Incantato Performance Tours

Incantato Concert Impressions from 2011: See and hear our fine choirs perform in magnificent venues across Europe

2011-12-28T09:33:00.001-08:00

The University of South Carolina Choirs under at the Teatro di Rieti

The University of Miami Frost Chorale in at Santa Maria al Mar in Barcelona

Endorsements For Incantato Tours & Concert

2010-04-09T01:36:00.001-07:00

“The trip was everything I hoped for and more. Everything promised was delivered. I realize that this tour gave you a number of challenges due to the low number of participants, but you always seemed to find a way to make things happen. I appreciate the positive ‘Can Do’ attitude. You showed what a tour company can do when it really cares about the quality of the performing venues and comfort and satisfaction of its clients.”

Bruce Koliha, BelCanto Choir, Performance Tour to Central Europe 2010

“Our tour with Incatanto was unforgettable. They were able to not only secure for us the most popular and magnificent venues but also the hidden gems and special places only a company with passion and dedication can find. My Women’s Ensemble and Handbells (and even the parents) are still talking about the trip and all the wonderful memories. It has invigorated my program and I am deeply proud to have done business with Sandra and the entire team at Incantato.”

Brian Dehn, Cornelia Connelly, Performance Tour to England and Ireland 2010

“Once again, thanks to you and all the Incantato team for the great tour you arranged for CIC this summer. I truly feel that Incantato delivered a lot for our money on this trip. All of the hotels were nice ones with good locations. What a great idea to give us a night in Vienna near the Prater! And the concert venues were varied and all beautiful. The dinner cruise on our last night was magical and we enjoyed the food, the company, and the views. Thanks for making this a part of our tour. You are so skillful in finding the unique, off the beaten path, towns and villages. These are some of the best memories.”

Sue Klausmeyer, Carolina International Chorale, Performance Tour to Central Europe Summer 2010

"Dear Incantato-Team, the Choir of the Sound and I want to thank you for all you did to make our tour to Northern Italy so incredible. I’ve worked with many other tour companies, but this trip exceeded even my most optimistic expectations. The singers will remember their time in Italy the rest of their lives. To have had the opportunity to perform in those amazing cathedrals with large appreciative audiences was truly memorable. In reflecting on our trip this year, I realized that past tours that I had considered successful fell short when compared to the trip that you put together for us. Incantato provided a consistently high level of organization and personal attention both during the planning stages and on the trip. Other exceptional aspects of the tour were:
- The right amount and high quality of the performances. Our concerts and masses were wonderful.
- Outstanding tour managers that were a wonderful combination of knowledgeable, flexible, personable and fun!
- Beautiful posters and flyers as well as superb advertising of the concerts that resulted in large audiences
- Excellent pacing of the tour—thanks for anticipating when we would need some time to recover
- The included activities were interesting and created a change of pace for the singers
- Great meals, consistently. My vegetarians were very pleased also.
- The choir manager and I are very appreciative of your personal attention to our questions during the planning stages of the trip.
- Terrific bus drivers who made us feel safe and who enjoyed the group
It was a pleasure to work with everyone at your organization and I would be happy to share my experience with Incantato with other potential clients."
Judy Filibeck, Director "Choir of the Sound", Seattle, WA

"Having recently returned from a successful tour of Ireland, I can say without a doubt that this was my finest tour experience. I have used several different tours companies in my years of performance tours, and none have matched the attention to detail, the thoughtful planning, excellent venues & marketing, meal & hotels, and overall management by Incantato Tours. Their pricing was excellent, and when the US currency dropped, they did not raise any of our cost. I would recommend this company to anyone planning a tour, whether they are a large professional ensemble, or a small church choir."

