The English Chamber Orchestra Music Cruise

The October 2011 ECO Music Cruise was hugely enjoyed by passengers and performers alike with “save the date” cards prompting many to book for 2012 immediately. This will again be held on the totally refurbished Msy Wind Spirit. Enthusiasm was strong for the return to the warm, calmer Aegean waters between Istanbul and Athens.
 
This project uniquely allows you to travel as a fellow-passenger with world-class guest artists and the orchestra members. A wide variety of music is performed in recitals and concerts both on board and ashore. Rehearsals are open to everyone, a series of lectures add to the understanding and enjoyment, and all this takes place against a background of relaxed, uncrowded informal luxury with the friendly service and excellent food for which Windstar Cruises are well-known.


Proposed Itinerary and Ports of Call (subject to confirmation)

Sat 13 Oct  Istanbul, Turkey

Sun 14 Oct  Day At Sea

Mon 15 Oct  Kusadasi, Turkey

Tue 16 Oct  Rhodes, Greece

Wed 17 Oct  Bodrum, Turkey

Thu 18 Oct  Santorini, Greece

Fri 19 Oct  Mykonos, Greece

Sat 20 Oct  Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Guest Artists to include:

MAXIM VENGEROV violin
DAME KIRI TE KANAWA soprano
SERGEI NAKARIAKOV trumpet
JACK LIEBECK violin
BEHZOD ABDURAIMOV piano
LAWRENCE POWER viola
MARIA MEEROVITCH piano
STEPHEN JOHNSON musicologist

For 2012 the management of the ECO have secured the services of an astonishing range of musical talent from the world famous to those embarking on stellar careers. Headlining will be world renowned violinist MAXIM VENGEROV, a cruise favourite who we are delighted to see playing again. Legendary soprano DAME KIRI TE KANAWA will make her first trip on board. They will be joined by young prize-winning pianist BEHZOD ABDURAIMOV, whose performances on the 2011 cruise left no-one in doubt that they were in the presence of greatness. Celebrating his 21st birthday just after the 2011 cruise, he already has a worldwide following and a Decca contract. We also welcome the “Paganini of the Trumpet” SERGEI NAKARIAKOV, award-winning and charismatic violinist JACK LIEBECK, recently signed to a contract with Sony Classical, and violist LAWRENCE POWER who has performed with all the world’s major orchestras in parallel with his chamber music-making and recitals. We also welcome back international pianist MARIA MEEROVITCH, whose stylish and sympathetic playing was so much appreciated in the past, and BBC musicologist STEPHEN JOHNSON whose immense knowledge and insight, expertly communicated, are such an integral part of the cruises.

Msy Wind Spirit

The benefits of a small luxury ship - just 74 staterooms in total, all alike and all with sea view. The ship offers 24 hour room service, luxurious bathrooms and queen-sized beds easily convertible into twins. All cabins feature an IPod dock, DVD player, cotton robes and L’Occitane toiletries. Propulsion is by a combination of motor and sail according to weather conditions; whenever possible motors are cut during on-board recitals.

All meals are included with a wide range of freshly baked breads and individually prepared cooked breakfasts, sumptuous buffets at lunchtime and a free-seating dining room for dinner when you can eat what you want, when you want and with whom you choose.
 
There is a plunge pool, jacuzzi, a small gym and a fully equipped medical centre with resident doctor and nurse. Windstar offer a series of healthy "Sail Light" menus and the Executive Chef is happy to cater to special dietary requests.