Istria is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Mediterranean Sea. History, culture, tradition and sunshine combine seamlessly offering a perfect background for our Choir Festival “Cantate Croatia”. Here, in one of the oldest cities in Europe, choirs will be able to sing in ancient churches, the Roman Amphitheatre and the local Theatre, to name but a few. The ambiance of Pula and the warm welcome of its people will overcome visitors.

The concerts scheduled in the programme will bring together choirs from different nationalities in a joint celebration of choral music.

Coming to Istria is easy: you can fly to Pula, Ljublijana, Zagreb, Trieste or Venice (and enjoy the added experience of reaching Rovinj by speedboat!)

You can combine this festival with a stay in Venice or Trieste or you can visit some other famous towns of Croatia like Zadar and Dubrovnik.

BASIC PROGRAMME

• FRIDAY: Arrive at the Hotel in the afternoon. Accommodation and dinner. After dinner, stroll the typical streets of Pula and discover the city.

•  
• SATURDAY: Breakfast at the Hotel; meet your guide for a city tour and a welcome cocktail offered by the festival organizers. In the evening, dinner at the Hotel. After dinner, you will join other choirs for a Friendship Concert, either in the open air in the city square or local church.

•  
• SUNDAY: Breakfast at the Hotel. Day at leisure. In the afternoon you will be able to rehearse at the hotel for your
  evening concert. Transfer to the Farewell Concert. Dinner
  at the hotel or (optionally at extra cost), farewell dinner with music and song with other participating choirs.
  
  MONDAY: Breakfast at the Hotel. Departure.

NOTE:


The final schedule of concerts, excursions etc., may differ
from this preliminary itinerary.
On request a personalised extended programme
can be made for your group.

Pls. click here for additional information:

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Dates 2016:

25-27 November
2-4 December

9-11 December

16-18 Dec

Dates 2017:

November-December

Salzburg is famous worldwide for being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for its extraordinary beauty and as a cultural city par excellence working as the scene of many events.  In 1997 UNESCO declared all its historic center  a "World Cultural Heritage" based on its beautiful architecture, the uniformity and its many monuments worthy of protection. Salzburg is the regional capital of the same name with an unbeatable geographical position: right in the centre of Austria. The city has 147,000 inhabitants and is home to several worldwide offices of the material and religious world.
"Salzburg is always beautiful but it is particularly beautiful as you look at it”  as the Austrian poet Hermann Bahr put it. But it is surely  in the Advent period when the city has a special appeal and a very romantic atmosphere.

PROGRAMME

FRIDAY
Arrival, room assignments. Meet the guide at the reception and departure for half day guided tour of the city of Salzburg (entrance fees to monuments not included). Free lunch. Afternoon scheduled concert at the Christmas market in front of the Cathedral or the Castle of Hellbrunn.  After the concert, return to hotel and prepare for the evening Advent Friendship concert.
Concert with a local choir in the city of Salzburg or surroundings. After the concert mulled wine (Glühwein) and Christmas treats will be provided. Return to hotel. Dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant. Accommodation.

SATURDAY
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for individual visits, sightseeing or shopping. Free lunch.
In the afternoon, preparing for the Closing Concert with all choirs.  After the concert, dinner with all participating choirs. Return to your hotel.

SUNDAY
Breakfast at hotel and departure of choirs to their place of origin or (by special request)  participation in a Sunday Mass in a church in Salzburg, followed by their  return trip.

NOTE: Details of the programme and general information will be provided individually to each choir. The program must meet the final prerequisites of the organization.

BASIC PROGRAM CONSISTS OF:
- 2 nights in a 3-star *** hotel in Salzburg and surrounding areas with accommodation in double, triple or single rooms, all with bath / shower and toilet.
- 2 breakfasts buffet
- 2 dinners at the hotel with a 3-course menu  (excluding drinks)
- 1 lunch in a restaurant with other choirs with 3-course meal (drinks not included)
- Mulled wine (Glühwein) after the Friendship Concert
- Organization of 2/3 concerts
- 1 half day guide service in Salzburg (entrance fees not included)
- English speaking assistance during concerts
- Local sdvertising of events
- 1 person free of  charge for every 21 paying (No. 22 is free)

AVAILABLE DATES  (day program in Salzburg): As above.
Possibility to customize the trip around the basic program.

