Curtains up!
Opera has come back to life everywhere, including the glorious Metropolitan Opera in New York. Throughout the pandemic, this was one of the few theaters anywhere to never cancel a performance and it remains a destination for people who love opera.
Fred Plotkin, world-famous opera expert and gastronome, has curated a cultured and pleasurable visit to his home town that will include four operas (Lohengrin, Falstaff, La Traviata, Norma) at the Met with major stars* including Christine Goerke, Angel Blue, Sonya Yoncheva, Tamara Wilson, Ailyn Pérez, Ekaterina Gubanova, Piotr Beczala, Michael Spyres and Michael Volle. The stellar line-up of conductors include Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Maurizio Benini, Nicola Luisotti and Daniele Rustioni.
Anyone who has traveled with Fred Plotkin knows that one eats very well with menus he curates and wines he selects in classic restaurants. There will be discussions of the performances we attend and opportunities to exchange ideas with your fellow arts lovers. And, if possible, we will be joined at some point by performers in the operas you attend.
*Casting is subject to change without notice.
Trip Details
Dates
March 13 – March 18, 2023
Duration
6 days
Prices Per Person
$4,490 per person
Deposit
$500
Highlights
Itinerary
Arrive in New York. Please note no hotel is offered as part of this package. Guests are free to stay where they prefer. We recommend staying at 1 Hotel Central Park. Meet the tour manager in the 1 Hotel Central Park lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant for a welcoming dinner. Get to know your culture-loving fellow travelers.
Included Meals: (D)
Morning at leisure, perhaps visit the shops, galleries, old and new landmarks and distinctive neighborhoods in Manhattan and the other boroughs. Fred Plotkin can provide you with suggestions to suit your interests. Join Fred for a discussion on Lohengrin in preparation for this evening’s performance. Enjoy lunch together before taking some time to rest. Walk to the Lincoln Center for a new production of Wagner’s Lohengrin at the Metropolitan Opera starring Tamara Wilson, Christine Goerke, Piotr Beczala, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Included Meals: (L)
Gather for brunch to review Lohengrin and prepare for tonight’s La Traviata. Afternoon at leisure, perhaps attend a matinee performance or visit one of the many wonderful museums in New York. At 6:30 p.m. meet at Lincoln Center. Take your seat for Verdi’s La Traviata starring Angel Blue, Dmytro Popov and Artur Rucinski, conducted by Nicola Luisotti.
Included Meals: (L)
Morning at leisure own. Mid-afternoon with Fred and possible guests for conversation followed by an early dinner. Walk across the street to the Metropolitan Opera and take your seats for Verdi’s Falstaff starring Ailyn Pérez, Nicole Lemieux, Michael Volle and Christopher Maltman, conducted by Daniele Rustioni.
Included Meals: (D)
After breakfast on your own, meet with Fred for a late morning lecture and conversation, followed by a farewell luncheon at one of New York’s top restaurants. Opera guests may join you. Enjoy the afternoon on your own before heading to the Met for the 7 pm curtain of Bellini’s Norma starring Sonya Yoncheva, Ekaterina Gubanova, Michael Spyres and Christian van Horn, conducted by Maurizio Benini.
Included Meals: (L)
Nourished by music and all kinds of cultural and social stimulation that is part of time spent in New York, return home renewed.
Your Host
Fred Plotkin
Fred Plotkin is one of the world’s foremost opera experts, noted for the depth and breadth of his knowledge and for the joy and ease with which he shares it. He is the author of Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera, the best-selling standard text in America for opera education. He is the author of seven books on Italian food and wine. He has lectured, taught, consulted and held managerial or artistic roles at some of the top opera companies, including La Scala; the Metropolitan Opera; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He led opera and food symposia for New York Times Journeys and, since April 24, 2020, has hosted Fred Plotkin on Fridays, a weekly program of cultured conversations seen worldwide on Idagio.com.
Reserve Your Spot Today!
Recommended Accommodations
This is a boutique property located close to Central Park. There is plenty of greenery throughout the property and a living green façade greets guests on arrival. The emphasis on greenery and the use of natural materials create a calming retreat from the city bustle outside. All guest rooms include organic bedding, filtered water taps, free wifi and a nespresso coffee machine, hepa air filters, five-minute shower timer and digital newspapers. There is a limited number of rooms with two beds. There are several farm-to-fork dining options in the hotel including in-room dining and a market stand in the lobby with fresh seasonal fruit; imperfect in appearance these fruits would otherwise have been discarded by local grocers but are tasty and available to hotel guests.
