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Musical Russia 2023

SEASON 2024

17 June – 23 June
24 June – 30 June
01 July – 07 July
08 July – 14 July
15 July – 21 July
22 July – 28 July
29 July – 04 Aug
05 Aug – 11 Aug
12 Aug – 18 Aug
19 Aug – 25 Aug
26 Aug – 01 Sept
02 Sept – 08 Sept
09 Sept – 15 Sept

Our Musical Russia tour is prepared with a truly exclusive approach combining music and travel and offer the possibility to add special activities and additional elements from different fiends of music to the classical travel: short workshops for learning to play a musical instrument typical of the country or to make a musical instrument, local dance instruction workshop, meetings with dancers and musicians, visits to private concerts and the musical theatres backstage visits etc.
We want to show your clients Russia from the point of view of various arts and this tour is one of the brightest examples of our programs within the series "Art of Russia".
The program is preliminary. The organizers reserve the right to replace the excursion blocks with similar ones, without changing main waypoints.

7 days / 6 nights

Day Place Program
1

Moscow

Meeting at the airport. Transfer from the airport / railway station to the hotel. Check in. Evening bus sightseeing tour of Moscow. Optional: Dinner at the hotel.
2

Moscow

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the Museum of bells. Free time for lunch (lunch is not included). A visit to the rehearsal for the National Show of Russia “Kostroma” with master class in folk dances. Evening performance National show of Russia “Kostroma” in the theatre “Russian Song”. Transfer to the hotel. Optional: Dinner at the hotel.
3

Suzdal

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Suzdal (~ 250 km). Lunch at a household farm near Suzdal. Farm tour, show and story about animals. Arrival in Suzdal. Sightseeing tour of Suzdal. Meeting with the guslar. Transfer to the hotel in Moscow. Optional: Dinner at the hotel.
4

Saint Petersburg

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out. Transfer to the railway station. “Sapsan” morning train to Saint-Petersburg (economy class) – 4 hr approx. Transfer from the railway station to the hotel. Check in. Free time for rest and independent lunch. Bus sightseeing tour of Saint-Peterburg. Optional: Dinner at the hotel.
5

Saint Petersburg

Breakfast at the hotel. 1st group (up to 6 pax): Excursion The art of creating violin. Meeting with the Master. 2nd group (up to 6 pax): Excursion One day from the life of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. Time for lunch (lunch is not included). 1st group (up to 6 pax): Excursion One day from the life of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. 2nd group (up to 6 pax): Excursion The art of creating violin. Meeting with the Master. Return to the hotel. Free time. Optional (depending on the theatre playbill during the theatrical season – usually from September to June): Evening performance in The Mariinsky or Mikhailovsky or Aleksandrinsky Theatre (opera or ballet). Optional: Dinner at the hotel.
6

Saint Petersburg

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion “Behind the scenes of the Mikhailovsky theater”. Visit to the Museum of music in Sheremetev Palace. Time for lunch (lunch is not included). Private exclusive concert “Music salon in the Palace” + master class “Conduct me”* *This exclusive concert can be initially changed to a standard concert to optimize the total cost. Transfer to the hotel. Optional: Dinner at the hotel.
7

Saint Petersburg

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out. Transfer to the airport / railway station.

Program

Moscow

1 Day

Arrival in Moscow. Transfer from the airport / railway station to the hotel. Check in.

Evening bus city tour of Moscow.

In the city, sounds surround us everywhere, they are chaotic, heterogeneous and resemble the tuning of a Symphony orchestra before a concert. Today Beauty Moscow, luxurious and artistic, old and modern, invites you to a date and promises that you will remember its sounds and colors for a lifetime. The guests of the capital are waiting for the famous high red brick walls of the Kremlin, the charming beauty of the Alexander Garden, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the amazing Bolshoi Theatre. Guests will touch the past in memory of the Great Patriotic War at the Memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill, take a look at the future from the present at the Moscow City International Business Center. And from the observation deck on the Sparrow Hills, Moscow will open to travelers in all its essence. Moscow carefully preserved in its image all the historical epochs of the development of culture, and it is indisputably considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Optional: Dinner at the hotel.

Moscow

2 Day

Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion to the Museum of bells.

Bell ringing...This sound can be heard in many different places: outside the walls of an ancient monastery, high in the mountains at the entrance to a Buddhist temple, and on the square of the European city near the town hall. The Orthodox inhabitants of Russia spent their entire lives under the voice of the bell. On great holidays, the sound of the bell was solemn and joyful. Announcing invasions, riots, and fires, the bell's voice sounded like an alarm bell or alarm bell. During epidemics, crop failures, and other disasters, the bells were rung continuously. And on the last earth journey, a person was accompanied by a ringing bell. Moscow has always been famous for its red bells – the most beautiful and euphonious. They used to say this proverb: “eat Bread and salt, listen to the red bell of mother Moscow”. We invite you to take a tour with a master class in the Museum of Orthodox ringing, located in the heart of Moscow.

