CIC Central Europe Performance Tour 2010

Merry Christmas from Incantato with a special video from our talented Virgil Rosales and his band

2011-12-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

Incantato Dolce Vita presents an Epicurean Discovery Tour to Italy exclusively for Voices members, family and friends

2011-12-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

Travel Insurance - Please make sure you are protected!

2010-09-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

Incantato Tours strongly recommend getting travel insurance for your upcoming journey. Not only are you covered medically should anything happen when traveling, but with TravelGuard's policies, you also protect your investment should you have to cancel or interrupt the trip. Last not least, there is also coverage for delayed and lost luggage etc.
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Pictures to preserve the memories - from Roger Gray

2010-07-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Full House for the Carolina International Chorale at St. Michael's Church in Budapest

2010-07-05T03:27:00.000-07:00

The Carolina International Chorale concluded its 2010 Incantato Performance Tour to Central Europe on July 2 with a finale highlight concert at St. Michael's Church in the heart of Budapest. The singers & string players from Chapel Hill, NC under the direction of Dr. Sue Klausmeyer were supported by local musicians from the Matyas Templon Orchestra and enchanted the audience with works from Mozart and Vivaldi along with a selection of American spirituals. A full house and lots of applause was the perfect ending for the 11-day journey that started in Prague and went via Cesky Krumlov, the Wachau Valley and Vienna (Austria) to Hungary.

CIC finale 2010 European Tour Concert takes place at St. Michael's Church in Budapest on July 2 at 6 pm

2010-07-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday, July 2, the musicians from Chapel Hill, NC, are presenting the last tour concert in the heart of Budapest, at the beautiful baroque church of St. Michael.
Here is a short history of the finale concert venue for the Carolina International Chorale & String-Ensemble.
The Church of St Michael was built in the 18th century on the spot of a medieval dominican church destroyed during turkish wars. A temporary chapel was standing here between 1700 and 1716, present church was finished only by 1765. Figure of Virgin Mary adorning its frontal facade is considered to be created by Donner. Statues of Saint Dominic and Saint Thomas Aquinas carved by Joseph Hebenstreit also decorate this facade. The church had a vivid history in the XIXth century: although destroyed by fire and floods, it managed to survive and got restored. The latest restoration started in 1999. The single-naved church was decorated with ceiling frescoes and side paintings in the middle of the 18th century. The main altar, inlaid benches, furniture of the sacristy date back to 1760, they are works of Dominican monks. The main altar shows St. Dominic with Virgin Mary handing a rosary to him. Statues of important religious persons in connection with the Dominican order can be found around the painting. On the left: statue of Pope Pius V. and St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence. On the right: St. Augustine and Pope Innocent V. The first organ of the church was built in 1801 by organ builder Joseph Herodek which was entirely rebuilt by company Rieger in 1893. It was again renovated in 1951. Baroque statues depicting King David playing the harp and two angels are shown on the top of the organ.
For more information and a virtual visit, click on the following link

July 2: CIC visits Szentendre

2010-07-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

Szentendre is a riverside town in Pest county, Hungary, near the capital city Budapest. It is known for its museums (most notably the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum), galleries, and artists. Due to its picturesque appearance and easy rail and river access, it has become a popular destination for tourists staying in Budapest. There are many facilities including shops and restaurants catering for these visitors. Populated for well over a millennium, under the Romans it was called Ulcisia Castra, meaning "Wolf Castle". Since the 1500s it was considered the center of the Hungarian Serb community. At one point it had as many as eight Serbian Orthodox church buildings and 3 chapels, and only one each Roman-Catholic and Evangelical. It is still the see of the Buda Diocese of the Serb Orthodox Church. Szentendre and the surrounding villages were also inhabited by Bulgarians ever since the Middle Ages. In 1690, the Serbian teacher and hegumen Stevan notes that Szentendre was even called Bolgarija by some. It had a Bulgarian neighbourhood of settlers from Chiprovtsi and a Chiprovtsi church. The names of locals clearly hint at a Bulgarian population. In the 1700s, after liberation from the Turks, Szentendre enjoyed a rebirth with Mediterranean leanings, as Serbian, Croatian, Slovak, German and Greek newcomers moved in and lived alongside the Magyar inhabitants. According to the 1720 data, 88% of the population of the town were South Slavs (mostly Serbs, but also some South Slavic Catholics). The town to this day is characterised by a south European atmosphere with much baroque architecture, churches of various faiths, narrow sidestreets, and cobblestone roads.

