The Greek island of Corfu
and two days in Albania
Cultured, historic, with great natural beauty

27 September – 4 October 2009

This will be our 22nd year in this beautiful, historic Greek Island with the Divertimenti in Corfu String Quartet Festival.

The Old Town of Corfu is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This year we shall include two days in Albania visiting the amazing archaeological site Butrint and the historic Ottoman town Gjirokastra.

This is an ideal Holiday for players and  listeners - so much for the cultured visitor who loves history and natural beauty and enjoys world class music in superb settings and a relaxed sociable ambience with like minded people. The Old Town of Corfu is truly a jewel of the Mediterranean with its maze of narrow streets, elegant Venetian mansions and charming squares. The fascinating museums and galleries in Corfu town and surrounds reflect the history of this amazing island which stretches back to the 8th Century B.C. The Venetian, Napoleonic and British eras left a legacy of fine buildings giving a unique atmosphere. In the north the rugged mountains, delightful villages and rocky coastline dotted with idyllic coves contrast with the south and west which have long stretches of sandy beaches, picturesque villages, coastal plains covered with centuries old olive groves backed by dramatic hills.

“Thank you for yet another memorable holiday. The Herold's concerts were excellent and Jan Valta's coaching was full of insights. The trip to Albania was a great success and Butrint certainly came up to expectations. The guide was first-rate.”
Barbara and Harold Miller. England.

During the first week we visit Albania. The hydrofoil takes just 30 minutes from Corfu Town to Saranda where our experienced guide will meet us. We visit Saranda Castle with fantastic views in all directions where the guide will give us background information and answer any questions. We then drive through breathtaking mountain scenery to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Gjirokastra. We visit wonderfully preserved examples of Ottoman architecture, Kule  houses in the Old Town, the Bazaar, an 18th Century Mosque and two 18th Century churches and towering over everything the Citadel. On our return drive we visit the famous Blue Eye, We return to Saranda for dinner and an overnight stay in a charming hotel on the Promenade overlooking the subtropical gardens and the sea. On our second day we visit  the amazing archaeological site at Butrint for a private guided tour of around three hours then a late  lunch in a delightful seafood restaurant before returning to Saranda to sail for Corfu in the late afternoon.

Day by day programme

“We spent a wonderful day in Butrint, Albania, with an excellent guide. The Herold Quartet gave three marvellous performances during the second week when I was there. The Ravel, Beethoven's  opus 131 and Schubert's Death and the Maiden were particularly memorable. Thank you Vivienne for making all the arrangements and congratulations on the occasion of 25 years as music holiday organiser and 18 years Divertimenti in Corfu.”
Walter Otten. London, UK and Lichtenstein.

We have been coming to this magical island since 1986. September and October are superb - the second summer with a mellow ambience which comes after the heat of high summer. The clear blue skies are reflected in the intense sapphire colour of the sea. The perfume of the gardenias and other exotic plants pervades the air, the bright hues of the roses, geraniums, bougainvillea and hibiscus are set against the greens of the olive and cypress trees. The sea is warm and you may well experience an amazing phosphorescence if you walk along the beach in the evening.

"This was a superb musical holiday in lush Corfu. Chamber ensemble playing by the beach was stimulating and enjoyable, with expert coaching in a very relaxed and supportive atmosphere from the highly personable members of the Kocian Quartet and Kinsky Trio. The Corfu summer evenings are illuminated by the now well known Divertimenti in Corfu concerts held in delightful specially chosen locations, often in private villas or gardens, with an intimate atmosphere that makes you realise this is how chamber music is meant to be heard, en famille and not in the stadium proportions of many of today's concert halls. During the day, when not playing in ensembles or enjoying yet another drink at the beachside taverna, there is ample opportunity for impromptu exploring of Corfu's attractions, such as the labyrinth of charming alleys in the Old Town, the Byzantine Museum, the famous Paleokastritsa Monastery, boat trips and excursions to old mountain villages."
Sasha Stepanova, Prague.

CONCERTS
The Divertimenti in Corfu Festival which started in 1992 continues to attract local residents and tourists to the superb concerts in marvellous locations. We are delighted to have the outstanding Czech musicians - the Herold Quartet from Prague. These brilliant musicians not only delight audiences with their fantastic concerts but are excellent coaches and are very much part of our group for meals and social occasions. The programmes will include Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, Smetana and Ravel. Once again this year there will be a Candlelit Baroque evening, in a converted Venetian Olive Press; and concerts in a Winery with an Art Exhibition; an historic Venetian Mansion; a superb private villa with stunning views and gardens; and a delightful Country Club in the north of the island.

"Corfu was an exhilarating adventure. A unique blend of scenic splendour, beautiful music and cheerful companionship."
Patricia Luppino, New York.

ACCOMMODATION
Our four star, family-run boutique hotel was built in the neo-classical style. Set in an area of great natural beauty it overlooks the west coast with its majestic cliffs and superb long sandy beaches. To the east there are breathtaking views of Corfu Town, much of the island, the east coast and Greek Mainland. The ambience is exclusive and intimate where one is a guest not a room number. The communal areas of the hotel have lovely paintings and antiques, reflecting the owner’s interest in history and culture. The elegant, romantically decorated bedrooms have spacious en-suite bathrooms with full size bath and shower. They also have air-conditioning, a fridge/minibar, a safety deposit box, cable TV and direct-dial telephones. All rooms have balconies with spectacular views.
The lounge and dining room open on to the extensive terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea. The breakfast room opens onto a charming terrace. There is a café-bar and the hotel provides 24-hour room service. The delightful swimming pool is set in extensive gardens and the charming 500 year old family chapel is of great interest. The computer in the lounge area offers free internet access for guests.
Just 11 km from Corfu Town, the hotel is a short distance from the superb unspoilt sandy beaches of the west coast, while the island's main sights of interest are all within easy reach. The village of Pelekas - attractive, lively and unspoiled is a few minutes walk and a lookout with the best views of the island is one minute's walk away. An excellent 18 hole golf course is 4 km away. 
There is an extensive buffet breakfast and dinner is served in the dining room or on the terrace overlooking the sea. There are three courses with two choices of menu. Warm hospitality, where nothing is too much trouble, will make your stay memorable.