Free time for lunch (lunch is not included).

A visit to the rehearsal for the National Show of Russia “Kostroma” with master class in folk dances.

The National Show of Russia “Kostroma” presents the history of a multinational state in a play about Great Russia and the life of its peoples. Through the brilliant stage incarnations, one can see the entry of Christianity into Russia, the era of tsarist and pre-revolutionary Russia, the first manned flight into space and the famous Russian ballet. As if a view from a window, the country expanses from the Caucasus Mountains to the Asian steppes, the Arctic Ocean and the Black Sea, the beauty – the Volga River and the mighty Yenisei. Together with them, people, their way of life, religions and traditions are changing. 50 artists on stage, masterly technique, excellent acting, 17 stage reincarnations, 10 tons of cargo, 600 unique costumes, 300 items of props, 7 changes of scenery - this is a fabulous reality of the Russian national dance show “Kostroma”, which captivates audiences of all ages and nationalities. And before the show itself, together with the staff of the Kostroma National Show, we have prepared a real exclusive for you - you can see the process of preparing the performance - an hour-long rehearsal with the commentaries of the directors, and also take part in a master class in Russian folk dance with elements of Russian costume.

Evening performance National show of Russia “Kostroma” in the theatre “Russian Song”.

Transfer to the hotel.

Optional: Dinner at the hotel.

Suzdal

3 Day

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Suzdal (~ 250 km).

Lunch at a household farm. Farm tour.

You will visit a household farm, located in the village near Suzdal. Lunch with the family with home-made dishes made from seasonal farm products. After lunch, a short tour of the farm, showing and telling about animals (chickens, geese, ducks, sheep, goats, cows, horses, etc.).

Arrival in Suzdal. Sightseeing tour of Suzdal.

In Suzdal everything is like on a postcard. People come here to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of an old Russian city, ideally blended with the classic Russian landscape with vast fields, river bends and hills. Suzdal counting more than 200 historical monuments, many of which are UNESCO Heritage sites. Visit Trading Rows and the Trading square, the Suzdal Kremlin, the Savior monastery of St. Euthymius and listen to the concert of church bell music, visit the museum of wooden architecture with the buildings of the 17-19th century, enjoy the panorama of the city from the observation platform Ilyinsky lug.

Meeting with the guslar.

The gusli is a traditional Russian folk musical instrument that has been played in Russia since time immemorial. It was mentioned not only in fairy tales and epics, but also in other types of folk art, such as songs and sayings, and it always made you dance tirelessly. Today you will have a very interesting meeting with guslar. You will hear with your own ears the performance of songs and epics, playing the harp, and between songs the guslar will tell you about the instrument itself and its history.

Return to the hotel in Moscow. Optional: Dinner at the hotel.

Saint Petersburg

4 Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.

Transfer to the railway station. “Sapsan” morning train to Saint-Petersburg (economy class).

Transfer railway station – hotel. Check in. Free time for rest and independent lunch.

Bus city tour of Saint-Peterburg.

Cozy aristocratic Moscow gave way to solemn Saint-Petersburg. It takes only 4 h by train and you will see absolutely different scenes. On Saint-Petersburg city tour you will see: Nevsky Prospekt, the main street in Saint-Petersburg; Stroganov Palace; Beloselskih-Belozerskih Palace; Kazan Cathedral, named after “miracle-making” icon of our Lady of Kazan; the building of our famous “Dom Knigi” book store; the wonderful view down by Griboedova canal to the picturesque Russian-style Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood; the largest historical department store in the city – “Gostiny Dvor”; the Russian National Library (the second largest branch in the country); an impressive monument to Catherine the Great and the Anichkov Bridge, adorned with 4 striking equestrian statues (beautiful Klodt's horses).The Palace Square is the most grandiose among the squares of the city and a good example of how different styles can be combined in the most elaborate way. The General Stuff Headquarters Building and State Hermitage can be found here. The facade of the Admiralty and the Alexander Garden that is in front of it, link the Palace Square to the Senate Square. In the center of the square there stands an impressive monument to the founder of Saint-Petersburg – Peter the Great – known as Bronze Horseman.

Optional: Dinner at the hotel.

Saint Petersburg

5 Day

Breakfast at the hotel.

1st group (up to 6 pax): Excursion The art of creating violin. Meeting with the Master.

We invite you to look into the magic world of creating a violin and personally get acquainted with the violin maker who creates and restores the violins of the virtuosos of the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky theaters. The master will reveal the secrets of his craft and demonstrate a collection of musical instruments created by themselves. In a warm and relaxed atmosphere, during a conversation over a cup of tea, guests will be able to learn the various curious nuances of the process of creating violin, viola and cello. Master will share interesting stories from his experience, tell you what different techniques of restoration of violins of famous world masters (Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, etc.). Among the participants of the meeting will be artists who perform at the most famous scenes of the Cultural capital of Russia. A pleasant end of the meeting will be a small chamber concert.