Home away from home in Budapest: K+K Hotel Opera

2010-07-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

The K+K Hotel Opera Budapest ist a 4 star boutique hotel right in the heart of the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. Aside from its ideal location in the city center in a quiet side street just off the Opera, this beautiful property is Austrian-owned and operated which stands for excellence in service and a wonderful breakfast. The main shopping street Vaci Utca is within easy reach too. The quite spacious guest rooms feature individually adjustable air-conditioning, sound-proof windows, satellite TV with international channels, ISDN direct-dial telephone, safe, mini-bar, coffee & tea making facilities, free high speed Internet access via LAN, electronic door lock plus fully equipped bathrooms with bathtub, hair-dryer and cosmetic mirror. The hotel offers a bistro as well as room service. And last not least, there is a wellness area offering a range of services to help your body and mind to relax, provide energy and well being! Sauna and gym can be used free of charge. Massages are available upon request and incur a fee while fitness with weight and cardio training equipment as well as the sauna and relaxation zone are free of charge. We sure hope you agree that when it comes to the Budapest Hotel, change is for the better.

Welcome to Budapest!

2010-07-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Budapest is the next stop on the CIC itinerary. The travelers arrived in the Hungarian city on Thursday, July 1, at around noon. Here are some interesting facts about the vibrating city:

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe. In 2009, Budapest had 1,712,210 inhabitants, down from a mid-1980s peak of 2.1 million. The Budapest Commuter Area (or Greater Budapest) is home to 3,271,110 people. The city covers an area of 525 square kilometres (202.7 sq mi) within the city limits.
Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right (west)-bank Buda and Óbuda with left (east)-bank Pest.
Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement, was the direct ancestor of Budapest, becoming the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. Magyars arrived in the territory in the 9th century. Their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241-42. The re-established town became one of the centers of Renaissance humanist culture in the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohács and nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule, development of the region entered a new age of prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Budapest became a global city after the 1873 unification. It also became the second capital of Austria-Hungary, a great power that dissolved in 1918. Budapest was the focal point of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Hungarian Soviet Republic of 1919, Operation Panzerfaust in 1944, the Battle of Budapest of 1945, and the Revolution of 1956.
Regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, its extensive World Heritage Site includes the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes' Square and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second oldest in the world. Other highlights include a total of 80 geothermal springs, the world's largest thermal water cave system, second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building. The collections of the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts are also significant. The city attracts over 20 million visitors a year.

Home away from home in Vienna: The Carolina International Chorale stays at Austria Trend Hotel Neue Messe

2010-06-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Austria Trend Hotel Neue Messe is a modern 4-star hotel located just a short bus ride or subway stop away from Vienna's historic city center. Across the street is the famous Prater Park with its world-famous giant historic Ferris Wheel. Each of the spacious rooms has free internet, voice mail, cable TV, air conditioning and a safe. The breakfast is served buffet-style and offers a variety of traditional breakfast foods along with fresh fruit and really good strong Austrian coffee.