Nathan J. Kreitzer - Director of Choral Activities Santa Barbara City College, CA

"It was a true pleasure working with Sandra and Incantato on our Italy Tour 2008. She is very detail oriented and surpassed many of our expectations. I would recommend Incantato to anyone planning a concert or performance tour."
Rick Christophersen, Director Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, Orange, CA

“My sincerest and deepest thanks to you and all your staff for making this tour for the Quire of Voyces our very best yet! Your attention to every detail, special offerings each day, fine accommodations and outstanding tour guides all made for a very gratifying experience for all of us.”
Susan Kuehn, Quire of Voyces Performance Tour to Italy, June 2010

"I have only wonderful things to say about Incantato Tours! The UGA Chamber Choir traveled to Italy in 2009. From the marvelous concert venues to the excellently managed tour, this was really a dream trip. The highly professional and expert Incantato tour manager who was with us throughout the entire trip, the fantastic bus drivers, and the knowledgeable city tour guides all helped to make the tour run exceptionally smoothly. Probably most important was that this entire trip was really a specialty tour designed especially for this particular choral group. Incantato Tours made it possible for us to sing in some very remarkable places, including the Sistine Chapel. Planning a tour takes incredible dedication and Incantato Tours would definitely be my choice again!"
Dr. Martha Thomas, UGA School of Music, Athens, GA

“We had the wonderful opportunity to go to Spain, sing in great venues, experience an amazing culture, and eat great food. There is always a special element of magic that happens with Incantato Tours.”
Andrew Crane, Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, California State University, San Bernardino; Performance Tour to Spain, June 2010

“Incantato Tours has created the most musically satisfying tour we have ever taken. For the singers touring is about the music in the wonderful cathedrals and the exchanges with the local kids. A toast to Incantato for fulfilling your dream, and for making so many people so happy - now and in the future.”
Arlene Jacobs, SCS Touring Choir, Akron, OH

“Incantanto facilitated maximum educational, religious, and just plain fun experiences among youth and adults alike.”
Ed Bettendorf, Western Reserve Academy, Performance Tour to Italy March 2010

"There are at least four essential ingredients for a successful and rewarding concert tour for young people and their sponsors —appropriate concert settings, advance publicity, opportunities for learning abut the areas visited (including exchanges with the local youth), and good logistical planning. The recent tour of the Akron, Ohio Summit Children's Touring Choir through Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria was successful indeed. The venues were most impressive and beautiful. The publicity produced large responsive and appreciative crowds as well as mayor’s receptions with recital opportunities at city halls. The knowledgeable tour guides and the visits with local youth and choirs provided an experience for the choir members that will not be soon forgotten. The schedule for travel, meals, concerts and touring were planed and flexible enough to accommodate for unexpected delays without loss of any scheduled tour, exchange or concert. Finally, a "shadow tour" of parents and sponsors was also a success and allowed those who wished to do so to attend every reception, recital and concert while being guided on a separate tour, well planned and executed. As one who worked with Sandra Weinacht and her staff at Incantato I can assure you it would not have been such a success without their planning and execution of our tour. They are to be commended and I would highly recommend Incantato Tours to anyone considering a group tour, especially a performance tour.
C.A. Ridge Jr., A Summit Choral Society Sponsor

“Incantato Tours impresses me because their clients come first. Their advantage lies in the selection of venues, impressive itineraries and the ability to tend to details.”
Dr. Gary L. Unruh, Professor Emeritus, CSU Fresno

“I can't speak highly enough about Incantato Tours. They were with us every step of the way, tailoring a tour that was perfect for our wants, needs and budget. I would recommend Incantato to anyone serious about a choir tour, especially if you want a tour that provides wonderful indelible memories of the best that a tour can be.”
Stan DeWitt, Minister of Music, Grace First Presbyterian Church, Long Beach, CA;
Performance Tour to Ireland, April 2010

"Of the eight international tours I've taken as both singer and conductor, last summer's CSULB tour to Naples, Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast with Incantato was the best organized and the most fun. Our tour manger and guides were professional, wonderful teachers, and our venues were beautiful. We saw stunning posters for our events everywhere we walked. The marketing for our concerts was incredible! Our audiences were huge and exuberant, and Incantato made all the pieces fell into place beautifully. Thank you Incantato Tours for the personal attention, for the flexibility that allowed us to chose exactly where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see. We're already planning for 2010."
Dr. Jonathan Talberg - Director of Choral, Vocal, and Opera Studies, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, California State University, Long Beach

