British Flair!
A Week in London with Vassar Alums

Join Vassar Alums for a musical journey to London next spring. London is one of Europe’s great musical capitals, and throughout its long and illustrious history it has been a magnet for fine musical artists, instrument makers and innovators, and composers.

We will have the opportunity to hear two of the world’s great orchestras in London’s Barbican’s Centre, a thriving hub for the performing arts in an extraordinary architectural complex that brought a section of London ruined by war back to vigorous life. We will hear the London Symphony Orchestra perform Shostakovich on one evening, and the visiting Boston Symphony Orchestra play Beethoven and Stravinsky on another with superstar pianist Lang Lang as soloist.

A musical excursion to London would not be complete without a visit to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Located in the very heart of London, Covent Garden’s theatres have witnessed the plays of David Garrick and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the premieres of Handel’s operas and oratorios, and the early comic sketches of Monty Python. We’ll be treated to a production of Puccini’s Il trittico, with celebrated basso Bryn Terfel as Gianni Schicchi.

One of the glories of British culture is its choral singing, and we’ve been invited to a private exploration of Anglican choral traditions with Jeremy Summerly, one of England’s most important choral conductors. We will also make a day excursion to Oxford and experience the beauty of a traditional choral evensong in Christ Church Cathedral. Other visits will find us tracing the footsteps of Purcell, Handel, and many other famous musicians (yes, both Mozart and Jimi Hendrix spent extended periods in London!), and we will manage to fit in superb art collections, excellent restaurants, and an authentic high tea as well! I believe we can also trust that in March we will find quite a few English gardens beginning to bloom. I’ve learned from previous experience that great music and art, combined with fine food and wine, and the intelligent, lively conversation of Vassar alums, adds up to a simply terrific travel adventure. Please join us next March!

Kathryn Libin,
Mary Conover Mellon Professor of Music