The Aix-en-Provence
Opera Festival

• Unpack for a long-stay tour with 10 nights in the centre of Aix, just minutes from Festival venues

• Delight in a diverse program of 8 performances, including fully-staged operas and a solo recital

• Discover historic venues, including the courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace and the eighteenth-century Jeu de Paume Theatre, as well as the modern Grand Théâtre

• Traverse the charming streetscapes of Aix, the seat of the rulers of medieval Provence

• Follow in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne and other painters

• Explore historical Arles, and visit areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Luberon and the Calanques near Cassis

Friday 10 July – Performance #1

Venue: Théâtre Jeu de Paume
Program: Francesco Filidei, Accabadora (world premiere)
Performers: Lucie Leguay (musical director), Valentina Carrasco (stage direction), Noa Frenkel, Rachel Masclet and the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon

Saturday 11 July – Performance #2

Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: Béla Bartók, Le Château de Barbe-Bleue (Bluebeard’s Castle) in concert
Performers: Klaus Mäkelä (conductor), Irene Roberts, Gerald Finley, Orchestre de Paris

Sunday 12 July – Performance #3

Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: Richard Strauss, Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Lady Without a Shadow)
Performers: Barrie Kosky (director), Klaus Mäkelä (conductor), Michael Spyres, Nina Stemme, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Choeur et Orchestra de Paris

Monday 13 July – Performance #4

Venue: Conservatoire Darius Milhaud
Program: TBA
Performers: Michael Spyres (baritenor), Mathieu Pordoy (pianoforte)

Tuesday 14 July – Performance #5

Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: TBA
Performers: Sonya Yoncheva (soprano), Leonardo García Alarcón, Cappella Mediterranea

Wednesday 15 July – Performance #6
Venue: Théâtre de l’Archevêché
Program: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
Performers: Leonardo García Alarcón (conductor), Clément Cogitore (stage direction), Sabine Devieilhe, Ying Fang, Mauro Peter

Thursday 16 July – Performance #7

Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: Giuseppe Verdi, Les Vêpres siciliennes (The Sicilian Vespers) in concert
Performers: Daniele Rustioni (musical director), Karine Deshayes, John Osborn, Choeur et Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon

Saturday 18 July – Performance #8

Venue: Théâtre Jeu de Paume
Program: Hans Werner Henze, El Cimmarón (new production)
Performers: Elayce Ismail (stage direction), Eric Green (baritone), artists TBA

THURSDAY 09 JULY – ARRIVAL IN AIX (Canapés)

Group members arrive during the day. As well as private transfers, there are regular coach services from both Marseille airport and the Aix-en-Provence TGV station, which is located outside the town. In the early evening, meet your fellow tour participants, the tour leader and tour manager for drinks and canapés in the Aquabella Hotel.

FRIDAY 10 JULY – IN AIX – PERFORMANCE 1 (B, L)

This morning, a local guide orients us to the history and architecture of Aix. We stroll along the elegant Cours Mirabeau, often described as one of Europe’s most beautiful boulevards, appreciating the fine, aristocratic mansions and public spaces which adorn the city. After a welcome lunch in a local restaurant, the early afternoon is free to relax before this evening’s performance. Each year, the Festival presents at least one spectacular performance in an unusual venue such as the Théâtre de l’Archevêché or the Jeu de Paume, a bijoux Italian-style theatre that was originally constructed in the eighteenth century. We attend the world premiere of Francesco Filidei’s Accabadora here tonight. Afterwards, we discuss our impressions over drinks in our hotel.