"Canticum Novum, The tour choir of Central Church in Phoenix just completed its most successful tour in 35 years of contertizing abroad, solely due to the excellent management of Incantato. Their attention to every detail, response to every request, superb International Staff, and excellence in concert management are singularly distinctive. Theirs is a professional concert management group who are also excellent providers of travel services. That is a distinctive difference. Travel agents are for travel; Incantato provides concert management in stunning venues, and the organizational minutia supporting these artistic events in addition to fine tuned travel experiences filled with special amenities. If music making in superb acoustical spaces to wonderfully receptive audiences is your priority, Incantato is the professional tour group for your ensemble."
Donald. E. Morse, Central United Methodist Church, Phoenix, AZ

"The San Marino Chamber Singers have been very fortunate to travel several times already with the director of Incantato Tours, Ms. Sandra Weinacht. She was our personal tour and concert manager when we traveled to Italy in 2005 and then designed, organized and oversaw our tour to Central Europe in 2007. It was another huge success. Aside from selecting and working with prime venues only, Ms. Weinacht's staff also put in great time and effort in promoting our concerts through beautiful designed and professionally printed concert posters and cards. Incantato's marketing of our performances became highly visible to the public and contributed to the success of every concert. I have been more than impressed with their professionalism and highly recommend Incantato Tours to everyone. They definitely cater to each choir member's personal needs and watch every detail. The hotels were carefully selected, the meals were beyond our expectation. If there were ever any problems, they were dealt with beautifully and professionally on the spot. We were very impressed with how well the whole tour was executed. The next time we go back to Europe, it will be with Incantato Tours."
Howard Cheung, San Marino Chamber Choir, CA

"Well, you did it. I don't know how, but you did it! You accepted the challenge, and performed a small miracle. My hat is off to you and Ted for creating what is, for me, the most musically satisfying tour we have taken. All of the kids who have been on the three tours (Italy, China,and Europe) agreed, hands down, that this was the best ever. For them it's about the music in the wonderful cathedrals and the exchanges with the local kids. In festival-type situations they are not really "up close and personal" with other kids - they're mostly rehearsing. At any rate, a toast to Incantato, to you and Ted for fulfilling your dream, and for making so many people so happy - now and in the future. Thank you!"
Arlene Jacobs, Artistic Director, Summit Children’s Touring Choir and Co-Founder of the Summit Choral Society (SCS)

"Incantato stresses the small town experience as well as the traditional larger cities, but it wasn't until I looked out on the valley and town of Salice Terme spread out below us as we enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked Italian meal that I truly understood or appreciated that element. At that moment, "Italy" became much more than a series of famous cities to check off my list; it became a real world, a place of rolling hills as well as marble cathedrals, time-honored traditions and modern technology. A true mix of culture and heritage unknown and unappreciated by those in the United States --- until you arrive! The experience we had of singing in the Sistine Chapel is absolutely indescribable, yet I must try. It's been almost three months since the last note of Gregorio Allegri's Miserere echoed off Botticelli's walls and Michelangelo's awesome ceiling, but to the choir it is still as vivid a memory as if we sang there last night. I can't thank Sandra and the Incantato Team enough for arranging such a poignant moment"
David Okun, student at UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Athens, GA

Croatia, Slovenia & Austria

2010-04-09T01:28:00.001-07:00

Croatia, Slovenia
& Austria

A 13-day Concert Tour to Dubrovnik, Mali Ston, Vodice, Sibenic, Zadar, the Islands of Prvic, Zlarin & Pag, Opatija,
Llubljana, Lake Bled, Göttweig and Dürnstein

Stepping off the beaten path for a true immersion into the local cultures

Highlights

• See and experience both major cities and off-the-beaten path gems of Croatia, Slovenia & Austria

• A series of up to six professionally organized and promoted formal concerts in magnificent venues just for your choir

• Plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local cultures

• Educational and entertaining sightseeing

• A special private visit and reception at the Benedictine Monastery of Goettweig followed by a highlight performance and spectecular farewell dinner overlooking the Danube Valley

• Quality hotels in good locations, great food, free time for individual explorations...

