In Vicenza and the surrounding countryside there are still many private and public buildings by Palladio.  He was the architect of choice for the Venetians of the 16th century, who put their money into farms in the Veneto.  The Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza was designed by Palladio in 1580, and was modelled on the theatres of antiquity.  We attend three concerts in the Theatre given by András Schiff and his orchestra.  The programme includes works by Dvorak, Bartok, Brahms, Bach, Schumann, Janacek, Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart.

Hotel: TWe stay at the 4-star Boscolo Hotel De La Ville.  Situated in the heart of Vicenza historical centre.  The hotel offers air conditioning, cable TV, direct dial telephone, hair dryer, radio, mini bar and safe.  There is also a restaurant and lounge bar.

Programme:
27 April

DVORAK String Quintet in G Op.77
JANACEK Capriccio for piano and chamber ensemble
BARTOK Divertimento for Strings Panocha Quartet, Christian Sutter (doublebass),
Cappella Andrea Barca, Miklos Perényi (cello),András Schiff (piano and conductor)

28 April

SCHUBERT Rosamunde Overture
BEETHOVEN Triple Concerto Op.56
MOZART Symphony No.39 K543
Cappella Andrea Barca, Yuuko Shiokawa (violin), Miklos Perényi (cello),
András Schiff (piano and conductor)

29 April

BACH Concerto for oboe and violin
BRAHMS Piano Quartet No.3 Op.60
SCHUMANN "Spring" Symphony No.1
Cappella Andrea Barca, cond. and piano András Schif

Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly to Verona and transfer to our hotel in Vicenza, where we stay throughout.

Day 2 – This morning there will be walking tour of Vicenza, which remains remarkably unspoilt and contains a range of buildings by Palladio, including the Basilica and the Teatro Olimpico.  In the afternoon we visit the famous Villa La Rotonda, set on the crest of a hill.  Nearby is the Villa Valmarana, with fine interiors, by the Tiepolos.  This evening there is a concert in the Teatro Olimpico of Dvorak , Janacek and Bartok.

Day 3 – We visit the Villa Barbaro at Maser.  The interior is highly decorated and has some lively frescoes by Veronese.  We continue to Asolo, a small, walled hill town, much loved by Robert Browning.  We then visit the Villa Emo at Fanzolo,  a good example of Palladio’s rules of proportion.  There is a concert this evening in the Teatro Olimpico of Schubert, Beethoven and Mozart. 

Day 4 - Today we visit two contrasting villas by Palladio to the North of Vicenza.  The Villa Godi is his earliest known design and a fine example of the blending of local and classical style.  The Villa Thiene has an unusual logia fronted by Doric columns.  There is a concert this evening of Bach , Brahms and Schumann.

Day 5 – We leave for our flight from Verona.  In Verona there will be a visit to San Zeno, a fine Romanesque Church, with paintings by Mantegna and wonderful Mediaeval sculpted doors, and also the Renaissance Giusti Gardens..

Vicenza - Andras Schiff & Palladio
Price: £895 per person
Single Supplement: £150
Deposit: £200 per person

Price Includes:  4 nights bed and breakfast accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Boscolo de la Ville, transfers for the suggested flights, a full itinerary accompanied by a Prospect guide, 3 performance tickets.

Travel: Travel to Verona is not included.  We can arrane and book your flights for you.

Suggested British Airways scheduled flights.