Riga Opera Festival

Riga Opera Festival is renowned as a summer opera fixture, and this year presents a new production of Mazeppa by Tchaikovsky. This is combined with another Tchaikovsky work, Eugene Onegin, and Rossin’s ever-popular Il barbiere di Siviglia. There is also the chance to see the new staging of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in the delightful Latvian National Opera.

Tue 5 Jun Early evening arrival in Riga and transfer to your hotel, the 5-star Hotel Reval Ridzene in the city centre, 5 minutes walk from the Old Town and close to the opera house. Welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Wed 6 Jun Join your guide for a morning tour of Riga’s Old Town and the Art Nouveau district. Highlights include the Dome Cathedral, Riga Castle, St Peter’s Church and the House of the Blackheads. We conclude the tour with a taste of the Riga Black Balsam - first made in the middle of the 18th century - and lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure before your evening performance at the Latvian National Opera.

Thu 7 Jun This morning join your guide for a backstage tour of the opera house concluding with refreshments in one of the opera house’s reception halls. Afternoon at leisure before your evening festival performance.

Fri 8 Jun Today we take a tour to the baroque Rundale Palace, situated outside Riga. Built as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland Ernst Johann Biron by the Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the opulent palace was completed in two stages from 1736 to 1740 and 1763 to 1768. Lunch is included. Return to Riga for the evening performance.

Sat 9 Jun This morning we visit the Dome Cathedral for an organ recital on one of the largest and most famous organs in Europe. This is followed by a farewell lunch in a local restaurant. Enjoy your last afternoon at leisure before the optional evening performance (4th-category tickets available).

Sun 10 Jun Transfer to Riga airport for your flight home.

Flights: Air Baltic

Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.