Your Concert-Venues (actual sample)

• Dominican Church, Rector’s Palace —Dubrovnik

• Gothic or Baroque Church —Vodice

• St. Donatus Church —Zadar

• Sveti Jakov —Opatija

• Cerkev sv. Florijana (exchange), Cerkev sv. Jakoba—Llubljana

• Stiftskirche —Goettweig

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1 Sunday, Date TBA
Overnight flight to Croatia

DAY 2 Monday
Welcome to Dubrovnik
Orientation tour en-route to the hotel.
Welcome dinner in Old Town.

DAY 3 Tuesday
Sightseeing - Concert
Guided tour of Dubrovnik followed by free time for lunch and exploring. First formal concert this evening.

DAY 4 Wednesday
Via Mali Ston to Vodice
First stop is the picturesque fishing village Mali Ston, next the city of Trogir and then Vodice. Evening at leisure or concert.

DAY 5 Thursday
Two Islands & Sibenik
Boat excursion to Prvic and Zlarin. Continue to Zadar for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 Friday
Zadar in-Depth - Concert
Sightseeing tour of Zadar followed by free time. Dinner and concert.

DAY 7 Saturday
To Opatija via Island Pag
Often called the „Nice of the Adriatic“, Opatija is a true resort with a picturesque old town center . Enjoy!

DAY 8 Sunday
Porec & Rovinj - Concert
Excursion to two unique Istrian cities - walk around, relax and enjoy. Return to Opatija for dinner and your next performance.

DAY 9 Monday
Llubljana -Choir exchange
Sightseeing tour upon arrival.
Possible exchange with a local choir.

DAY 10 Tuesday
Llubljana -Concert
Day at leisure for individual exploring. Dinner and evening concert.

DAY 11 Wednesday
Lake Bled - Danube Valley
First stop is beautiful Lake Bled. After sightseeing and lunch here, cross the Austrian border and continue to the Wachau Valley for a traditional „Heurigen“-Winegarden-dinner.

DAY 12 Thursday
Goettweig - Concert
Morning at leisure in Dürnstein before heading to the magnificent Benedictine Monastery of Goettweig. Your finale concert is preceeded by a special reception and private tour.

DAY 13 Friday
Departure or Extension

Post-Tour Extension
Incantato offers you various possibilities to extend your stay in Europe at reasonable cost. You may choose to remain in Austria for a few days, visit another neighboring country like Hungary, Germany or the Czech Republic or head to Italy, Spain...

All Incantato Performance Tours are custom designed to perfectly match each choir's individual wishes and needs. The above itinerary is one of many samples. Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at info@incantatotours.com for more information and to request a complimentary proposal for your ensemble's upcoming international concert series. We are looking forward to working with and for you.

Italian Highlights - Sample Itinerary

2010-04-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

Bella Italia

A 10-day Concert Tour to Milan, Venice, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi & Rome

featuring a special Private Visit to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

Highlights

• Professionally organized and promoted formal concerts in magnificent venues just for your choir

• Participation in High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, St. Mark's in Venice...

• Venice Conservatory visit with cultural exchange

• Private Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

• A special „Schola Romana" workshop

• Plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local culture

• Educational and entertaining sightseeing

• Nice hotels in good locations, great food, free time for exploring...

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1 Tuesday, Date TBA

Overnight flight to Milan

DAY 2 Wednesday

Milan Arrival & Orientation

Guided Tour upon arrival and recital at the Duomo. Welcome Dinner.
Possibility to attend a performance at La Scala.

DAY 3 Thursday

Venice in depth

Guided city tour of Venice upon arrival. Afternoon visit to the Venice Conservatory for a musical exchange (subject to confirmation). Overnight on Venice Island or nearby.

DAY 4 Friday

Venice - High Mass at St. Mark's Basilica & Concert

Day at leisure. Evening: Your Choir participates in High Mass at St. Mark‘s Basilica and presents a formal concert at a local venue. Overnight on Venice Island or nearby

DAY 5 Saturday

To Tuscany - Florence Visit with High Mass at the Duomo

Guided city tour of Florence upon arrival, including entrance to the Accademia. Free time. Choir sings High Mass at the Duomo. Overnight in Florence or nearby Montecatini.

DAY 6 Sunday

Gems of Tuscany - Concert in Florence

Half-day excursion to Siena (possibility to sing in High Mass) and San Gimignano, followed by dinner and evening concert in Florence. Overnight in Florence or nearby Montecatini.

