PARIS TO BARCELONA
MAY 2025
ROBERT GAY
*** Preliminary Itinerary ***
Get more out of fine performances in modern and historic venues, in Paris, Bilbao, Madrid and Barcelona, together with expert music educator Robert Gay
OVERVIEW
Limelight Arts Travel is pleased to announce the return of a popular musical journey from France into Spain, combining the best of opera, music and dance in Paris, Bordeaux, Madrid and Barcelona with the distinctive art, architecture and gastronomy of Bilbao.
Enjoy 6-7 performances of opera, orchestral music and ballet in fine venues, including Paris’s Palais Garnier and new Philharmonie, Madrid’s Teatro Real and the Liceu in Barcelona, and discover the burgeoning cultural life of revitalised Bordeaux and Bilbao. Engaging pre-performance talks by expert music educator and tour leader Robert Gay ensure that you get the most out of the musical experience.
The performance program is complemented by select touring, with a day exploring the historic wine region outside Bordeaux, two nights in Bilbao to enjoy fully Frank Gehry’s stunning design for the Guggenheim, Madrid’s extraordinary artistic delights and exuberant Modernisme in Barcelona.
TOUR LEADER
Robert Gay has significant expertise as a music history educator and tour leader, having designed and led more than 100 tours to the great musical cities of Europe and North America.
Known for his popular music history courses, which have been offered at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education for more than 30 years, Robert’s musical expertise extends from the baroque period through to the great composers of the modern era.
Robert trained as a lyric baritone in London and Munich, and he was also President of the Sydney Schubert Society for many years. He has been a guest lecturer for the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS), and is regularly invited to present talks on opera and music history to organisations such as the Wagner Society NSW.
Highlights
Enjoy 6-7 performances of opera, orchestral music and dance in premier venues in France and Spain
Get the most out of the experience with pre-performance talks by tour leader Robert Gay
Discover World Heritage-listed Bordeaux, an elegant regional centre on the Garonne and a true gastronomic capital
Admire the scenery of the Atlantic coast, with its long sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages
Spend two nights in Bilbao, including a visit to Frank Gehry’s spectacular Guggenheim Museum
Understand Spanish history with an in-focus tour of Velazquez and Goya’s works in the Prado
Appreciate Gaudí’s architectural vision as Barcelona’s Sagrada Família nears completion
Questions?
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