"Once again we had a lovely holiday, all your arrangements were just right. We had such good chamber music,lovely weather and met such interesting people."
Barbara Bungey England.

PLAYING and COACHING
Scheduled playing in the mornings with coaching by members of the Herold quartet. Requests for coaching on specific music should be sent to Vivienne by late July. Some Haydn Quartets will be included in the coaching sessions as well as one or two of the Dvorak. Places for playing sessions include the wonderful 500 year old private chapel belonging to the hotel owners as well as rooms in the hotel. You will also have opportunities to discuss musical topics at meals and parties. An extensive music library and stands are provided. There is a keyboard and a limited number of violin, viola and cello rentals are available.

"Thank you so much for a splendid holiday. Your formula is spot-on, combining all the elements of a first class holiday - good hotel, excellent excursions, everything taken care of - together with the superlative music component. The musicians contributed so much, with their enthusiastic coaching, their high level concerts and their warm participation in all the social activities. Such a nice group of people."
Sara Manobla, Israel.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES
There are parties to meet all the participants and professional musicians and lunchtime barbeques at Vivienne’s villa which are always a very sociable occasion with several people involved in cooking including the Herold Quartet.  
During the first week we have a fascinating two day excursion to Albania – details of this are in the third paragraph above. This fast developing country is attracting a rapidly increasing number of tourists, especially since it became a member of NATO. An unusual and truly memorable experience.
We visit historic Corfu Town now a World Heritage Site. The winding streets of the old Venetian town; the two Venetian Fortresses; historic churches; the Palace of St. Michael and St. George with its magnificent Museum of Asiatic Art and the absorbing Archaeological Museum. Time for sitting in the outdoor cafes and shopping - a wonderful place for browsing, bargaining and buying.
We are hoping by November to have finalised plans for a concert in the monastery of Zitsa in the mountainous area of mainland Greece opposite Corfu. This would be a day excursion including the ancient amphitheatre of Dordona. More details above under concerts.  

Other excursions include;

• An afternoon first in the excellent Archaeological Museum, then in Mon Repos at the fascinating Paleopolis Museum and historic sites including the ruins of the Doric Temple of Artemis built between 590 and 580 BC. Before returning to the hotel we go to the roof garden of a hotel with superb views in all directions for a drink or coffee.
• A tour in the mountainous north of the island to see many places of outstanding natural beauty and picturesque villages.
• A visit to a winery and olive farm with an interesting museum and a short film showing wine and olive production.
• A day spent exploring the south with an opportunity to lunch in a famous (but not expensive!) seafood restaurant.
• A day trip on a boat to explore the superb coastline in the north east of this enchanting island, great snorkelling and swimming, stopping at two unpopulated beaches to swim and for a barbeque lunch. We also visit historic Kassiopi.
• Visits to a magnificent private garden and villa.
• A visit to the Achilleon - former palace of Empress Elizabeth of Austria.
• An evening wandering through the Old Town of Corfu.
• Time to explore the village minutes walk from the hotel. This is a traditional Corfiot village.
• Several visits to the beaches below the hotel, the best long sandy beaches on the island with charming tavernas, ideal for a lunchtime snack. There is a shuttle bus and we also use our rental cars.

Rental cars are provided for our excursions giving the flexibility to explore out of the way parts of this fascinating island. There are many interesting places for walking and horse riding.

GOLFING OPTIONS
There is an excellent golf course in the picturesque centre of the island just 4 km from the hotel, reputed to be one of the best in the Mediterranean. Players can have coaching and chamber music in the morning and golfing in the afternoon while non players can combine golf in the mornings with our sightseeing, social and concert programme. Email us for details.

FLIGHTS
For information and bookings for flights to Corfu from within Europe we highly recommend that you contact Kappa Vita Travel (phone +30 26610 34081). Mention that you are part of the Chamber Music Holidays group. Participants flying from North America especially have found them most helpful finding connecting flights to enable them to fly directly to Corfu from London, airports in Germany and various other European countries. There are scheduled flights from London Gatwick most days in addition to many charter flights from all over Europe.

For information about sailing from Venice to Corfu contact cmhf@otenet.gr. This mini cruise is around 24 hours. We sail out of Venice with superb views of this unique city from the top deck of our modern ship, passing the Grand Canal, St Mark's Square, the Vivaldi Church and many other places of interest. The ship has a range of cabins from luxury to cheaper options, two restaurants, a bar, coffee shop, cinema, swimming pool and various other amenities.

PRICE PER PERSON in EUROS

1 week twin or double (22 Sept – 29 Sept) 1,198 euros
1 week twin or double (29 Sept – 6 Oct) 1,098 euros
2 weeks twin or double (22 Sept – 6 Oct) 1,898 euros

1 week single (22 Sept – 29 Sept) 1,288 euros
1 week single (29 Sept – 6 Oct) 1,148 euros
2 weeks single (22 Sept – 6 Oct) 1,998 euros

Price includes accommodation with half board as above, all concerts, informal parties, the amenities of the hotel, all excursions including boat trips and entrances to museums as above also the use of the music library and stands and all coaching. This does not include transport by sea or air to Corfu as participants come from all parts of the world.

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