DAY 7 Monday

Via Assisi to Rome

Guided tour in Assisi with possibility for a recital or participation in High Mass. Continue to Rome for check-in and evening at leisure.

DAY 8 Tuesday

Rome Sightseeing - High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica - Private Visit to the Vatican Museums

Guided sightseeing tour of „Ancient Rome" featuring the Colosseo, Foro Romano. Free time for lunch, individual sightseeing etc. The choir participates in High Mass at St. Peter‘s Basilica followed by a private visit to the Vatican Museums.

DAY 9 Wednesday

Papal Audience - "Schola Romana"-Workshop - Concert & Farewell Dinner

Attend the Papal Audience at the Vatican this morning followed by free time for individual explorations. Afternoon „Schola Romana" workshop for the Chapman University Choir with Fabio Avolio. Evening concert at Sant‘ Ignazio or another beautiful Roman church followed by a farewell dinner buffet al fresco in a garden overlooking Rome.

DAY 10

Flight to USA or Embark on an Extension

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight or continue on an extension tour.

Post-Tour Extension

Incantato offers you various possibilities to extend your stay in Europe at reasonable cost. You may choose to remain in Rome for a few days, visit the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Malta or head to Croatia, Austria, Germany...

All Incantato Tours are custom designed to perfectly match each group's individual wishes and needs.

The above itinerary is one of many samples. Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at info@incantatotours.com for more information and to request a complimentary proposal for your group's next journey abroad. We are looking forward to working with and for you.

Incantato Team

2010-04-09T01:11:00.000-07:00

Experts in the Art of Performance Tours

Sandra Weinacht and Theodore Keppler are the Founders of Incantato. Sandra has extensive experience as a performance tour organizer. She started her career in the travel industry while working as a journalist and editor and pursuing her Masters in North American Studies. First a part-time tour manager in the summers of 2000-2003 for various major tour operators sending choirs, orchestras and religious groups to Europe, Sandra was soon called into an exclusive contract with just one company specializing in performance tours. In less than six months she built a complete European Concert Management Office from scratch, establishing contacts with prime venues throughout Europe and she introduced a professional marketing concept. In the years that followed Sandra continued to build relationships with European concert and festival organizers, arts and cultural organization and, most importantly, made wonderful friends both on her native continent and in the US. Professionally, aside from holding the position of Concert Manager Europe as of 2003, Sandra was promoted to Director of European Operations in 2004 and became Director of Sales, Marketing and Product Development in 2006.In cooperation with Dr. Gary Unruh and, after his retirement, the solely responsible person for designing over 40 performance tours to Europe. Her tours at that time focused on children's, high school, college, university, church and community choirs from all across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. The over 150 European performances she organized with her team – many of whom have recently joined Incantato – included several festivals. Among them two special celebrations of Mozart's works in Austria and Italy in 2006 that provided wonderful experiences for conductors, singers and excited audiences in packed churches. Sandra really cares about the musical experiences and strives to enable musicians of all ages to experience in a meaningful way the countries in which they will perform and travel. After months, sometimes years of planning, the Incantato team strives to be sure every group receives the tour they were dreaming of, often placing them in prime venues like St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, St. Marks in Venice, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Stephansdom (Vienna), Matyas Templon (Budapest) and St. Nicholas in Prague as well as in lesser known yet equally beautiful venues in smaller “off the beaten path” locales. There they usually find many of the most appreciative audiences. Sandra is grateful for the continuing mentorship from some of the finest choir conductors and music educators in the United States. It was through the positive encouragement and substantial support of these fine women and men that Incantato was founded with the mission to facilitate essential artistic experiences for US performance groups traveling to Europe. Sandra, CEO/Concert Manager, and Theodore, President and Director of Operations, look forward to a long and profound career providing outstanding touring experiences and excellent, personable service to the fine touring groups.

Dr. Jonathan Talberg serves as Incantato‘s Artistic Director and Advisor and is responsible for consulting with traveling ensembles, approving concert venues, and suggesting appropriate repertoire for European churches, cathedrals, and festivals. With over twenty years of international touring both as a singer and conductor, Dr. Talberg brings to Incantato a concrete image of what makes a great performance tour — from the perspective of conductor and performer.

