6th-12th April 2026
Experience a captivating music trip to New York City, indulging in iconic performances of La Traviata (Verdi) and La Bohème (Puccini), alongside a spectacular concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra featuring the renowned pianist Lang Lang.
Your stay in a luxurious hotel sets the stage for fabulous excursions, including a charming Central Park tour by horse and cart and visiting the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art. Delight in breathtaking views of the New York skyline from Bateaux New York while enjoying a gourmet meal, and savour the elegance of afternoon tea at The Plaza.
This trip promises unforgettable memories and exquisite musical moments.
£4,395 per person based on two people sharing including flights from London
£3,945 per person based on two people sharing excluding flights
Single supplement: £500
Trip type for this trip: The Big Ticket
This trip is currently AVAILABLE
This trip has space available but is not yet guaranteed due to not yet reaching minimum numbers. If you have chosen the land only package, please do not book any flights until this trip is guaranteed.
Minimum numbers required for guaranteed departure: 6
Details are correct at time of publishing (April 2025) but may be subject to change. Anyone already booked on the trip will be contacted in advance.
Below are expected flight times and airlines but these may vary on confirmation of the booking.
Should you wish to:
make your own way to and from the trip
depart from a regional airport in the UK
depart from another country
request an extension to the trip
or request an upgrade
please email [email protected]
Musical programme - best available seats for La Traviata, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and La Bohème
Accommodation - 6 nights bed and breakfast at the 4* Empire Hotel (or similar)
Flights & transfers - return flights from London Heathrow to New York's JFK airport and airport transfers in New York.
Regional flights are available on request.
Welcome drink & meals - pre-dinner drink on the first evening plus 1 lunch, 1 afternoon tea and 2 dinners with wine
Excursions - a guided tour of Central Park by horse and cart, a river tour on Bateaux New York, and a private tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Tour management - services of an experienced Musica Europa tour escort
Extras - all tips and gratuities
Personal travel insurance is not included
Visa waiver cost is not included
Nestled at the gateway to the Upper West Side, The Empire Hotel mirrors the elegance and modernity of its iconic neighbours, Central Park and Lincoln Center. Step through the Art Deco façade and immerse yourself in the bold and glamorous interiors reminiscent of a 1960s retro NYC lounge.
Fly to New York and transfer to Manhattan where you'll check in to The Empire Hotel (or similar).
🕰️16.15 - Welcome drink at the hotel's bar
🕰️17.00 - Dinner at The Grand Tier Restaurant
All times are approximate
The Grand Tier Restaurant is set within one of the most spectacular cultural destinations in the world. Located inside Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House, it is a tribute to elegance and artistry. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine by Executive Chef Florian Wehrli in an atmosphere highlighted by spectacular chandeliers and original masterpieces by Marc Chagall.
After breakfast in the hotel, you will be taken on a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, after which your afternoon will be free until our first performance, La Traviata at the Met Opera House.
🕰️10.00 - Private tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Afternoon at leisure
🕰️18.45 - Meet in hotel reception to walk to the Met Opera House
🕰️19:30 - La Traviata (Verdi)
All times are approximate
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.
You will enjoy a 1 hour guided tour from an expert guide before exploring independently for as long as your imagination is captured.
La Traviata is a poignant opera by Verdi, telling the tragic love story of Violetta and Alfredo, exploring themes of sacrifice, societal norms, and the fleeting nature of life.
Synopsis and cast list:
Today's itinerary will show you some of the iconic spots in New York from unique viewpoints. You'll explore Central Park in a horse and cart before transferring to Pier 61 to embark on a sightseeing river cruise with lunch included.
🕰️ 10:00 - Central Park horse and cart tour
🕰️ 12.30 - Transfer to Pier 61
🕰️ 13:00 - Bateaux New York lunch cruise
Independent dinner
All times are approximate
Experience the beauty of spring in Central Park with a charming horse and cart tour. Discover iconic sights like the Balto Statue, the serene Boat Pond, and the stunning Bethesda Fountain. Enjoy a leisurely ride around The Lake and Columbus Circle, with two delightful photo stops to capture your memories!
Warm blankets are provided to ensure your comfort throughout.
A world-class city deserves a world-class harbour cruise that offers unparalleled service, dining, and entertainment. You'll be welcomed on board the European-style, glass-enclosed Bateaux for the New York Premier Plus Lunch Cruise and be treated to a delectable à la carte menu, and jaw-dropping, panoramic views of New York City’s skyline. You’ll see iconic landmarks up close, such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and One World Trade Center.
As you marvel at Manhattan from the Hudson and East Rivers, enjoy tasty cocktails with carefully curated music with a live pianist. This one-of-a-kind lunch cruise experience is as exhilarating as it is memorable.
Your day is free to explore New York as you wish, however there is the opportunity to add on a backstage tour of the Met Opera House.
As of yet, the backstage tour dates have not been released past June 2025 but as soon as they are available for next year, anyone booked onto the trip will be contacted to make a booking.
Some suggestions for your free day in New York include:
Empire State Building - an iconic skyscraper offering breathtaking views and a rich history of innovation
The Statue of Liberty - a symbol of freedom welcoming visitors to New York Harbour that you can visit or even climb
Brooklyn - vibrant neighbourhoods, stunning waterfront views and the iconic brownstone buildings
Ellis Island - the primary immigration inspection station for the US for over 6 decades that now houses the National Immigration Museum
Relax in the hotel, have a spa or go shopping on Fifth Avenue - the choice is yours this morning before you enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea at the world-famous Plaza Hotel.
Morning at leisure
🕰️ 14.00 - Afternoon tea at The Plaza Hotel
🕰️ 19.00 - Meet in the hotel reception to transfer to Carnegie Hall
🕰️ 20.00 - Boston Symphony Orchestra concert featuring pianist Lang Lang
Since its debut on October 1, 1907, The Plaza Hotel has remained a New York icon hosting world leaders, dignitaries, captains of industry, Broadway legends, and Hollywood royalty. As an established staple for lavish society affairs and blockbuster films, The Plaza has welcomed guests from around the world to enjoy its magic at the castle on Central Park South for more than 100 years.
For over 115 years, The Palm Court in The Plaza Hotel has been New York City’s iconic destination for Afternoon Tea. Enjoy sandwiches, savouries, scones, pastries and sweets accompanied by a wide choice of fragrant teas.
Carnegie Hall, an iconic concert venue in New York City, is renowned for its exceptional acoustics and rich history, hosting world-class performances across a variety of musical genres since 1891.
Programme and biography:
Today's performance - La Bohème - is an afternoon performance which will be rounded off by a farewell meal to round off your trip.
Morning at leisure
🕰️ 12.15 - Meet in the hotel reception to walk to the Met Opera House
🕰️ 13.00 - La Bohème (Puccini)
🕰️ 19.00 - Farewell dinner
All times are approximate
La Bohème is a moving opera by Giacomo Puccini, telling the story of young artists in Paris. It explores love, loss, and the struggles of bohemian life through captivating music.
Synopsis and cast list:
On your final night, indulge in a sumptuous meal with breathtaking views of Manhattan and the iconic New York skyline. As you savour each bite, take a moment to reflect on the unforgettable experiences you've had in the Big Apple. The sparkling lights and vibrant energy of the city will set the perfect backdrop for your evening, creating a memorable conclusion to your trip. Let the flavours and sights intertwine, making this dinner not just a meal, but a celebration of your journey through one of the world's most captivating cities.
Bid New York goodbye as you return to the UK.
🕰️ 07.00 - Depart for JFK airport
All times are approximate
What is the dress code for the Met Opera House?
There is no dress code at the Met, but a night at the opera can be a great excuse to get dressed up.
What is the dress code for Carnegie Hall?
Carnegie Hall has no specific dress code—the most important thing is that you are comfortable. Wearing business attire on weeknights or more casual outfits are just the thing.
What is the dress code for The Plaza Hotel?
At The Palm Court, guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion. Afternoon Tea is a long-celebrated tradition at The Plaza, and we kindly ask that you refrain from wearing shorts, beach attire, men’s sleeveless shirts, men’s open-toed shoes, casual hats, ripped denim and athletic wear while dining. Any guest who does not appear sufficiently well-presented may be refused entry.
Are there translations for the operas?
Every spot in the opera house is outfitted with a small seat-back screen featuring subtitles in multiple languages, making it simple to follow along with the onstage action, regardless of whether the performers are singing in Italian, French, German, Russian, or Czech.
What do the trip statuses mean?
Each trip carries a status which is updated in real time. Statuses are as follows:
AVAILABLE - the trip has space available but is not yet guaranteed due to not yet reaching minimum numbers
GUARANTEED - the trip has reached minimum numbers and is guaranteed to go ahead
ON REQUEST - the trip is not full but at this stage we need to check flight and performance ticket availability before confirming your place
WAIT-LISTED - the trip is sold out but you are welcome to join our waitlist for a cancellation by emailing [email protected]
What are the different trip types?
At a glance you can see what style trip each one is. All trips have the same level of high quality accommodation, meals and excursions, but their location or extras may dictate their type.
Intro - Our intro trips ease you into opera and classical music with quintessential locations, backstage tours and expert talks, combined with our usual level of luxury and inclusions
Classic - When you think of opera, where comes to mind? Italy? Vienna? Paris? Then a Classic trip sounds like the one for you.
New Horizons - These trips typically go to the places you might not immediately visualise when thinking of opera, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised
The Big Ticket - Longer-haul, once-in-a-lifetime trips that you just want to add to your bucket list
I'm not available on these dates, can I travel on another date?
Each season our programme contains a variation of destinations and performances spread througout the year on set dates. If you would like the same or a similar trip on a different date, we can organise this as a private tour on a date of your choosing, dependent on opera performances of course. We would need a minimum of 6 people for this trip to run so if you have a group of music-loving friends or family, do get in touch on [email protected] to discuss options and put a tailored trip together.
Is my holiday protected?
Yes. All of our trips including flights are covered by Musica Europa's membership of ATOL (membership number: 12418). If you have chosen to arrange your own flights, then cover for the rest of the holiday is provided through Musica Europa's membership of ABTOT (membership number: 5470)
Don't miss out when we release new trips and our early bird discount offers. Sign up to our monthly newsletter at http://musica-europa.com/oc-newsletter-sign-up/
Puccini in Prague
3-7 November 2025
Trip type: Classic
Performances: Othello (Giuseppe Verdi) and Manon Lescaut (Giacomo Puccini) operas
Advent in Vienna
13-17 December 2025
Trip type: Classic
Performances: Elektra (Richard Strauss), La Bohème (Giacomo Puccini) and Fidelio (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Nordic Charm
Copenhagen & Malmo | 10-14 March 2026
Trip type: New Horizons
Performances: Rigoletto (Giuseppe Verdi) and Carmen (Georges Bizet), plus the Danish National Symphony Orchestra performing Bartók's opera "Duke Bluebeard's Castle" and Sibelius' Fourth Symphony
Paris in the Spring
4-8 May 2026
Trip type: Classic
Performances: Rusalka (Antonin Dvorak), La Calisto (Francesco Cavalli) and the ballet La Dame aux Camélias
Musica Europa is a tour company with more than 35 years' experience delivering bespoke concert tours for choirs, bands and orchestras as well as exclusive and intimate cultural holidays for opera and classical music lovers.
Our directors, Andy and Ben are experienced musicians and tour leaders, while Brigitte and Claire are multilingual travel agents with a vast knowledge of destinations in Europe and beyond.
T: +44 (0)1628 776795
M: +44 (0)7768 217507
M: +44 (0)7527564710
"We thoroughly enjoyed our Puccini in Prague! Wonderful operas, beautifully sung and superb staging. Our hotel was great and all the trips were a pleasure with lovely lunches in good company. It was great to meet old friends and making new ones."
John M
"A first class tour with nothing to curb our enjoyment. The quality of the three operas was second to none. And Musica Europa’s flair for organisation and imaginative programming ensured that all participants were on the receiving end of a most professional and enjoyable experience."
Laurence G
"Five stars. Everything we have come to expect with Musica Europa - a programme of musical, cultural and gastronomic delights, coupled with excellent accommodation, all efficiently organised with a personal touch."
Nicol M
"Great trip to Prague. Three excellent Puccini operas in 2 lovely theatres. Good sightseeing during the day and fine restaurants/food. Nice company from like minded travellers. Overall a trip we enjoyed immensely."
Peter N
"It was a truly wonderful few days. It was such a treat to be looked after so well. To see three first class opera productions was a great privilege – they were all so dramatic and moving in different ways; both the singing and the orchestral playing was excellent. So, yes, indeed, everything went OK and words can’t really express what an enriching experience it was for us both."
Margaret O
"Thank you for your lovely welcome home email, and can only say that it confirms what I feel about your Company - a wonderful sense of courtesy, patience and organisation. I had a marvellous time in Munich where we only had to "play ladies" and did not have to think about anything. I think this is the hall-mark of a superior company."
Joan F
"We have now done nine Musica Europa Opera Club holidays - a total of 27 musical events (mainly opera, but also 4 ballets and 1 concert). Each tour has been an excellent experience with memorable opera, local city tours and hotels and, above all, an interesting group of similar minded companions."
Mr and Mrs H