The tour manager will be staying here.
A preferred rate of $349 for an Alcove King and $429 for a City Double has been negotiated and a block of rooms are held on option through the end of January 2023. Please contact the hotel directly to confirm and pay for your hotel stay.
What's Included
- Tickets to four operas at The Metropolitan Opera in Orchestra Premium seats
- All meals with drinks as outlined in the itinerary
- Comprehensive educational program with talks and discussions led by Fred Plotkin and guests
- Gratuities to wait staff in restaurants during group meals
- The assistance of an ATA tour manager
- The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, and other services
- Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list.
- Emergency evacuation insurance
- Fully vetted program that meets COVID-19 health and safety protocols
FAQs
Our trips have a maximum group size of 25 people. They are large enough to meet new people with diverse backgrounds, but small enough to be on a first-name basis with everyone.
For all four opera performances at the Met, we have Orchestra premium seats.
The safety and security of our travelers and tour staff are of the utmost importance. We have developed extensive policies and procedures for traveling during the pandemic in accordance with the World Travel& Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels protocols. We continue to monitor developments regarding COVID-19, using many information sources. All trip participants (including staff) 12 years and older must show proof of being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster, at least 14 days prior to the start of the trip. Regarding mask-wearing in enclosed spaces, we will be adhering to all local regulations and CDC guidelines. Masks are currently required to be worn inside the opera house.
Yes, absolutely! There are always a good number of solo travelers on our trips, and they are welcomed with open arms. Group meals generally take place at medium to large tables, and our Tour Managers ensure that everyone is included in conversation.
Travelers should be in good health and able to walk up to 2 miles (with stops) and be able to navigate stairs unassisted. In the city, we do try to walk from place to place due to traffic congestion and also in keeping with our commitment to environmental sustainability. Please note the suggested hotel is at least a 15-minute walk from the Metropolitan Opera House.
Because this trip features evening performances, daily activities start a bit later in the day. Two mornings and two afternoons (including a Wednesday for a theater matinee) are at leisure to explore the city on your own.
On this trip, our main focus is opera — with four performances and lively talks and discussions with Fred. We have not included museum visits so that individual travelers can explore the city’s offerings according to their own personal preferences. Fred will be happy to provide recommendations on what to see and do during your leisure time in New York.
Group meals will be specially-curated by Fred, but every effort will be made to accommodate any special diet requests you may have (e.g., low salt, vegetarian or vegan). Please discuss your requests with us when signing up for a trip.
We’ll send you a detailed packing list well before departure so you know what you’ll need. We provide the rest: an engaging daily itinerary, expert trip management and access to people and places that will thrill and delight you.
Yes! Tips to restaurant staff are all included in the trip price. Your Trip Expert and Tour Manager however, will not accept tips.
Airfare to and from New York is not included in the price in order to give you maximum flexibility in choosing your preferences for air travel. This way you can use frequent flier upgrades, depart from your airport of choice, or add pre- and post- trip extensions with no constraints. Please refrain from booking your airfare until your Guest Services Advisor reaches out to confirm your departure.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing (email or fax) to Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. (ATA). Per person cancellation fees are based on the date of the cancellation notice reaching ATA. Up to 120 days prior to departure; refund of deposit less an administration fee of 50% of deposit. Cancellation between 119-91 days before departure: 100% of deposit is forfeited. Cancellation between 90-61 days, 50% of the trip price is forfeited. Cancellation within 60 days of departure: no refund. Cancellation on day of departure or after trip departs: no refund. No refund for unused portions of trip, including, but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights and sightseeing. In the event the trip is cancelled by ATA for any reason, a full refund would be issued.
We strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance to help protect your investment and provide you with financial recourse should you face trip cancellation or interruption due to sickness or quarantine. When purchasing a policy, please consult with a trip insurance agent to review what COVID-19- related contingencies are covered. While ATA will do our best to recover any unused portion of your trip due to sickness, it is often the case that payments cannot be refunded. We recommend using our partner insurance provider, Travel Insurance Services, which offers three different policies for you to choose from.
After you reserve your trip and pay your deposit, you will be sent detailed information about your itinerary, insurance information, a Participant Information Form, a packing list, and other information needed to prepare for your trip. Your Guest Services Advisor will reach out when it’s time to book airfare and hotel nights after a minimum of 10 travelers have enrolled on your departure. Final trip details will be sent roughly 2-3 weeks before departure.