In addition, the Incantato-Team consists of dedicated professionals from the United States and Europe including highly skilled tour organizers, well-connected, experienced concert managers and P.R. experts (journalists, graphic and web designers), certified tour guides, educators and last but not least renowned artists from various fields. All of our team members share the passion to work with and for fine choirs planning to travel abroad. With their combined skills and experience, they are true Experts in the Art of Performance Tours and take great pride in providing your ensemble with our trademark: "Essential Artistic Experiences". Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@incantatotours.com to request a list of references.

Incantato Tours is based in the US, Incantato Concerts in Germany.

Gems of Spain & Portugal

2010-04-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

True gems and natural wonders of

Spain & Portugal

An 11-day Concert Tour to Madrid, Segovia, Santander, Santillana del Mar, Oviedo, Santiago di Compostela, Lisbon and the region of Oporto

Traveling along the scenic Country roads for a true immersion into the local cultures

Highlights

• See and experience both major cities and off-the-beaten path gems of Spain and Portugal

• A series of professionally organized and promoted formal concerts and masses in magnificent venues just for your choir

• Plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local culture

• Educational and entertaining sightseeing

• Quality hotels in good locations, great food, free time for individual explorations ...

Your Concert-Venues

• Catedral de la Almudena —Madrid

• Cabildo Catedral, Iglesia de la Vera Cruz, Monasterio del Parral —Segovia

• Catedral — Santander

• Catedral, Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, Santa María del Sar —Santiago di Compostela

• Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa, Basilica da Estrela, Igreja da São Vicente de Fora, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos —Lisbon

To consider (if adding a day): Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Catedral de Toledo

Itinerary

DAY 1
Overnight flight to Madrid

DAY 2
Bienvenidos to Spain
Transfer to Segovia for an orientation tour, check-in. Enjoy a welcome dinner with tapas and wine in an typical restaurante in the magnificent Old Town.

DAY 3
Sightseeing - Concerts
Tour includes Gran Via, view of Royal Palace, and Almudena Cathedral (recital). Free time for lunch and shopping. Return to Segovia. First concert opportunity this evening in a beautiful local church.

DAY 4
Santander
The lively and beautiful beach resort is your next stop. Walk the waterfront promenade, take a dip in the ocean - Enjoy!

DAY 5
Santillana del Mar – Concert
Drive along the “corniche road” bringing you to “the most beautiful village in Spain”. Return to Santander. Free time (optional visit to the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum) before dinner and your next concert.

DAY 6
Via Oviedo to Santiago di Compostela
Experience glorious vistas along the Costa Verde. Discover the ancient capital of Christian Spain, Oviedo, then continue to Santiago di Compostela for the next two nights.

DAY 7
Santiago - Mass & Concert
Guided sightseeing tour of Santiago di Compostela- one of Spain’s most remarkable cities. Choir mass perform twice today.

DAY 8
Flavors of the Portuguese North
Cross the border to Portugal and stop in the picturesque old fishing town of Viana do Castelo. Next, sample the famous port wines at Vila Nova de Gaia before heading to Oporto, the capital of the North.

DAY 9
Obidos/Batalha - Lisbon
Stop in either beautiful town en-route to Lisbon. You may opt for optional excursion to Fatima too. Guided city tour of Lisbon. Evening at leisure.

DAY 10
Lisbon at Leisure - Concert
Free time followed by your finale concert and a sumptuous farewell dinner.

DAY 11
Flight to USA or Extension

Post-Tour Extension
Incantato offers you various possibilities to extend your stay in Europe at reasonable cost. You may choose to remain in Portugal for a few days, head to Barcelona or the South of Spain or visit another country like Italy, France...

All Incantato Performance Tours are custom designed to perfectly match each choir's individual wishes and needs. The above itinerary is one of many samples. Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at info@incantatotours.com for more information and to request a complimentary proposal for your ensemble's upcoming international concert series. We are looking forward to working with and for you.

