A Sicilian Spring
VAL DI NOTO, SICILY, ITALY
MONDAY 19 – SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2027
“A rare opportunity to experience a masterclass of singing in a holiday setting, with like-minded people” Jane, England
OVERVIEW
Singers Abroad launches its first ever course in Sicily, in the island’s beautiful southeastern Val di Noto region. The course will be based at the idyllic 4-star Masseria degli Ulivi, a beautiful 19th-century former farmhouse set in Sicily’s Iblea countryside. We have exclusive use of the hotel for the week, serving as a peaceful retreat for our music-making, socialising, and relaxation. The hotel sits in the grounds of centuries-old olive and carob trees, and includes a large outdoor pool and an excellent restaurant. Away from the crowds, it is a short drive from the historic UNESCO World Heritage town of Noto, where we will perform at the end of the week. The Val di Noto is rich in culture and history, and the hotel is a well-placed base for our visits to two further UNESCO World Heritage sites: Ortigia, the beating heart of Syracuse, and the exquisite Ragusa Ibla, boasting beautiful Baroque architecture and a well-established dining scene. Transportation to and from all group excursions is provided.
The course includes five days of singing under the direction of Graham Ross, leading to a Saturday evening performance in the church of San Carlo al Corso in the centre of Noto. For this course Graham Ross has assembled a beautiful and varied programme centred on Domenico Scarlatti’s 10-part Stabat Mater. Born into a family of Sicilian descent, Scarlatti wrote this undoubted masterpiece around in 1715. Alongside it we perform works by his near contemporaries: Josef Haydn’s exquisite Little Organ Mass, performed liturgically, as well as other multi-voice motets – Antonio Lotti’s 8-part Crucifixus, Henry Purcell’s Hear my prayer, and Johann Kuhnau’s Tristis est anima mea.
The course comprises a mix of serious singing and holiday, with time off to explore some of the region’s magnificent historic sites together, relax amongst the olive groves, and enjoy some local Sicilian wines. Rehearsals take place on site in a beautiful light-filled air-conditioned room in the hotel. With the exception of two lunches and one dinner, every meal on this course is provided, with wine, allowing plenty of opportunities for conviviality amongst singing friends old and new. Generous daily breakfasts and an opening drinks reception are also included. A hotel bar is available to purchase a pre-dinner Spritz or a post-dinner nightcap!
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 Monday evening, when we meet for a welcome drinks reception and dinner, to the closing performance and dinner on Saturday evening, with participants departing Sunday morning. Concert dress is white shirts/blouses with long black trousers/skirts. Participants should bring their own black folders for the concert. Non-singing partners are welcome to join us, subject to availability, at a discounted price. Participants may wish to extend their time in Sicily with holidays in nearby Modica, Agrigento, or Catania – there are many possibilities!
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.
BOOKINGS
Booking is now open for our ‘A Sicilian Spring’ course in Val di Noto, Sicily, Italy, from 19–25 April 2027. We accept applications of all voice parts on a first-come first-served basis.
PRICINGS
The Singers Abroad course costs £1545 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 £1445. A deposit of £250 per person is required when booking, which is non-refundable after the deadline of 1 January 2027. The full balance is required by 1 March 2027.
What is provided in the cost?
The course includes:
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six nights of bed & breakfast accommodation at the 4-star Masseria degli Ulivi, Noto
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a welcome reception on the opening night
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musical tuition (in English) under the direction of Graham Ross
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a closing performance at San Carlo al Corso in Noto
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visits to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ortigia, Ragusa Ibla, and Noto (with transfers provided)
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three groups lunches and five group dinners with wine
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great music making and new friendships!
What is not provided in the cost?
The course does not include:
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transportation to/from Masseria degli Ulivi, Noto
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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
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.
CONDUCTOR & COURSE LEADER
Graham Ross 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, 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
Monday 19 April 2027
Check-in from 3pm onwards at Masseria degli Ulivi, Noto
Welcome evening drinks reception
Three-course dinner together at hotel
Tuesday 20 April 2027
Morning rehearsal
Group lunch together at hotel
Afternoon rehearsal
Three-course dinner together at hotel
Wednesday 21 April 2027
Morning rehearsal
Lunchtime visit to Ortigia, Syracuse
Afternoon rehearsal
Three-course group dinner at hotel
Thursday 22 April 2027
Morning rehearsal
Group lunch together at hotel
Afternoon rehearsal
Three-course group dinner at hotel
Friday 23 April 2027
Morning rehearsal
Group lunch together at hotel
Afternoon and early evening visit to Ragusa Ibla
Saturday 24 April 2027
Dress rehearsal at San Carlo al Corso, Noto
Lunchtime visit to Noto
Evening performance at San Carlo al Corso, Noto
Three-course dinner together at hotel
Sunday 25 April 2027
Participants depart (check-out by 10.30am)
“This was the trip of a lifetime! I loved learning, singing and experiencing Italy with the wonderful folks at Singers Abroad” Lisa, Canada
TRAVEL
Travel to and from Noto 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: Catania is the nearest and best-served airport (85km / 75-minute drive away). Comiso airport (85km / 90-minute drive away) is another option, though this serves fewer international destinations. Further afield is Palermo airport, which is approximately a 3-hour drive away. Car hire is available at all airports.
By train: inexpensive train and bus connections from Catania to Noto are approximately 2–3 hours away, depending on routing (usually requiring a change in Syracuse if coming from Catania). From Noto railway station, the hotel is approximately a 20-minute taxi ride.
By car: the hotel offers plenty of free car parking. A hire car is highly recommended for those who wish to explore the beautiful local area.
REPERTOIRE
For this course Graham Ross has assembled a beautiful and varied programme centred on Domenico Scarlatti’s 10-part Stabat Mater. Born into a family of Sicilian descent, Scarlatti wrote this undoubted masterpiece around in 1715. Alongside it we perform works by his near contemporaries: Josef Haydn’s exquisite Little Organ Mass, performed liturgically, as well as other multi-voice motets – Antonio Lotti’s 8-part Crucifixus, Henry Purcell’s Hear my prayer, and Johann Kuhnau’s Tristis est anima mea.