ITINERARY

DAY 1 | FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025

1ST OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

ARRIVE AIX-EN-PROVENCE (D):

Arrive at our hotel, Aquabella Hotel & Spa, conveniently located in the heart of Aix-en-Provence. Hotel check-in is at 3:00pm and we recommend arriving at this time.

In the evening we meet for a delicious dinner of local specialities and for an introduction by our Tour Leader, Graham Abbott, who will outline what is to come during the tour.

DAY 2 | SATURDAY 12 JULY 2025

2ND OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

EXPLORING AIX-EN-PROVENCE & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B):

Today we enjoy an introduction to the history and culture of Aix-en-Provence on a private guided walking tour which takes in the beautiful plane tree bordered Cours Mirabeau, a popular and lively boulevard, lined with mansions, elegant with fountains and monuments and inviting with its many cafes, some of which were frequented by such individuals as Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola and Albert Camus. We see important sites, such as City Hall, the Old Archbishop's Palace, and Saint-Sauveur Cathedral.

The late afternoon is free, to rest before the evening’s concert, or possibly to explore further some of the places we discovered this morning.

In the early evening our Tour Leader, Graham Abbott, adds to our pleasure in the evening’s performance with an informative talk about the music we will hear.

We then attend our first performance in the prestigious Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - GRAND THÉÂTRE DE PROVENCE, 8:00pm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni

Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Robert Icke director
Hildegard Bechtler set design
Andrè Schuen Don Giovanni
Krzysztof Bączyk Leporello
Golda Schultz Donna Anna
Magdalena Kožená Donna Elvira
Amitai Pati Don Ottavio
Clive Bayley Il Commendatore
Madison Nonoa Zerlina
Paweł Horodyski Masetto
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

DAY 3 | SUNDAY 13 JULY 2025

3RD OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

EXCURSION TO ARLES & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B):

Today we visit historic Arles. In Roman times Arles was the region’s second most important city after Marseilles, due to its location on the route between Spain and Italy; exciting signs of that civilization remain. We visit the Roman Theatre, and the Roman Amphitheatre, the most important monument in Arles from the time of the former Roman Colony. The amphitheatre was designed for the production of great shows to entertain audiences of up to 21,000 people, and two thousand years later, after serving a variety of purposes, it is again used for the entertainment of large crowds. We also visit the Romanesque Church of Saint Trophime, built between the 12th and 15th-century, which displays some excellent examples of Romanesque sculpture. Arles was also a city where Vincent Van Gogh lived and worked, and we will come across some places in the city that influenced him.

We then return to Aix-en-Provence allowing time for guests to freshen up and relax ahead of this evening’s performance. In the early evening Graham gives a talk on the music we will hear in the evening’s performance. We then attend our second performance in the festival.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - THÉÂTRE DE L'ARCHEVÊCHÉ, 9:30pm
Gustave Charpentier Louise

Giacomo Sagripanti conductor
Christof Loy director
Etienne Pluss set design
Elsa Dreisig Louise
Adam Smith Julien, Le Noctambule
Sophie Koch La Mère, La Première de l’atelier
Nicolas Courjal Le Père, Le Chiffonnier
Grégoire Mour Un Marchand d’habits, Le Pape des fous
Roberta Alexander La Balayeuse
Marianne Croux Irma
Carol Garcia Gertrude
Karolina Bengtsson Camille
Marie-Thérèse Keller Madeleine
Julie Pasturaud Marguerite, La Laitière
Marion Vergez-Pascal Élise, La petite Chiffonnière
Marion Lebègue Suzanne, La Glaneuse de charbon
Jennifer Courcier Blanche, La Plieuse de journaux
Céleste Pinel L’apprentie, Le Gavroche
Frédéric Caton Le Bricoleur
Maîtrise des Bouches-du-Rhône
Chœur et Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon

DAY 4 | MONDAY 14 JULY 2025 - BASTILLE DAY

4TH OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

CAUMONT CENTRE D’ART & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B, L):

This morning we visit Caumont Centre d'Art, a beautiful 18th-century mansion in Aix-en-Provence, which is an Historic Monument and an important centre of the city’s cultural life. There we see; the carefully furnished and decorated rooms which reveal the daily life of an 18th-century marquis, a very informative 28-minute film on Cézanne, the prestigious bi-annual temporary art exhibition, and 1,000 square metres of elegant private French gardens. Following our visit, we enjoy lunch together.