2nd group (up to 6 pax): Excursion One day from the life of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.

We invite you to visit the higher musical educational institution of Saint-Petersburg, the first and oldest conservatory in Russia. You can look behind the closed doors and see one day from the life of the conservatory: to visit the classrooms (orchestra classes, the class of folk instruments, the choral class), the organ hall, to get to the library, where a huge number of historical and collector's publications are stored. The guests of the Conservatory will have an opportunity to see how the music school of Russia is organized, which keeps a lot of traditions, secrets from the time of P.I. Tchaikovsky, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, S.V. Rachmaninov, S.S. Prokofiev, A.G. Rubinstein and other prominent figures of the Russian school of classical music.

Time for lunch (lunch is not included).

1st group (up to 6 pax): Excursion One day from the life of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.

2nd group (up to 6 pax): Excursion The art of creating violin. Meeting with the Master.

Return to the hotel. Free time.

Optional (depending on the theater playbill during the theatrical season - usually from September to June): Evening performance in The Mariinsky or Mikhailovsky or Aleksandrinsky Theatre (opera or ballet).

Optional: Dinner at the hotel.

Saint Petersburg

6 Day

Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion “Behind the scenes of the Mikhailovsky theater”.

The new educational project “Walk through the Mikhailovsky Theater” will give you a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the many-sided history of the theater, listen to the fascinating experience of a specialist about the layout of the building and its legendary past, see the cozy interiors of the most charming imperial theater in the Northern capital and admire the luxurious auditorium right from the Tsar's box.

Visit to the Museum of music in Sheremetev Palace.

The Sheremetev Palace is one of the most interesting sights of Saint-Petersburg, almost the same age as the city. Within the walls of a magnificent mansion, the Museum of Music found its home, which is based on the largest collection of musical instruments in Russia from around the world. Among the exhibits: a violin, owned by Mikhail Glinka, a collection of musical instruments of the imperial court, a violin by the Italian master Francesco Stradivarius and other precious rarities.

Time for lunch (lunch is not included).

Private exclusive concert “Music salon in the Palace” + master class “Conduct me”.

This is an exclusive private concert “Music salon in the Palace” with a welcome part, a tour and a light concert. A master class in which any person can discover the talent of the Maestro! Anyone will have the opportunity to conduct an orchestra of musicians from leading theaters of Saint-Petersburg under the guidance of a professional conductor. “Conducting” usually takes about 20 minutes, during which time about 7-10 people manage to “lead” the orchestra, which is quite enough to make cool photos and videos, and is also ideal in terms of interactivity and emotional uplift.

**This exclusive concert can be initially changed to a standard concert to optimize the total cost.

Transfer to the hotel.

Optional: Dinner at the hotel.

Saint Petersburg

7 Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.

Transfer to the airport / railway station,

End of the tour.

*Should any evens of International or Federal importance coincide with the dates of the tours (such as Economic and Legal forums in Saint-Petersburg etc.), we reserve the right to review the rates and /or offer a non-central hotel as a substitute.
**If restrictions are imposed on the entrance to museums for a certain number of people, we can serve group requests with the division of groups into smaller ones, with the predominant use of the same transport (or with a different number and capacity of transport), but with a large number of guides.
***Some museums or excursions can be excluded from the program if circumstances beyond the control of the tour operator require it (time constraints due to covid-19 / bans on the operation of facilities). At the same time, as far as possible, we will offer an alternative replacement.
Our prices include:
  • Double accommodation in Moscow in 4* hotel (Holiday Inn Tagansky / Novotel Moscow Center or similar)
  • Double accommodation in Saint-Petersburg in 4* hotel (Holiday inn Moskovskye Vorota / Park Inn by Radisson Nevsky or similar)
  • Breakfast in hotels
  • Lunch on Day 3
  • Luggage handling in hotels
  • “Sapsan” speed train from Moscow to Saint-Petersburg (economy class)
  • Time for lunches per program
  • All transport and transfer services per program
  • Excursion program with English / French / German / Italian / Spanish speaking local guides
  • Entrance fees per program
  • Visa support letter
Supplementary (for prebooking only):
  • Dinner at hotel in Moscow
  • Dinner at hotel in SPB
  • Single supplement in hotels
  • Accommodation and program before or after tour
  • Non obligatory Insurance of medical, medical transport and other expenses
  • Non obligatory Accident insurance

Prices

Please contact us at sales@volgabalt.com for Price List.

* If restrictions are imposed on the entrance to museums for a certain number of people, we can serve group requests with the division of groups into smaller ones, with the predominant use of the same transport (or with a different number and capacity of transport), but with a large number of guides.

** Some museums or excursions can be excluded from the program if circumstances beyond the control of the tour operator require it (time constraints due to covid-19 / bans on the operation of facilities). At the same time, as far as possible, we will offer an alternative replacement.

For reservations please contact us at sales@volgabalt.com