Central Europe - Sample Itinerary I

2010-04-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

Imperial Cities and Gems of

Central Europe

A 10-day Concert Tour to Prague, Vienna and Budapest
plus Cesky Krumlov, Göttweig, Melk, Dürnstein and Szentendre

Stepping off the beaten path for a true immersion into the local cultures

Highlights

• Professionally organized and promoted formal concerts in magnificent venues just for your choir

• Special Reception and performance at the Benedictine Monastery of Goettweig

• A special Kodaly workshop

• Plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local culture

• Educational and entertaining sightseeing

• Nice hotels in good locations, great food, free time for exploring...

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1 Monday, Date TBA

Overnight flight to Prague

DAY 2 Tuesday

Vítejtes (Welcome) to Central Europe

Orientation tour upon arrival in Prague en-route to your centrally located hotel. Welcome dinner in the historic Old Town.

DAY 3 Wednesday

Prague in-depth

The guided tour includes visits to the Royal Castle District, Charles‘ Bridge and Betramka Museum - the former Mozart Residence in Prague - where the choir may choose to give a recital. Remainder of the day can be spent at your own leisure.

DAY 4 Thursday

Prague at Leisure - Formal Concert

Explore the Czech Capital at your own pace prior to your choir's first formal concert in a beautiful local venue.

DAY 5 Friday

To Cesky Krumlov - Second Concert

Drive to South Bohemia and visit Cesky Krumlov‘s historic city centre (UNESCO World Heritage site). Your concert will be presented in either the cathedral, a baroque hall or within the castle and is followed by a medieval-style dinner in a medieval cellar restaurant.

DAY 6 Saturday

Linz - Göttweig

Cross the border into Austria and visit Linz - Home to Bruckner, Mozart... Continue along the Wachau Valley to the Benedictine Monastery of Goettweig. A special reception and private tour await your group followed by dinner in the panoramic gourmet restaurant. Evening rehearsal - possibly with a local orchestra.

DAY 7 Sunday

Melk - Dürnstein - Highlight Concert

Visit Melk Abbey and the picturesque town of Dürnstein today prior to presenting a highlight concert at the magnificent Stiftskirche of Göttweig.

DAY 8 Monday

Vienna Sightseeing

"Willkommen in Wien": Your guided tour includes the city‘s highlights and visits to Schubert‘s birthplace and the Mozart Museum. Possibility to attend an opera or concert that evening.

DAY 9 Tuesday

Vienna at leisure - High Mass or Concert at Stephansdom

Your choir may choose to sing High Mass and/or give a formal concert at Stephansdom. Optional guided visit to Schoenbrunn Palace in the afternoon followed by a traditional „Heurigen"-Winegarden-Dinner in Grinzing with the possibility to visit Beethoven‘s house.

DAY 10 Wednesday

Budapest Sightseeing

Only a few hours away lies the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. Upon arrival, embark on a panoramic sightseeing tour of Budapest ending in the Castle District. Optional visit to Liszt-Museum. Evening at leisure.

DAY 11 Thursday

Excursion to Szentendre - Final Concert

Visit the nearby artist colony of Szentendre this morning. Afternoon at leisure in Budapest. Your choir's Central European Performance Tour will conclude with another highlight concert at a beautiful venue in Budapest followed by a fun farewell dinner.

DAY 12 Friday

Flight to USA or Embark on an Extension

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Los Angeles or continue on an extension tour.

Post-Tour Extension

Incantato offers you various possibilities to extend your stay in Europe at reasonable cost. You may choose to remain in Hungary for a few days, visit another neighboring country or head to Germany, Croatia...

All Incantato Performance Tours are custom designed to perfectly match each choir's individual wishes and needs. The above itinerary is one of many samples. Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at info@incantatotours.com for more information and to request a complimentary proposal for your ensemble's upcoming international concert series. We are looking forward to working with and for you.

ESSENTIAL ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES

2010-04-08T13:59:00.001-07:00

When asked by CondéNast Traveller: “Are there similarities between music and travel”, Yo-Yo Ma, the virtuoso cellist replied: “Music is ephemeral. You can’t hold on to it, but at the same time the content is all about the value of life. One way of understanding people is to understand their music. Similarly, to get inside a place, you’ve got to not only know a place as a physical space but also get inside the people’s minds. Traveling gives you that kind of insight.”

