Next year will mark the 10th year that Tom and Georgia have led these musical adventures around the world.
Thanks to all of you who have pitched in your time, talents and good cheer to help bring joy to our own group, and to those good people from all over the world that we now call friends.
Our 2011 trip will return us to our favorite place (thus far) in the world, the hills of Tuscany and the Castle of Gargonza. Many of you will have had a small taste of the Castello as we spent three frantic days there last year, rehearsing scenes and creating the sets for the opera in Monte Carlo. Other than those few days it has been six years since we took Gargonza for a weeklong series of Banquets and Concerts. It is high time to return.
The owners of the castle, Count and Countessa Roberto & Teresa Guicciardini, are now good friends, having joined us as guests of Castles and Concerts at the opera in Monaco. They have taken a great interest in our upcoming tour and have introduced us to some of their favorite people and places in the surrounding Chianti countryside.
Our goal for this trip will be to immerse ourselves in the community and lifestyle of Tuscany. With the exception of an optional day-trip to Florence for a walking tour, all of our non-musical activities will be centered on the unique bond with the people to their land and culture. We find this in their pride in creating some of the world's best wine and food, in the grace and solidity of their architecture, and in their generosity of spirit in sharing their treasures with their guests.
As always, the enjoyment of music will be the common thread that ties our group together. Several of our great entertainers will join us. Joe Lerer, Erich Stratmann, David Jackson & the Elliott sisters are already on board, as well as Jeff Sanford, the wonderful sax and flute player from England. We expect others to join in the months ahead. For the first time we will also have the talents of pianist and conductor Brett Strader. Matt and Vanessa will join Tom & Georgia Montgomery to present some of their favorite Tango music by Astor Piazzolla. We will reach out and invite local music lovers and performers in Tuscany to join us in a public choral performance in the Teatro Signiorelli, the beautiful old (1854) opera house in Cortona. Those who would like to join singing in the chorus are very welcome.
Please read on to see how we hope to achieve this.