NESSUN DORMA, HABANERA & MORE - MUSIC LOVERS REJOICE!

Experience the Magic of Opera with Topflight as the World-Famous Verona Opera Festival lifts its curtains
June 18th until August 29th

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

From June 18th until August 29th, the magnificent world famous Verona Opera takes place in the beautifully restored 3rd Century Roman amphitheatre. No trip to the Lake Garda or Verona region is complete without a visit to the opera and Topflight are delighted to organise inclusive excursion packages for guests, offering the best of the 2010 season.

From the most passionate lovers of classical music to the tourist who visits the opera out of curiosity, the Festival creates a meeting point for all and beautifully combines the music, the scenery and the history of the amphitheatre.  With a capacity of 22,000, the amphitheatre is the largest of its kind in the world and in total the season attracts in excess of 500,000 spectators, who come to see some of Opera’s best loved works and great voices from Italy, the United States, Bulgaria, France and Russia accompanied by a chorus of 180 accomplished singers and up to 120 orchestra players.

The Verona Opera Festival is in its 88th year and this year is subtitled ‘Franco Zeffirelli and the Arena’ –the first time ever in which the Festival is completely dedicated to one unique artist and it will be the first time that such a tribute has been made to Zeffirelli.

Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence and throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s he worked as assistant to directors like Rossellini and Visconti, the latter who asked  Zeffirelli to work as a scenographer on his legendary sets beginning with the one for A Streetcar Named Desire by T Williams. Zeffirelli has had a lot of experience in different fields including theatre, cinema, opera, television and his work has always received outstanding success in all of these sectors.

The director made his debut at the Verona Festival with Carmen’s Bizet in 1995. He directed Il Trovatore in 2001, Aida in 2002, Madam Butterfly in 2004 and Aida, Carmen and Madam Butterfly all in 2006.
For the 88th Festival, all the performances scheduled will be under Zeffirelli’s stage direction.

The 88th Festival Programme includes:

•   Turandot by Giacomo Puccini – June 18th, July 1st, 16th, 24th, 30th, August 13th and 20th
•   Aida by Giuseppe Verdi – June 19th, 25th, July 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 22nd, 25th, 27th and 31st
•   Madam Butterfly by Giacommo Puccini – June 26th, July 2nd, 9th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 28th and August 6th
•   Carmen by Georges Bizet – July 10th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, 29th, August 12th, 18th, 21st, 24th and 27th
•   Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi – August 7th, 11th, 14th, 19th, 25th and 28th

Excursions can be arranged for guests staying in Verona and an overnight trip for those travelling from Lake Garda. Topflight will organise your Opera ticket and coach transfers to and from your resort. The available excursions include:

•   Unnumbered stone-step seating for €79pp
•   Numbered stone-step seating for €175pp

So why not get away to the resort of Lake Garda or for a short city break this summer with Topflight with direct flights to Verona from Dublin, Cork and Belfast Airports and enjoy this magnificent experience.

Depart June 19th to the 3* Hotel Eden in Torbole, including breakfast, for €439pps.

Depart June 19th to 4* Hotel Forte Charme in Torbole for €599pps, including breakfast. Its hilltop position commands superb views over Torbole and Lake Garda.

Depart June 19th & stay at 4* Hotel Majestic Palace in Malcesine for €759pps in a deluxe room, half board, set in the middle of a vast olive grove and only a mere 30 minutes away from an evening at the opera.

A city break to Verona starts from €659pp for 3 nights in the 3* Hotel Mastino including breakfast travelling in June, July or August.

For those travelling to Lake Garda this summer, the Verona Opera is truly an experience not to be missed and for anybody who loves music, the opportunity to sit under the stars in this amazing amphitheatre, listening to some of the greatest voices and orchestras in the world is a rare treat.

All prices include direct charter flights, transfers, accommodation and rep services and do not include taxes and charges. Check out www.topflight.ie for details of all special offers. To order a brochure or for more information please call Topflight on 00-353-1-2401700 or visit www.topflight.ie

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PRESS NOTE: Pictures are available for Lake Garda resorts, Verona Opera and Hotels

About Topflight

Topflight is a wholly Irish owned company run and owned by Tony Collins, Managing Director and Carmel O’Reilly, Director. It is 100% bonded & secure, with a head office in Dublin and a full team of summer reps – who are resort based.

Topflight is Ireland’s leading tour operator to Italy with a full compliment of programmes to Sicily, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, Liguria, Lido di Jesolo, Sorrento/Amalfi Coast including Capri and Ischia as well as Tuscany and the island of Sicily. Coach tours, Tour & Stay Options, Cruises and city breaks are also a key element– offering customers Topflight’s Complete Italy – from head to toe.

Topflight is also positioned strategically in the Irish market place as a provider of quality holidays at competitive prices to Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Costa del Sol, Majorca, Madeira, The Algarve Lisbon Coast and a wide selection of tours and cruises. That quality comes from a build up over many years of expert knowledge and experienced staff in Topflight’s chosen markets, as well as a superb resort service. Topflight enjoys a high level of repeat bookings with its clients, who can travel with confidence with Topflight, knowing that the company is secure and bonded as well as offering good value.

www.topflight.ie

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For further information, pics and interviews:

Aileen Eglington/Liz Bull
AE Consulting
Tel: 00 353 1 2847796
Email: aileen.eglington@aeconsult.ie; liz.bull@aeconsult.ie