Incantato specializes in performance tours to Europe because we believe in doing what we know best and we enjoy working with choirs. We care about your upcoming performance tour and we can help you take the necessary steps to get there. By combining excellent travel, concert organizers and a professional marketing team with professional musicians and music educators as part of our full-time staff and advisory team, we set ourselves apart from our competitors.

Our concert managers continuously strive to develop and foster relationships with fellow organizers, musicians and music fans to ensure that every group travelling with us to Europe will be warmly welcomed by an appreciative audience and has the opportunity to perform in just the right venue. The list of Incantato’s cooperations with churches, classic venues and concerts halls and even exotic venues like amphitheatres, composer’s birthplaces, castles and monasteries is long and still growing. We look forward to talking with you and hearing about your hopes and expectations for your next journey.

Incantato’s experienced Performance Tour Consultants have developed insider knowledge and important contacts. They are specialists in the art of performance travel and they are your travel advocates, working for your benefit. We are looking forward to getting to know you and your choir, and to making suggestions compatible with your ideas for a perfect tour. You will always work with the same expert consultant who has extensive knowledge of the festival, the destinations and the venues, with whom also respects your budget. Your personal Incantato Performance Tour Consultant is available before, during and after your journey to handle any issues that may arise.

Here are a few sample Incantato tour concepts to spark your interest. All our itineraries feature world-class venues, in-depth sightseeing and plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local culture to provide your choir with what we promote most of all: Essential Artistic Experiences!

“Bellissima Italia” – featuring performances, cultural exchanges and sightseeing in Rome and Assisi, Florence and Lucca, Venice and Padova

“Gems of Central Europe” – see Vienna, Prague and Budapest, perform in Stefansdom, St. Vitus Cathedral and either Matyas Templom or St. Stephen’s Basilica, in combination with off-the-beaten path destinations like the Benedictine Monastery of Goettweig, Cesky Krumlov and Szentendre.

“Harry Potter Concert Tour” – starting from platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station in London and leading you across mysterious paths to ancient castles, mystical forests to the “Hogwarts School”. This themed itinerary includes performances in major cathedrals, palaces and even a medieval fortress.

Want to know more, inquire about the many European destinations we serve or request a custom itinerary? Then please contact info@incantatotours.com to speak to your personal Incantato Performance Tour Consultant.

Although we are completely booked for 2012 and have started to waitlist interested choirs, bands and orchestra for 2013, it is never too early to begin planning your performance tours for 2014 and beyond!

Incantato Performance Tours

Incantato Concert Impressions from 2011: See and hear our fine choirs perform in magnificent venues across Europe

Endorsements For Incantato Tours & Concert

Croatia, Slovenia & Austria

A 13-day Concert Tour to Dubrovnik, Mali Ston, Vodice, Sibenic, Zadar, the Islands of Prvic, Zlarin & Pag, Opatija,Llubljana, Lake Bled, Göttweig and Dürnstein

Sample Itinerary

Italian Highlights - Sample Itinerary

A 10-day Concert Tour to Milan, Venice, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi & Rome

featuring a special Private Visit to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

Sample Itinerary

Incantato Team

Experts in the Art of Performance Tours

Gems of Spain & Portugal

True gems and natural wonders of

An 11-day Concert Tour to Madrid, Segovia, Santander, Santillana del Mar, Oviedo, Santiago di Compostela, Lisbon and the region of Oporto

Traveling along the scenic Country roads for a true immersion into the local cultures

Central Europe - Sample Itinerary I

Imperial Cities and Gems of

A 10-day Concert Tour to Prague, Vienna and Budapestplus Cesky Krumlov, Göttweig, Melk, Dürnstein and Szentendre

Stepping off the beaten path for a true immersion into the local cultures

ESSENTIAL ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES

A 13-day Concert Tour to Dubrovnik, Mali Ston, Vodice, Sibenic, Zadar, the Islands of Prvic, Zlarin & Pag, Opatija,
Llubljana, Lake Bled, Göttweig and Dürnstein

A 10-day Concert Tour to Prague, Vienna and Budapest
plus Cesky Krumlov, Göttweig, Melk, Dürnstein and Szentendre