Canada
OVERVIEW
Singers Abroad returns to the beautiful setting of Maniago, nestled at the foot of the Friulan Dolomites approximately 100km from both Venice and Trieste. The week includes three group visits: the historic town of Sacile, known as ‘The Garden of La Serenissima’ and resembling a miniature Venice, and also the home of Fazioli pianos; the beautiful nearby Lake Barcis; and 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! The course culminates with a concert which – unique to Singers Abroad courses – collaborates with singers of the local Corale Polifonica di Montereale Valcellina.
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 of ‘The Four Choral Seasons’, journeying from high summer to the depths of a Nordic winter and the gradual return of a jazz-infused spring. Renaissance rounds and madrigals by Marenzio and Morley, English partsongs by Elgar and Sullivan, and some beautiful recent works by Lucy Walker and Sally Beamish – with plenty more inbetween!
For part of the concert we share our music-making once again with the Corale Polifonica di Montereale and renowned pianist Maurizio Baldin. After the concert conviviality continues 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. Rehearsals take place on site in a light-filled air-conditioned room at our hotel, the 4-star Eurohotel Palace Maniago. Generous breakfasts and five group meals with wine are provided on the course in the hotel and at some of the excellent nearby restaurants.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
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. Participants may wish to extend their stay in Italy with visits to Venice, Udine or Trieste – there are many options!
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.
“Chamber singing with expert and friendly instruction in a setting that is nothing short of idyllic” George, England
BOOKINGS
Booking is now open for our course ‘The Four Choral Seasons’ in Maniago, Friuli, Italy, from 22–28 August 2027. We accept applications of all voice parts on a first-come first-served basis.
PRICINGS
The Singers Abroad course costs £1395 per person sharing a room. There is a single-occupancy supplement of £210. Non-singing partners sharing singers’ rooms are welcome, subject to availability, and pay a reduced fee of £1295. A deposit of £250 per person is required when booking, which is non-refundable after the deadline of 1 May 2027. The full balance is required by 1 July 2027.
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 receptions 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 Sacile, Barcis, and 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 Ltd are committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to confirm to you that, in accordance with our obligations under the current Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations July 2018 No. 684, we have purchased Travel Regulation Insolvency Protection Insurance in our name for your benefit. This insurance policy has been arranged by Everywhen with AXA Insurance UK plc (the insurer). Please contact us if you require a copy of the policy wording.
COURSE LEADER & CONDUCTOR
In recent seasons his work has taken him to Sydney Opera House, Washington’s Library of Congress, Notre Dame Cathedral, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, 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.
OUTLINE SCHEDULE
Sunday 22 August 2027
Check-in from 2pm onwards at Eurohotel Palace Maniago
Welcome evening drinks reception
Group dinner at hotel
Monday 23 August 2027
Morning rehearsal
Visit to Maniago local market
Afternoon rehearsal
Group dinner at Marco Polo, Maniago
Tuesday 27 August 2024
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon rehearsal
Visit to Barcis and group dinner at La Serenissima
Wednesday 25 August 2027
Morning rehearsal
Afternoon rehearsal
Group dinner at Osteria Vecchia Maniago
Thursday 26 August 2027
Morning rehearsal
Group lunch in hotel
Visit to Spilimbergo and Mosaic School
Evening rehearsal with Corale Polifonica di Montereale Valcellina in Montereale
Friday 27 August 2027
Visit to Sacile
Afternoon Dress Rehearsal in Montereale
Evening concert in Montereale
Farewell rinfresco and drinks reception
Saturday 28 August 2027
Participants depart (check-out by 12pm)
TRAVEL
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.
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.
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.
By Eurostar: It is also possible to travel all the way by train from London St Pancras, via Paris and overnight to Venice.
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!
REPERTOIRE
For this course Graham Ross has programmed ‘The Four Choral Seasons’: a beautiful and varied choral programme journeying from high summer to the depths of a Nordic winter and the gradual return of a jazz-infused spring. Renaissance rounds and madrigals by Marenzio and Morley, English partsongs by Elgar and Sullivan, and some beautiful recent works by Lucy Walker and Sally Beamish – with plenty more inbetween!
SUMMER
Traditional Sumer is icumen in
Edward Elgar As torrents in summer
Samuel Barber Sure on this shining night
AUTUMN
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Summer is gone
Benjamin Britten The evening primrose
Arthur Sullivan The Long day closes
WINTER
Ola Gjeilo Northern lights
Lucy Walker There is no rose
Sally Beamish In the stillness
Gustav Holst arr. Graham Ross In the bleak midwinter
SPRING
Luca Marenzio Zefiro torna
Thomas Morley Now is the Month of Maying
George Gershwin arr. William Stickles Summertime
John Rutter It was a lover and his lass