Special Tours

Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff…and that’s just a handful of Russia’s illustrious musical geniuses who were inspired by the Volga river. In celebration of Russia’s grand musical traditions we have prepared an extra special Volga cruise for you! Listen to Moscow’s crème de la crème playing some of the most famous concertos ever written whilst established local ensembles from towns along the route introduce you to the beauty and mystery of traditional Russian spiritual and folk music. Acclaimed professor of the Chicago conservatoire Henry Fogel will also shed light on Russia’s great musical history in his lectures before we reach the heart of Russian classical music St. Petersburg, right at the peak of the White Nights festival.

• • 4 Opera Concerts performed by soloists from the Opera Theater of Stanislavskiy and Nemirovich-Danchenko accompanied by a classical quintet from the world famous Yuri Bashmet Orchestra, who have been described by The Times as a group ‘with a very specific sound, a different sound - with a unique colour. As if the music is being created anew before your very ears’.
• • Guest Speaker: Henry Fogel, Dean of the Conservatory of Music & Theatre at Roosevelt University in Chicago
  • Private concert by Russian Orthodox Spiritual choir in Yaroslavl
  • Private performance of a local folk group on the island of Kizhi

Dates: June 7-14, 2010. See itinerary for details

The name Tolstoy resounds across Russia’s imperial history and during this very special cruise leading historian, writer and aristocrat, Earl Nikolay Dmitrievich Tolstoy, the great great grandson of the author of War and Peace, will join us as a guest. Sharing with us his insights into Russia’s exciting and turbulent past, you’ll have the chance to discuss and exchange ideas about Russia’s great past and unknown future whilst hearing first hand personal stories about Nikolay’s famous family. In true aristocratic style there will be a special musical program featuring celebrated musicians from Yuri Bashmet’s Moscow orchestra and opera singers from one of the city’s most popular opera houses, as well as respected local folk ensembles who will perform ancient spiritual songs in the historic towns that we will pass through on route.

• • 4 Opera Concerts performed by soloists from the Opera Theater of Stanislavskiy and Nemirovich-Danchenko accompanied by a classical quintet from the Yuri Bashmet Orchestra
  • Guest Speaker: Nikolai Dmitrievich Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, English historian, author and parliamentary candidate
• • Private concert by Russian Orthodox Spiritual choir in Yaroslavl
  • Private performance of a local folk group on the island of Kizhi

Dates: June 14-21, 2010. See itinerary for details