Explore the Capital of Italy, which spans 28 centuries, a former Papal State and the Cradle of Modern Western Civilization. Visit Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, the Fountain of Trevi, the Coliseum, and the Vatican.

Visit the shining jewel of the Renaissance where chisels brought Michelangelo’s David to life! Spend a few days under the Tuscan sun exploring the medieval splendors among Florence’s rolling hills, followed by a breath-taking visit to the Chianti area.

Walk in Mozart’s steps at the St. Thomas Church in Verona where he graced its organ; then trace your steps like a gladiator to the City’s Roman Arena, the world’s largest open-air theater.

Enjoy an authentic Italian experience halfway between Venice and Verona and see some of Italy’s most important works of architecture and art - a city which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover the beauty of this unforgettable city where a profusion of domes and luminous mosaics await us. Visit St. Mark’s Square and the Accademia - a great way to cross centuries of Venetian history through wonderful paintings depicting ancient musical instruments.

Explore the city of Asiago, origin of Asiago cheese, and its breathtaking mountain view. The town was the site of a major battle between Austrian and Italian forces on the Alpine Front of World War I.

Participants may pay with checks or by credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). Credit card payments are subject to a 3% processing fee.

• Four - five performances of Verdi Requiem in major cities in the Veneto area
• Twelve nights lodging in 4-star hotels in Rome and Northern Italy (double occupancy)
• Two meals daily (half-board): breakfast and lunches or dinners, based on the tour itinerary
• Ground transportation throughout the tour (A/C coach and driver)
• Procurement of prestigious concert venues
• Professional orchestra
• Concert publicity & management
• English-speaking Tour managers
• Guided tours per tour itinerary in Rome, Florence, Venice, Verona, Vicenza, Asiago, and others.
• Entrance fees to sights, per tour itinerary
• Additional guided tours for travelling audience
• Traveling audience only: 3-day Florence, San Gimignano, Ferrara touring option

• Roundtrip airfare: Varna International will provide a group airfare quote (for 10 people or more), or individual airfare quotes, upon request. Tour participants who purchase their own airfare are responsible to secure and pay for their own airport transfers.
• Single occupancy: $100 per night, per person
• Travel insurance: Participants obtain their own travel insurance.
• Tips and gratuities on provided services / personnel: $15 per person, per day.
  *The tips and gratuities are collected with the final tour payment.
• Optional guided tours

This performance tour is open to individual choristers and choral ensembles. Partners, significant others, and non-performing travelers are welcome to join the festival tour.

Gregory Buchalter holds the title of Music Director of Varna International where he has conducted the Bulgarian premieres of Candide and Street Scene. He conducts regularly with Florida Grand Opera and Teatro Lirica d'Europa and the South Florida Symphony.

Internationally, he has conducted Salome at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, Die Fledermaus at the Vienna Volksoper, Mozart's Entführung aus dem Serail at the Spoleto Festival, Cosi fan Tutte with the Mediterranean Opera Festival in Italy and Eugene Onegin with the New Opera World Festival in Moscow. He was Music Director of Opera Las Vegas for 5 years and conducted the American Premieres of Mercadante's I due Figaro, Von Winter's Das Labyrinth and Donizetti's Olivo e Pasquale in New York.

He was the first American to conduct with the Kazakhstan State Opera including a televised Gala concert for the President of Kazakhstan. Mr. Buchalter was Chorus Master of Santa Fe Opera, Bregenz Festival in Austria, and the Theater des Westens in Berlin. He has been a cover conductor at the Metropolitan Opera (where the position of "Maestro di Banda" was created for him) and has worked extensively with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus. At the Met he prepared several world premieres including John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles, Philip Glass' The Voyage and John Harbison's The Great Gatsby.