YOUR TRIP TO SALZBURG - POSSIBILITIES
a) By plane from major cities is the most convenient way  allowing better use of available time. We can take care of your bookings and local transport in Salzburg. Price of local transportation  (to move to the various programmed activities) will be quoted on request.

b) By Bus from anywhere. If you have more days available, this means of transport would allow you to do some sightseeing en route. We can quote you the price of bus transportation.

Request additional iformation here

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Dates 2016: 9-12 June
Dates 2017: June

EVENT PROFILE
Tuscany, like a fine wine, has been some time in the making...
From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces. In Tuscany the past and present live together in harmony.

Visitors come to Tuscany for a variety of reasons. Many come in search of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary countryside. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine. There's plenty to see and do in Tuscany, the difficulty is really where to start. Indeed, most visitors take to Florence, Siena and Pisa. But equally interesting are the so-called Città di art, Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano and Lucca, and many others. The more
 you get to know the region, the more extraordinary Tuscany
becomes. Music Contact International - Music and Friends,
is inviting choirs to sing in Tuscany –an environment second to none.

Music Contact International, has developed a unique
program for choirs which will allow them, in just a few days,
to explore this incredible region of Italy, get to know Italian
choirs and sing in extremely beautiful historical settings.
For cultivating the musical culture not only contributes
to increasing the artistic heritage of people but also to
the construction of social fabric  bonding communities through
their social experiences. Tuscany is the perfect setting
for this international choral festival.

Basic programme:

Friday:    Arrive at night in a hotel in Florence or the surrounding area. Accommodation. Welcome cocktail. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.

Saturday:     Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a guided tour of Florence, approx., 3 hours - long. Lunch at the hotel or restaurant. Free afternoon and return to hotel.
Preparation for the Friendship Concert. Dinner.
Transfer to the Concert in Florence or surrounding area
to meet the host choir and sing in a local theater or church.
After the concert, refreshments will be served
(mainly wine and cake) to all participants.
Dinner and accommodation.

Sunday:     After breakfast, depart for a guided tour
of Siena approx., 2 hours. Lunch. Return to the hotel and
prepare for the final concert. Transfer of all participating
choirs for the last concert in a theater in Florence or
its outskirts. After the show back to the hotel. Dinner
and overnight.

Monday:    Breakfast at the hotel and departure.

Note: the days of visits to Florence and Siena,
could be reversed. Please feel free to request an
extension of your stay in Italy. This would allow you
to know more about this wonderful country.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Open to all choirs

Event profile
The Festival takes place in Paris-Ille de France during the month of January inaugurating the musical season with a series of concerts in churches, concert halls and other institutions while creating opportunities for French and foreign choirs to meet and fraternize.

The highlight of the Festival takes place in a stunning evening of music in the church of La Madeleine which gives its name to the surrounding neighborhood, next to the St.Honore Faubourg and the Grand Boulevards. In keeping with the wishes of the architect, the church is a perfect setting for large events. This is an international spiritual center which also plays an important role in Parisian cultural life, especially in the music world. Its impressive structure contributes to the great reputation of La Madeleine as an excellent concert hall. In fact, famous musicians such as Gabriel Fauré and Camille Saint-Saens, played the organ here.  Concerts at La Madeleine are well known and appreciated. Musicians from around the world gather here to offer their concerts.

It is at La Madeleine where all choirs participating in the event will gather and contribute to the festival closing event with their best songs, first individually and then all together. These are moments of deep emotion in the minds of all.

Presented: Anually in November and December,

during Advent.

Event profile

By invitation of the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Vienna, Austria, choirs from all over the world sing in Vienna during the Advent season.

Visit Schloss Schonbrunn, which was
once the home of Maria Theresa and the summer 

residence of the Hapsburg family.

This is an invitational festival open to all choral types.