Today is Bastille Day, celebrated across the whole of France, and the residents of Provence celebrate this national holiday with as much vigour as the rest of the country. The afternoon is free for you to relax and enjoy the various activities held across the city in memory of the storming of the Bastille on the same date in 1789. You might also enjoy extending your investigation of the city. Possibly visit the historic Pavillon Vendôme, and enjoy the French formal garden which surrounds it.

In the early evening Graham Abbott gives a talk on the music we will hear in the evening’s performance. We then attend our third performance in the festival. Traditionally the fireworks display celebrating Bastille Day starts between 10:00pm and 11:00pm, and usually performances on 14 July finish in time to see the display.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - THÉÂTRE DU JEU DE PAUME, 8:00pm
Sivan Eldar & Ganavya Doraiswamy The Nine Jewelled Deer

Peter Sellars director
Julie Mehretu visual artist
Ganavya Doraiswamy, Aruna Sairam voice
Nurit Stark violin and alto
Dana Barak clarinet
Hayden Chisholm saxophone
Rajna Swaminathan percussion
Augustin Muller electronics

DAY 5 | TUESDAY 15 JULY 2025

5TH OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

CHÂTEAU LA COSTE & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B, L):

This morning we depart the city and head north, to the fascinating Château La Coste, a sculpture park, vineyard and collection of restaurants. This expansive property is an estate of vast wine production, but it is also home to an astounding array of art and sculpture. The vision of entrepreneur Paddy McKillen, the 600-acre estate showcases incredible artworks in a selection of architect designed pavilions. Following a private Art and Architecture tour of the estate, time is allowed for some further exploration. Following this, we enjoy lunch together at the picturesque Château de Fonscolombe.

Upon returning to Aix-en-Provence guests might like to rest or may like to discover even more in Aix-en-Provence. You could stroll through areas of the town you have not visited, or you might be interested to visit the Musée des Tapisseries, with its collection of tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as contemporary textile art. Highlights of the museum's collection include a series of nine tapestries from the Manufacture Royale de Beauvais (Royal Manufactory of Beauvais) featuring scenes from Don Quixote de la Mancha by Cervantes.

In the early evening, Graham Abbott gives a talk on the music we will hear in the evening’s performance. We then attend our fourth festival performance.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - THÉÂTRE DE L'ARCHEVÊCHÉ, 9:30pm
Francesco Cavalli La Calisto

Sébastien Daucé conductor
Jetske Mijnssen director
Julia Katharina Berndt set design
Lauranne Oliva Calisto
Alex Rosen Giove
Giuseppina Bridelli Diana
Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian Endimione
Anna Bonitatibus Giunone, L’Eternità
Zachary Wilder Linfea
David Portillo La Natura, Pane, Furia
Dominic Sedgwick Mercurio
Théo Imart Destino, Satirino, Furia
José Coca Loza Silvano, Furia
Ensemble Correspondances

DAY 6 | WEDNESDAY 16 JULY 2025

6TH OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

LUBERON PLATEAU AND VILLAGES, & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B):

Today we travel into the heart of Provence to visit the Luberon Plateau, an area with pleasant, picturesque towns and villages, agricultural wealth, and historical and cultural interest. We make a stop at the Point de Vue sur la Ville de Gordes where we will enjoy a unique view of the breathtaking town of Gordes. We then continue to see the picturesque and iconic Sénanque Abbey, an active Cistercian monastery surrounded by fields of lavender. On arrival we are given an introduction to the history of the Abbey, following this there will be time to take photos of the beautiful lavender fields.

We then travel to the town of Gordes where there will be free time to enjoy the sights and delicacies of the area. Built on the foothills of the Vaucluse Mountains, facing the Luberon Plateau, Gordes is one of the most well-known hilltop villages in the region, and one of the most beautiful in France.

Following our visit to Gordes, we continue through the scenic laneways of the Luberon Plateau to visit the town of Rousillon. On arrival we enjoy a visit to the canyon of Le Sentier des Ocres. We venture into this former quarry for a short walk to marvel at the canyon, which is a deep shade of red alongside a vibrant yellow, colours that are present on the walls in the nearby buildings of Rousillon.

Following our exploration of Le Sentier des Ocres, a short time is allowed in the picturesque village of Rousillon for a cold drink or an ice cream before we depart for our return journey to Aix-en-Provence.

On our return to the hotel in the late afternoon, guests will have the opportunity to freshen up and rest ahead of this evening’s performance. In the early evening Graham gives a talk on the music we will hear this evening. We then attend our fifth performance in the festival.

ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE - GRAND THÉÂTRE DE PROVENCE, 8:00pm

Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Performing works by Ligeti, Wagner and Bruckner

DAY 7 | THURSDAY 17 JULY 2025

7TH OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

MUSÉE GRANET & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B):

This morning we visit Musée Granet, where we will enjoy a private guided tour of the collection. The Musée includes sculpture, archaeology and painting. It has a major collection of 19th-century works including Portrait of a Young Boy by David, and an entire room devoted to the paintings of the Aix-born painter, François-Marius Granet, mainly his Roman period, which is organised around the portrait his friend Ingres did of him. Probably the best-known work in the collection is the famous large-format work by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Jupiter and Thetis (1811). The museum has ten paintings by Paul Cézanne and the artist enjoys a special place in its collections.

The afternoon is free and you may like to rest, or discover more of stimulating Aix-en-Provence, but you may also enjoy being drawn further into the world of Paul Cézanne within the centre of the city. There is a Cézanne walk marked by ‘C’ studs in the sidewalks, which takes you past his old haunts from birthplace to grave, including homes, schools, the bars he frequented, all within the centre of Aix. The route is called ‘In the steps of Cézanne’ and you can pick up a map at the tourism office, which is where the walk starts.

In the early evening Graham Abbott gives a talk on the music we will hear in the evening’s performance. We then attend our sixth festival performance.

RECITAL PERFORMANCE - GRAND THÉÂTRE DE PROVENCE, 8:00pm

Jonas Kaufmann tenor
Diana Damrau soprano
Helmut Deutsch piano

Performing works by Mahler and Strauss

DAY 8 | FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025

8TH OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

EXCURSION TO THE MEDITERRANEAN (B, L):

Today we travel to the Mediterranean to visit the quaint Provençal fishing village of Cassis, where we have free time to admire the pastel-coloured houses lining the picturesque harbour and to browse in the village’s appealing shops and cafes. Cassis is a gateway to the Massif des Calanques, a National Park known for its unusual rock formations, and we take a sightseeing boat to view the spectacular narrow, steep-walled inlets that have developed in the limestone, or other carbonate strata found along the Mediterranean coast.

We enjoy lunch together in a restaurant that specialises in the delicious local produce of the region.

We return to Aix-en-Provence in the late afternoon. This evening is free.

DAY 9 | SATURDAY 19 JULY 2025

9TH OF 9 NIGHTS AT AQUABELLA HOTEL & SPA, AIX-EN-PROVENCE

AIX-EN-PROVENCE & FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE (B, D):

This morning is free so we can relax and enjoy the last day in Aix-en-Provence. You might like to spend the time in the hotel, or shopping, or in places you have come to know and enjoy around the town. There may be one or two places you still wish to visit. Today is the day!

You could enjoy a refreshing sojourn to the Marché aux Fleurs, a small, yet beautiful market selling colourful, fresh cut flowers in the Place de l’Hotel de Ville, which is only held on Saturday mornings.

In the late afternoon Graham Abbott gives his final talk on the music we will hear in this evening’s performance. We then attend a farewell dinner before attending our final performance in this prestigious festival.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - GRAND THÉÂTRE DE PROVENCE, 8:00pm
Georges Bizet The Pearl Fishers (concert version)

Marc Minkowski conductor
Mané Galoyan Leïla
Pene Pati Nadir
Florian Sempey Zurga
Edwin Crossley-Mercer Nourabad
Chœur de l’Opéra Grand Avignon
Les Musiciens du Louvre

DAY 10 | SUNDAY 20 JULY 2025

TOUR ENDS (B):

Following our final breakfast at the hotel, the tour concludes.

INCLUSIONS

11–20 JULY 2025 (10 DAYS)

AUD$11,450 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$2,180
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 11 March 2025)
Final payment due: 8 May 2025

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium tickets for seven performances at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.

  Please note: The festival will announce its 2025 program in late 2024. There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on final confirmation of evening performances.

• Tour Leaders and Talks: Tour leadership and seven exclusive private talks by Graham Abbott.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Hotels: Nine nights' accommodation at the 4-star Aquabella Hotel & Spa in a Comfort Room. Porterage of one piece of luggage at the hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc. as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides will be used at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.

• Special Taxes: Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will endeavour to advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart.

• Visas: Costs associated with obtaining visas for countries visited on your tour. From mid-2025, travellers entering European countries will be required to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation. For further information on ETIAS applications visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

• Travel Insurance: Please note that you are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for the duration of your tour. If you live in Australia, Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 2

All members of the tour must have the ability to:

• undertake walking tours of two-three hours duration, including using stairs and walking on uneven ground;

• stand for long periods in museum, art galleries etc;

• climb staircases of 100 or more steps;

• embark / disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE & THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE