Dear Parents, due to the merger of United Airlines and
Continental Airlines, the flight schedule has been affected and the WRA group is
now returning on the following UA flights. We hope, this makes it easier for you once they return.
Thursday, March 22, 2012 United Airlines , UA 65 leaves Lisbon (LIS) at 9:15 am
arrives in Newark (EWR) at 1:32 pm. Here the group will clear immigration and customs.
Thursday, March 22, 2012 United Airlines, UA 51 leaves Newark (EWR) at 4:38 pm arrives in Cleveland (CLE) at 6:20 pm. The arrival airport is Cleveland-Hopkings International airport.
What a magical venue for the last formal concert of the 2012 Western Reserve Academy Choir and Ensemble Performance tour to Spain and Portugal: Under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Karam and Mr. Edward Wiles, the finale concert took place at the beautiful Mirror Hall of Palacio Foz in Lisbon on Tuesday, March 20. Incantato Tour Manager Stefania sent the above feature photo from her iphone.
The neo-classical Palácio Foz was designed by the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri and built shortly after the great earthquake in 1755, for the Marquês de Castelo Melhor. It was purchased by the Marquês de Foz in 1886 when it received the first of many facelifts. It now houses, among other things, the Headquarters of Lisbon’s Tourist Information centres and an art gallery. It is magnificently decorated on the inside and the ballroom features outstanding paintings by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857-1929), one of the leading painters of his generation and a master of realism in Portugal.
Another highlight awaits the WRA group today. On Sunday, March 18, 2012, the choir and ensemble from Hudson, Ohio will visit and perform at the La Rábida Monastery. After the noon mass, the students from Western Reserve Academy will present a concert under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Karam and Mr. Edward Wiles - a very unique event for the Franciscan monks that otherwise do not get very many visitors from abroad. La Rábida Monastery is the First Historical Monument of the Spanish Peoples, as well as Humankind Patrimony and the third declared National Monument in Spain, as early as 1856. And there is a strong and unique connection between La Rábida and Western Reserve Academy. Mrs. Karam explains: “The cross that hangs in our Chapel actually has the name "La Rabida" and formerly hung in the church where Columbus prayed before setting sail...it seems that Spain brought it to the US as part of the World Expo at the turn of the 20th century, and then sold it to pay off bills from that event. A benefactor of the school bought it.”
It will be quite a special moment when the students can talk to the Franciscan monks about that very cross and show it to them – if only on cell phones or cameras.
Katia, Incantato's concert manager Spain and Portugal continues: Let me add a little about the importance of the Monastery in the Columbus adventure: LA RÁBIDA: WHERE COLUMBUS DREAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE After eight years being unsuccessful in Portugal, where Columbus was trying to get royal sponsorship for his new route to “the India”, he arrived into Spain in 1485. Then Columbus decided to leave his son Diego in Huelva, with some family, and to travel to Cordoba, to present his idea to the Catholic Monarchs. But he was not successful either. And this took him six long years. Poor and without any more possibilities, he came back to Huelva in 1491. Then, in his way to board a boat to France, he stopped in La Rábida Franciscan Monastery, where he would be hosted for free - as he was broken. Here you have a pic of the room where he should stay. And surprisingly, it was in La Rábida Monastery were Columbus got finally a good audience and the key contacts for his final travel.La Rábida Monks had many links with the sailors’ world, as they were in charge of the religious affairs of all the Atlantic islands. And Columbus explained them all his idea.
You can see this very famous painting from Cano de la Peña depicting this very moment. Columbus had long conversations with Fr. Marchena, and possibly told his “secret” intentions to Fr. Juan Perez, who gave him a support letter for the Queen Isabella. The Royal answer was an invitation to be received “with new and decent clothes, and a horse” in Granada. The Catholic Monarchs were victorious at the Reconquest final battle in Granada. And there Columbus had a – finally!- successful meeting with Queen Isabella. He told her the “secret” possibilities that this trip could bring... and they signed a contract (Capitulaciones de Santa Fe). Columbus then came back all the way to La Rábida Monastery, to get ready for the most incredible trip of the Era… As you might suppose, none of the sailors around the area would believe his words, and even when he had the money, he was lacking the crew for this boats… Then the monks were once again the key. They introduced him to Alonso Pinzon, a shipyard owner who had the money and enthusiasm to support Columbus and contacted other VIPs for him. Supposedly, Columbus had to share also with him the “secret” intentions of his adventure to gain his confidence. With all these supports, Columbus could finally enroll a crew for the trip to the unknown America… mostly from the areas nearby La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera…And still for his following sailings, most of the crew were local inhabitants of the area… a long long long sailing tradition! By the way, do you know the secret intentions that pushed Isabella so much to support Columbus trip? No less than the Lands of the Great Khan, the Mongol Empire! And she was just finishing the “Reconquest” of Spain!
The Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador (Collegiate Churchof the Divine Savior), will host the WRA group to celebrate High Mass on Saturday, March 17th at 8 pm. Iglesia del Salvador, as it is usually called, isthe secondlargest church in Sevillaafter the Cathedraland is considered on of its most important temples. This imposing church is among the most visited monuments in the city. This very place was always used for religious purposes: as early as during Roman times there was a Basilica here which was substituted by a Christian church in the IV century. Later on, in the Arab-dominated times, the Great Mosque was built on its remains and becoming the main mosqueof Seville.TheAblutionsCourtyardand the baseof the tower are remains from theninth-century Arabbuilding. The reconquest by the Christians converted it back to a Christian church and by 1340 the Parish Church of the Saviour was settled here. That building was substituted by the one you see today. Construction workbeganin 1674with architectStephenGarcia andended in1712 withLeonardode Figueroa.Theinteriorstyle isSevillian Baroque. It is decoratedwith sculpturesand paintings by famouslocal artists: -The main altarpiece, dating back to the1770s, was done by Cayetanode Acosta - The Christ's Lovesculpture,by the very famous Juan de Mesa, dates back to around1620 -PaintingsofSt.Christopherby MartinezMontañes, 1597 - Sculpturesof the Passion ofJesus, also by Martinez Montañes, 1610 Martinez Montañes was a very important artist, among the best of his time. You can find his sculpture in the square Plaza del Salvador, by the church. You can find more information at http://www.inspain.org/en/sites/divinosalvadorchurch.asp http://sevillapedia.wikanda.es/wiki/Iglesia_del_Salvador_%28Sevilla%29
As a great finale for their exchange program with the Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Córdoba, the WRA Choir and Ensemble will perform in a joint concert with the Orchestra of the Conservatorio "Músico Ziryab" in a wonderful venue: the auditorium of the new headquarters of the Conservatorio de Córdoba. Just recently opened for this academic year 2011-2012, the new building of the Conservatorio hosts the most modern equipment of all of Spain's conservatories. The government has paid over 7 million Euros for the building, with over 7000 sq. meters, including 51 individual instrument classrooms, 24 individual study carrels, choir classroom, drums classroom, orchestra classroom, four music classrooms, a library, a sound library, and of course the administrative offices. The Conservatory has some 1212 students this year: 546 in elementary music levels and 666 in middle music levels. The number of teachers is also high: 122 professionals are in charge of the teaching. The new auditorium is also impressive: 296 seats in a very good acoustic venue will make a warm and brilliant concert possible for our musicians. For more information, you can visit the Conservatorio webpage
Dear members of the Western Reserve Academy Choir and Ensemble, As your departure for your 2012 performance tour comes closer and closer, Incantato Tours would like to provide you with a couple travel tips. For most people, packing for a trip is the most difficult part. The solution for many is to just pack as much as you possibly can into your suitcase and backpack, but as a colleague explains it: "You'll be thanking me later when you don't break your back from having to carry everything on your own. Don't do it!" Her advice: "Pack as lightly as you can. The best way to get it all to fit nicely into your suitcase is to fold it nicely and then roll it tightly. It can all fit into your bag like a puzzle." The major factor is that you should bring only 1 suitcase, no heavier than 50 pounds.
Knowing the weather forecast can be helpful, keeping in mind that it is still too early to have a good prediction… However, here you have some examples of how the weather can be in the cities you will visit for the month of March. Remember it is still winter!
Madrid: Temperatures between 41 and 59 F, scarce rain, chilly wind from the snow-capped mountains.
Toledo: Temperature average is 36, it is usually freezing at night and windy during the day. Sunny middays make the difference. Usually dry. It is like Madrid, but colder.
Córdoba: March temperatures usually vary between 46 and 64 F. It is never as cold as in Madrid, so you can expect mild, non-rainy winter days… being outdoors is nice!
Sevilla: Very much like Cordoba, average temperature in March is 58º F. It is a bit warmer, and it might rain occasionally.
Huelva: Between 48 and 68 degrees, scarce rain, seaside mild temperatures. Lisboa and Portugal: Well, this could be the rainy part of the trip – though you can always be surprised!!. Lisbon March temperatures run from 50 to 65º F, and there is a 47% chance of getting some rain!!
Even if you are used to lower temperatures and you feel these forecasts sound like summer, please keep in mind that many cathedrals have a dress code and will not allow you to walk in if you are wearing tank tops or shorts. A scarf is a good solution here. Shorts should always go to your knees (both for ladies and gents). Now it is time for you to start planning your luggage! We hope the weather forecasts can help you to decide what to bring. Here are a few things that we think are essential to have to be comfortable with what the weather brings and with the weight of your bag - remember, we allow only one checked bag per person, (maximum 50 pounds) and one small carry-on such as a backpack. A sample packing list (just a suggestion!):
Rain jacket, maybe with fleece insert
Umbrella
Gloves, scarf, hat… if you tend to feel chilly!
An adapter plug/converter (if you are bringing electronic devices, please check if they are compatible, most new devices are – most……)
Camera and batteries or charger with adapter
At least two pair of jeans/pants, ladies may want to bring a couple skirts or dresses, too
A sweater or two, (or three, if you tend to feel chilly).
Plenty of shirts, including a polo or two and at least two dress shirts (Europeans dress much more formal than Americans)
Plenty of undergarments and socks for daily changes
A watch, make-up and jewelry if applicable (carry on any valuables at all times)
Choir music and attire
Don't forget shoes, we recommend a maximum of three pairs (tennis shoes, good everyday shoes, dress shoes). Bring nice concert shoes, but make sure that you will be able to walk long distances in them. Europeans do not wear flip flops other than to the pool or at the beach.
All scissors, fingernail clippers, etc. are better packed in your check-in luggage along with liquids over 3 ounces. Bring enough contact lense solution and prescription medication that you may need for the whole duration of the trip.
If you forget anything there are plenty of shops where you can by shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
A shawl, a guitar, a voice and heartfelt emotion. These are the ingredients of Fado, the celebrated form of world music that captures what it is to be Portuguese. Fado is probably the oldest urban folk music in the world and represents the heart of the Portuguese soul.
Listening to Fado is like visiting Lisbon, meeting the Portuguese people, those that once upon a time faced the unknown sea. This type of music that connected nobles, vagabonds and seafarers, is still nowadays a shared passion by all Portuguese.
Fado has been recognized last November 2011 by the UNESCO as Inmaterial Humankind Patrimony.
TYPES OF FADO
Fado can be performed by men or women, although the raw emotion of the female fadista is nearly always preferred. Dressed in black with a shawl draped over her shoulders, a fadista stands in front of the musicians and communicates through gesture and facial expressions. The hands move, but the body remains stationary. It’s a solemn and majestic performance.
Traditionally accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, there are many ways of singing the Fado. It can range from the faster Fado corrido of Mouraria, to the impromptu singing known as ‘desgarrada’, or the mournful music of the students of Coimbra. And the well known Fado Vadio (Vagrant Fado), which is characterized by the place where it was born and sang for so long, the streets!
There are two main varieties of fado, namely those of the cities of Lisbon and Coimbra. The Lisbon style is the most popular, while Coimbra's is the more refined style. Some of their characteristics are that in Lisbon it is always sung by a solo performer on the contrary, in Coimbra it is often performed by groups of male university students. Both are accompanied by two guitarists, one playing the melody on a twelve-stringed Portuguese guitar and the other supplying the rhythm on the six-stringed viola. In Coimbra we find the usual Fado’s sad style, but with different motivations and also based in the medieval songs called trovas.
Inspiration for Fado can come from almost any source, with predominance of themes like: destiny, deep-seated feelings, disappointments in love, the sense of sadness and longing for someone who has gone away, the sea, the life of sailors and fishermen, and last but not least “Saudade” (one of the main themes used in fado, that means a kind of longing).
POSSIBLE ORIGINS OF FADO
The word Fado comes from the Latin fatum, which means fate or destiny. Fado, in a certain way, represents better than anything the spirit of the Portuguese people: the belief in destiny as something that overwhelms us and from which we can't escape, the domination of the soul and heart over reason, which leads to acts of passion and despair, and reveal such a black and beautiful sorrow. There are many theories about the origin of Fado, like:
Fado has its origin in Moorish songs; Moors kept living near Lisbon even after the Christian take-over. The melancholy of those songs and the referral in many lyrics to Mouraria strengthen this theory.
Fado arrived to Portugal with the sailors returning from their long trips (1822), under the form of Lundum (the music of the Brazilian slaves). Lundum only after a while started modifying until it became the Fado. The first lundum songs related to the sea and the lands far beyond them, where the slaves lived. Then, one of Amália's Fados, called "The Black Boat" talks precisely of a senzala (place where the slaves were kept).
The melancholy character of Fado evolved from Portuguese seafarers who sang of home during their long absences at sea.
Fado was born in the Middle Ages. As cantigas de amigo (friend songs) are a good example of it. They were love songs dedicated to a woman and have great similarities with diverse subjects of the Fado of Lisbon. Also with the Fado of Coimbra, where the students intone their songs beneath the window of the loved one (serenades).
HISTORY OF FADO
Fado became popular thanks to the singer Maria Severa who lived in the first half of the 19th century and died at the age of 26. She made this type of song famous in aristocratic circles through her romance with the Count of Vimioso. Her life later became the subject of Portugal's first sound movie in 1931. To this day, female performers wear a black shawl in her memory and her life story has been the influence of several Fado songs, poems, novels, and plays.
By the early twentieth century, Fado had become a fixture in the everyday life of Lisbon’s working class. It was played for pleasure and also to relieve the pain of life. Fadistas, skilled singers that performed at the end of the day and long into the night. Fado was the earthly music of taverns, brothels and street corners mainly in Alfama, Mouraria, Bairro Alto and Madragoa. Fado reached its golden era in the first half of the 20th century, when the Portuguese dictatorship of Salazar (1926-1968) forced the fado performers to become professional and confined them to sing in the fado houses and the so called "revistas", a popular genre of "vaudeville". The main names of this period were: Alfredo Marceneiro, Amália Rodrigues, Maria Teresa de Noronha and Armandinho and Jaime Santos (guitar players).
From the 1940’s until 1999 Fado was shown to the world through the voice of one amazing artist, Amália Rodrigues, the towering figure of Portuguese fado. In the 20th century she made Fado known beyond Portugal, performing all over Europe, Japan, South America, and even in the United States, in New York's "La Vie en Rose" in the 1950s. When she died the country’s prime minister called for three days of national mourning, and as a national icon, she was buried in Lisbon's National Pantheon.
Amália has found a worthy successor in Mariza, who takes Fado to an even wider audience. Other very important names of Fado are Maria da Fé, Hermínia Silva, Argentina Santos and Carlos do Carmo.
Nowadays in Portugal, the younger generation respects fado but isn’t dedicated to it. Contemporary fado musicians like Misia have introduced the music to performers such as Sting. Cristina Branco, Dulce Pontes, Camané, Mafalda Arnauth and Katia Guerreiro are other sonant artists that keep Fado alive, and brought with them a new look to the traditional song, occasionally reviving 19th century fado. Amendoeira.
And also please note that despite Fado being a symbol of the Portuguese nationality, it is, by no means, the national song. From region to region, Portugal possesses several rich and typical folklores of each geographical area that have nothing to do with Fado. Perhaps we can, if you want, to say that this will be the form of folklore of Lisbon, Oporto and Coimbra. However, it is appreciated and recognized in all the Portuguese country as a symbol. This is the spirit of fado, the expression of a collective soul, made of each one's soul.
Sources:Clube de fado, www.fado.com, Historia do Fado, Pinto do Carvalho, A history of the Portuguese Fado , Paul Vernon,…
“Dear Incantato, As you know, I’ve had the pleasure of being on five of your tours. Just when I think you can’t possibly top the previous tour, you do. Your attention to detail is remarkable. From departure to return everything is superbly planned – air and ground transportation, top-notch accommodations, food and most importantly, premier performance venues. You definitely deliver on your “boutique” commitment. As an educator, the most important aspect of an international tour is that my students return having had a life-changing experience. This has been the outcome every time I’ve been with your company. Equally important to me is that my guests also have an experience of a lifetime. Not only do you deliver on your commitment to making their experience extra special, you take extra care in understanding their individual needs. My guests rang my phone off the hook when we returned from Eastern Europe last year (yes, they still use phones!). To your potential clients who might read this, I want them to know that if they’ve ever considered taking an instrumental ensemble on an international tour, they’d be missing out on a fabulous opportunity if they didn’t contact Incantato to discuss the possibilities. My last two tours with Incantato included a choir and jazz ensemble. The sacred performance venues for the choir were everything history books have written about. The jazz venues were outstanding – some of the premier jazz clubs in Europe! The level of performance that my students rose to was off the charts – additional validation of my commitment to education and proof that an experience like this is a major game changer to every student musician. This combination tour was in many ways better than just a choir tour or just a jazz tour. It offered a lot of variety to display the diversity of our music department and provided the students a unique peer-to-peer support system, by being both performers and audience members. You did it again!!!” Richard Burchard, Composer (Gentry Music, Pavane Publishing, National Music Publishers, Hinshaw Music) and Educator (Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY)
“The trip was everything I hoped for and more. Everything promised was delivered. I realize that this tour gave you a number of challenges due to the low number of participants, but you always seemed to find a way to make things happen. I appreciate the positive ‘Can Do’ attitude. You showed what a tour company can do when it really cares about the quality of the performing venues and comfort and satisfaction of its clients.” Bruce Koliha, BelCanto Choir, Performance Tour to Central Europe 2010
“Our tour with Incatanto was unforgettable. They were able to not only secure for us the most popular and magnificent venues but also the hidden gems and special places only a company with passion and dedication can find. My Women’s Ensemble and Handbells (and even the parents) are still talking about the trip and all the wonderful memories. It has invigorated my program and I am deeply proud to have done business with Sandra and the entire team at Incantato.” Brian Dehn, Cornelia Connelly, Performance Tour to England and Ireland 2010
“Once again, thanks to you and all the Incantato team for the great tour you arranged for CIC this summer. I truly feel that Incantato delivered a lot for our money on this trip. All of the hotels were nice ones with good locations. What a great idea to give us a night in Vienna near the Prater! And the concert venues were varied and all beautiful. The dinner cruise on our last night was magical and we enjoyed the food, the company, and the views. Thanks for making this a part of our tour. You are so skillful in finding the unique, off the beaten path, towns and villages. These are some of the best memories.” Sue Klausmeyer, Carolina International Chorale, Performance Tour to Central Europe Summer 2010
"Dear Incantato-Team, the Choir of the Sound and I want to thank you for all you did to make our tour to Northern Italy so incredible. I’ve worked with many other tour companies, but this trip exceeded even my most optimistic expectations. The singers will remember their time in Italy the rest of their lives. To have had the opportunity to perform in those amazing cathedrals with large appreciative audiences was truly memorable. In reflecting on our trip this year, I realized that past tours that I had considered successful fell short when compared to the trip that you put together for us. Incantato provided a consistently high level of organization and personal attention both during the planning stages and on the trip. Other exceptional aspects of the tour were: - The right amount and high quality of the performances. Our concerts and masses were wonderful. - Outstanding tour managers that were a wonderful combination of knowledgeable, flexible, personable and fun! - Beautiful posters and flyers as well as superb advertising of the concerts that resulted in large audiences - Excellent pacing of the tour—thanks for anticipating when we would need some time to recover - The included activities were interesting and created a change of pace for the singers - Great meals, consistently. My vegetarians were very pleased also. - The choir manager and I are very appreciative of your personal attention to our questions during the planning stages of the trip. - Terrific bus drivers who made us feel safe and who enjoyed the group It was a pleasure to work with everyone at your organization and I would be happy to share my experience with Incantato with other potential clients." Judy Filibeck, Director "Choir of the Sound", Seattle, WA
"Having recently returned from a successful tour of Ireland, I can say without a doubt that this was my finest tour experience. I have used several different tours companies in my years of performance tours, and none have matched the attention to detail, the thoughtful planning, excellent venues & marketing, meal & hotels, and overall management by Incantato Tours. Their pricing was excellent, and when the US currency dropped, they did not raise any of our cost. I would recommend this company to anyone planning a tour, whether they are a large professional ensemble, or a small church choir." Nathan J. Kreitzer - Director of Choral Activities Santa Barbara City College, CA
"It was a true pleasure working with Sandra and Incantato on our Italy Tour 2008. She is very detail oriented and surpassed many of our expectations. I would recommend Incantato to anyone planning a concert or performance tour." Rick Christophersen, Director Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, Orange, CA
“My sincerest and deepest thanks to you and all your staff for making this tour for the Quire of Voyces our very best yet! Your attention to every detail, special offerings each day, fine accommodations and outstanding tour guides all made for a very gratifying experience for all of us.” Susan Kuehn, Quire of Voyces Performance Tour to Italy, June 2010 "I have only wonderful things to say about Incantato Tours! The UGA Chamber Choir traveled to Italy in 2009. From the marvelous concert venues to the excellently managed tour, this was really a dream trip. The highly professional and expert Incantato tour manager who was with us throughout the entire trip, the fantastic bus drivers, and the knowledgeable city tour guides all helped to make the tour run exceptionally smoothly. Probably most important was that this entire trip was really a specialty tour designed especially for this particular choral group. Incantato Tours made it possible for us to sing in some very remarkable places, including the Sistine Chapel. Planning a tour takes incredible dedication and Incantato Tours would definitely be my choice again!" Dr. Martha Thomas, UGA School of Music, Athens, GA
“We had the wonderful opportunity to go to Spain, sing in great venues, experience an amazing culture, and eat great food. There is always a special element of magic that happens with Incantato Tours.” Andrew Crane, Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, California State University, San Bernardino;Performance Tour to Spain, June 2010 “Incantato Tours has created the most musically satisfying tour we have ever taken. For the singers touring is about the music in the wonderful cathedrals and the exchanges with the local kids. A toast to Incantato for fulfilling your dream, and for making so many people so happy - now and in the future.” Arlene Jacobs, SCS Touring Choir, Akron, OH
“Incantanto facilitated maximum educational, religious, and just plain fun experiences among youth and adults alike.” Ed Bettendorf, Western Reserve Academy, Performance Tour to Italy March 2010
"There are at least four essential ingredients for a successful and rewarding concert tour for young people and their sponsors —appropriate concert settings, advance publicity, opportunities for learning about the areas visited (including exchanges with the local youth), and good logistical planning. The recent tour of the Akron, Ohio Summit Children's Touring Choir through Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria was successful indeed. The venues were most impressive and beautiful. The publicity produced large responsive and appreciative crowds as well as mayor’s receptions with recital opportunities at city halls. The knowledgeable tour guides and the visits with local youth and choirs provided an experience for the choir members that will not be soon forgotten. The schedule for travel, meals, concerts and touring were planed and flexible enough to accommodate for unexpected delays without loss of any scheduled tour, exchange or concert. Finally, a "shadow tour" of parents and sponsors was also a success and allowed those who wished to do so to attend every reception, recital and concert while being guided on a separate tour, well planned and executed. As one who worked with Sandra Weinacht and her staff at Incantato I can assure you it would not have been such a success without their planning and execution of our tour. They are to be commended and I would highly recommend Incantato Tours to anyone considering a group tour, especially a performance tour. C.A. Ridge Jr., A Summit Choral Society Sponsor
“Incantato Tours impresses me because their clients come first. Their advantage lies in the selection of venues, impressive itineraries and the ability to tend to details.” Dr. Gary L. Unruh, Professor Emeritus, CSU Fresno
“I can't speak highly enough about Incantato Tours. They were with us every step of the way, tailoring a tour that was perfect for our wants, needs and budget. I would recommend Incantato to anyone serious about a choir tour, especially if you want a tour that provides wonderful indelible memories of the best that a tour can be.” Stan DeWitt, Minister of Music, Grace First Presbyterian Church, Long Beach, CA; Performance Tour to Ireland, April 2010
"Of the eight international tours I've taken as both singer and conductor, last summer's CSULB tour to Naples, Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast with Incantato was the best organized and the most fun. Our tour manager and guides were professional, wonderful teachers, and our venues were beautiful. We saw stunning posters for our events everywhere we walked. The marketing for our concerts was incredible! Our audiences were huge and exuberant, and Incantato made all the pieces fell into place beautifully. Thank you Incantato Tours for the personal attention, for the flexibility that allowed us to choose exactly where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see. We're already planning for 2010." Dr. Jonathan Talberg - Director of Choral, Vocal, and Opera Studies, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, California State University, Long Beach
"Canticum Novum, The tour choir of Central Church in Phoenix just completed its most successful tour in 35 years of concertizing abroad, solely due to the excellent management of Incantato. Their attention to every detail, response to every request, superb International Staff, and excellence in concert management are singularly distinctive. Theirs is a professional concert management group who are also excellent providers of travel services. That is a distinctive difference. Travel agents are for travel; Incantato provides concert management in stunning venues, and the organizational minutia supporting these artistic events in addition to fine-tuned travel experiences filled with special amenities. If music making in superb acoustical spaces to wonderfully receptive audiences is your priority, Incantato is the professional tour group for your ensemble." Donald. E. Morse, Central United Methodist Church, Phoenix, AZ
"The San Marino Chamber Singers have been very fortunate to travel several times already with the director of Incantato Tours, Ms. Sandra Weinacht. She was our personal tour and concert manager when we traveled to Italy in 2005 and then designed, organized and oversaw our tour to Central Europe in 2007. It was another huge success. Aside from selecting and working with prime venues only, Ms. Weinacht's staff also put in great time and effort in promoting our concerts through beautiful designed and professionally printed concert posters and cards. Incantato's marketing of our performances became highly visible to the public and contributed to the success of every concert. I have been more than impressed with their professionalism and highly recommend Incantato Tours to everyone. They definitely cater to each choir member's personal needs and watch every detail. The hotels were carefully selected, the meals were beyond our expectation. If there were ever any problems, they were dealt with beautifully and professionally on the spot. We were very impressed with how well the whole tour was executed. The next time we go back to Europe, it will be with Incantato Tours." Howard Cheung, San Marino Chamber Choir, CA
"Well, you did it. I don't know how, but you did it! You accepted the challenge, and performed a small miracle. My hat is off to you and Ted for creating what is, for me, the most musically satisfying tour we have taken. All of the kids who have been on the three tours (Italy, China, and Europe) agreed, hands down, that this was the best ever. For them it's about the music in the wonderful cathedrals and the exchanges with the local kids. In festival-type situations they are not really "up close and personal" with other kids - they're mostly rehearsing. At any rate, a toast to Incantato, to you and Ted for fulfilling your dream, and for making so many people so happy - now and in the future. Thank you!" Arlene Jacobs, Artistic Director, Summit Children’s Touring Choir and Co-Founder of the Summit Choral Society (SCS)
"Incantato stresses the small town experience as well as the traditional larger cities, but it wasn't until I looked out on the valley and town of Salice Terme spread out below us as we enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked Italian meal that I truly understood or appreciated that element. At that moment, "Italy" became much more than a series of famous cities to check off my list; it became a real world, a place of rolling hills as well as marble cathedrals, time-honored traditions and modern technology. A true mix of culture and heritage unknown and unappreciated by those in the United States --- until you arrive! The experience we had of singing in the Sistine Chapel is absolutely indescribable, yet I must try. It's been almost three months since the last note of Gregorio Allegri's Miserere echoed off Botticelli's walls and Michelangelo's awesome ceiling, but to the choir it is still as vivid a memory as if we sang there last night. I can't thank Sandra and the Incantato Team enough for arranging such a poignant moment" David Okun, student at UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Athens, GA
Then, in his way to board a boat to France, he stopped in La Rábida Franciscan Monastery, where he would be hosted for free - as he was broken. Here you have a pic of the room where he should stay.
You can see this very famous painting from Cano de la Peña depicting this very moment.
money, he was lacking the crew for this boats… Then the monks were once again the key. They introduced him to Alonso Pinzon, a shipyard owner who had the money and enthusiasm to support Columbus and contacted other VIPs for him. Supposedly, Columbus had to share also with him the “secret” intentions of his adventure to gain his confidence. With all these supports, Columbus could finally enroll a crew for the trip to the unknown America… mostly from the areas nearby La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera…And still for his following sailings, most of the crew were local inhabitants of the area… a long long long sailing tradition!
Dear members of the Western Reserve Academy Choir and Ensemble,
Inspiration for Fado can come from almost any source, with predominance of themes like: destiny, deep-seated feelings, disappointments in love, the sense of sadness and longing for someone who has gone away, the sea, the life of sailors and fishermen, and last but not least “Saudade” (one of the main themes used in 