Performance #1
Venue: Théâtre Jeu de Paume
Program: Francesco Filidei, Accabadora (world premiere)
Performers: Lucie Leguay (musical director), Valentina Carrasco (stage direction), Noa Frenkel, Rachel Masclet and the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon

SATURDAY 11 JULY – CÉZANNE & AIX – PERFORMANCE 2 (B, L)

This morning we venture a little way out of Aix to explore sites associated with Paul Cézanne. The artist’s strikingly original response to the countryside of Aix laid many of the foundations for Modernism, making Cézanne a revered figure. We visit the landscapes where he worked and painted. There will also be time for a visit to a Provençal winery to sample the delicious rosé, which is characteristic of the region, and to enjoy an informal lunch together. In the early evening, Clive gives a pre-performance talk in the hotel before we attend Le Château de Barbe-Bleue in concert at the Grand Théâtre. Afterwards, we share our impressions over drinks in the hotel bar.

Performance #2
Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: Béla Bartók, Le Château de Barbe-Bleue (Bluebeard’s Castle) in concert
Performers: Klaus Mäkelä (conductor), Irene Roberts, Gerald Finley, Orchestre de Paris

SUNDAY 12 JULY – HÔTEL DE CAUMONT – PERFORMANCE 3 (B, L)

This morning, we visit one of the most prestigious historic residences in Aix. The eighteenth-century Hôtel de Caumont, located just off Cours Mirabeau, is approached through a Cour d’Honneur and boasts more than 1,000 square metres of private gardens. Today, most of the building functions as an art gallery, hosting outstanding exhibitions of leading French artists, but you can also visit its beautiful salons or relax in the garden. We have lunch in a nearby restaurant after our visit. There is a pre-performance talk in our hotel later this afternoon, followed by a new production by Barrie Kosky of Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten at the Grand Théâtre.

Performance #3
Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: Richard Strauss, Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Lady Without a Shadow)
Performers: Barrie Kosky (director), Klaus Mäkelä (conductor), Michael Spyres, Nina Stemme, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Choeur et Orchestra de Paris

MONDAY 13 JULY – COASTAL PROVENCE – PERFORMANCE 4 (B, L)

Today’s excursion takes us to a pretty corner of the Mediterranean, just to the south of Aix. Nestled between France’s highest cliffs at Cap Canaille and the deep inlets of Les Calanques, the fishing village of Cassis has attracted artists and travellers for more than a century. After strolling through the village and enjoying a coffee at the port, we take a short cruise to three of the calanques, or creeks, to learn a little about their formation and history. After lunch together in a local restaurant, we drive to a series of high vantage points along the famous Route des Crêtes, where the views in all directions are sensational. There is time at leisure before an evening recital, with baritenor Michael Spyres joined by Mathieu Pordoy at the piano.

Performance #4
Venue: Conservatoire Darius Milhaud
Program:TBA
Performers: Michael Spyres (baritenor), Mathieu Pordoy (pianoforte)

TUESDAY 14 JULY – FREE TIME, BASTILLE DAY – PERFORMANCE 5 (B)

The day is then free to relax or to explore Aix, before we meet for a pre-performance talk in the hotel in the late afternoon. In the morning, there is the option to join your tour leader for a visit to the contemporary Granet XXE and Musée Granet. This evening we have another performance, as soprano Sonya Yoncheva performs with Leonardo García Alarcón at the podium with the Cappella Mediterranea, in the modern surrounds of the Grand Théâtre de Provence. There is the opportunity to discuss our impressions afterwards over drinks in the hotel bar.

Performance #5
Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: TB
Performers: Sonya Yoncheva (soprano), Leonardo García Alarcón, Cappella Mediterranea

WEDNESDAY 15 JULY – THE LUBERON – PERFORMANCE 6 (B, L)

Provence is justly famous for its beauty, a beguiling blend of wild landscapes, ancient villages and rolling fields. Today we travel to the pretty district of the Luberon, passing through Lourmarin, officially one of The Most Beautiful Villages of France, and Roussillon, famous for the rich red ochres of its soil. We enjoy lunch together before continuing to a nearby village, to enjoy a stroll and explore its cobbled streets, medieval church and tree-lined squares. Returning to Aix-en-Provence, the afternoon is at leisure before a new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute in the later evening.

Performance #6
Venue: Théâtre de l’Archevêché
Program: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
Performers: Leonardo García Alarcón (conductor), Clément Cogitore (stage direction), Sabine Devieilhe, Ying Fang, Mauro Peter

THURSDAY 16 JULY – CHÂTEAU LA COSTE – PERFORMANCE 7 (B, L)

This morning we head to a valley about half an hour’s drive north of Aix to visit Château La Coste. This extraordinary property is the vision of entrepreneur Paddy McKillen who, apart from growing and producing wine, has commissioned leading architects to create pavilions dotted around the estate, where paintings and sculptures by equally famous artists are displayed. On arrival, we tour pavilions by Richard Rogers, Oscar Niemeyer and Andy Goldsworthy, before lunch in the elegant Tadao Ando-designed restaurant, where we are surrounded by artworks by Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder and others. After lunch, we return to Aix for a talk in the hotel to brief us for tonight’s performance. There is the opportunity to share your impressions over a drink afterwards.

Performance #7
Venue: Grand Théâtre de Provence
Program: Giuseppe Verdi, Les Vêpres siciliennes (The Sicilian Vespers) in concert
Performers: Daniele Rustioni (musical director), Karine Deshayes, John Osborn, Choeur et Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon

FRIDAY 17 JULY – ARLES – OPTIONAL PERFORMANCE (B, L)

Many travellers regard Arles as Provence’s finest small city. Today we explore Arles’ Roman and Romanesque heritage, including the great amphitheatre and the church and cloister of Saint-Trophime. We also visit the Fondation Vincent van Gogh to see its special exhibition. After lunch together, there is some time to investigate a few of the city’s delightful boutiques. This evening is at leisure, although there is the option to attend a recital by American soprano Ailyn Pérez at the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud; contact us for more information about the recital and the option to purchase a ticket.

SATURDAY 18 JULY – FAREWELL, PERFORMANCE 8 (B, L)

The morning is at leisure, to pack or do any last-minute shopping, but includes a final pre-performance briefing in the hotel. We then enjoy a farewell lunch in a fine local restaurant before an afternoon at leisure ahead of our final performance at the Festival, a new production of Henze’s opera El Cimmarón in the intimate surrounds of the Jeu de Paume Theatre. We share a drink afterwards in our hotel bar, as we discuss our experiences of this year’s Festival.

Performance #8
Venue: Théâtre Jeu de Paume
Program: Hans Werner Henze, El Cimmarón (new production)
Performers: Elayce Ismail (stage direction), Eric Greene (baritone), artists TBA

SUNDAY 19 JULY – DEPARTURE (B)

The tour ends after breakfast in the hotel.

Hotel Aquabella, 4*, 10 nights
www.aquabella.fr/en

The Hotel Aquabella is the only substantial 4-star hotel with resort facilities located within the old city of Aix-en-Provence. It has large public areas, with open plan bars, lounges and dining areas. The modern rooms are well-proportioned, and bathrooms have a choice of bath or shower. The large swimming pool will be especially inviting in the afternoon heat.

The hotel is within an easy walk of most Festival venues, as well as being close to shops, cafés and restaurants.

• Best available tickets to 8 performances at the 2026 Aix-en-Provence Festival

• 10 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel

• All breakfasts, 8 lunches, dinners or suppers, plus welcome drinks and canapés, and drinks over post-performance debriefs

• Entry fees and tickets to sites as described in the itinerary

• All ground transport, guided tours and entrances, and tipping

• Talks by music educator Clive Paget throughout

• Services of an experienced Australian tour manager throughout

A deposit of $1,000pp at the time of booking is required to hold a place on the tour.

Once the final Festival program is released in late November 2025, we will send you our final itinerary with performance details.

You will have the option to retain your place, or to withdraw and receive a refund of your first deposit. Should you choose to retain your place, we will request a second deposit of $2,500pp, due within 10 business days of the confirmation of the final program.

We will invoice you for final payment, due 24 April 2026.

When you book on one of tours, we ask you to accept our terms and conditions. You can read our terms and conditions here.