Wednesday, June 30: CIC explores Vienna

2010-06-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

CIC is visiting Vienna during the Performance Tour 2010. Incantato Tours discovered some interesting facts about the Austrian city:

Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million (2.3 million within the metropolitan area, more than 25% of Austria's population), and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th largest city by population in the European Union. Vienna is host to many major international organizations such as the United Nations and OPEC. Vienna lies in the east of Austria and is close to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Founded around 500 BC, Vienna was originally a Celtic settlement. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2005 an Economist Intelligence Unit study of 127 world cities ranked it first equal with Vancouver for the quality of life. This assessment was mirrored by the Mercer Survey in 2009.
Art and culture have a long tradition in Vienna, including theater, opera, classical music and fine arts. The Burgtheater is considered one of the best theaters in the German-speaking world alongside its branch, the Akademietheater. The Volkstheater Wien and the Theater in der Josefstadt also enjoy good reputations. There is also a multitude of smaller theaters, in many cases devoted to less mainstream forms of performing arts, such as modern, experimental plays or cabaret.
Vienna is also home to a number of opera houses, including the Theater an der Wien, the Staatsoper and the Volksoper, the latter being devoted to the typical Viennese operetta. Classical concerts are performed at well known venues such as the Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Wiener Konzerthaus. Many concert venues offer concerts aimed at tourists, featuring popular highlights of Viennese music (particularly the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss).
In recent years, the Theater an der Wien has become widely known for hosting premieres of musicals, although it has recently devoted itself to the opera again. The most successful musical by far was "Elisabeth", which was later translated into several other languages and performed all over the world. The Haus der Musik ("house of music") opened in 2000.

CIC in Göttweig: Regina Coeli by W. A. Mozart

2010-06-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

CIC in Göttweig: Regina Coeli

2010-06-30T02:01:00.000-07:00

CIC: "Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal"

2010-06-30T01:46:00.000-07:00

Impressions from the CIC Concert at Göttweig Abbey

2010-06-30T01:42:00.000-07:00

CIC concertizes at the Stiftskirche (Benedictine Abbey of Goettweig, Austria) on Tuesday, June 29, at 7:30 pm

2010-06-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

The abbey, situated on the Göttweig Mountain, is - because of its location - sometimes called the Austrian Montecassino. The Monastery, founded in 1083 by Saint Altmann, sits on a hill 449 m above sea level in the Dunkelsteiner Forest south of the city of Krems, on the eastern edge of the world-famous Danube Valley called the Wachau. With the Wachau, Göttweig was in 2001 placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And on Tuesday, June 29, the Carolina International Chorale will be performing in the prestigious Stiftskirche pictured below.

At first, Augustines worked here, to be followed in 1094 by Benedictine monks from the Monastery of St. Blasien in the Black Forest. The Benedictines have been living, learning and teaching on Göttweig Mountain for more than 900 years. The goal of their life is to glorify God in prayer and work according to the Rule of their Order’s founder, Saint Benedict, the Patron Saint of Europe. Currently 54 monks belong to the monastic community. More than 30 of them give pastoral care to parishioners and pilgrims in the Dioceses of Vienna and St. Pölten. Forestry and viticulture have been the economic basis of the Monastery since it was founded - today completed by various touristic and economic efforts.

Beautiful Wachau: CIC in Dürnstein on Tuesday, June 29

2010-06-28T15:49:00.001-07:00

Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and also a well-known wine growing area. The municipality consists of the Katastralgemeinden Dürnstein, Oberloiben and Unterloiben. The town gained its name from the medieval castle which overlooked it. The castle was called "Duerrstein" or "Dürrstein", from the German duerr/dürr meaning "dry" and Stein, "stone". The castle was dry because it was situated on a rocky hill, high above the damp conditions of the Danube at the base of the hill, and it was built of stone. Dürnstein was first mentioned in 1192, when, in the castle above the town, King Richard I Lionheart of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V of Austria after their dispute during the Third Crusade. Richard had personally offended Leopold by casting down his standard from the walls at the Battle of Acre, and the duke suspected that King Richard ordered the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat in Jerusalem. In consequence Pope Celestine III excommunicated Leopold for capturing a fellow crusader. The duke finally gave the custody of Richard to Emperor Henry VI, who imprisoned Richard at Trifels Castle. Dürnstein Castle was almost completely destroyed by the troops of the Swedish Empire under Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson in 1645. Dürnstein Abbey (Stift Dürnstein) was established in 1410 by Canons Regular from Třeboň and from 1710 rebuilt in a Baroque style according to plans by Joseph Munggenast, Jakob Prandtauer and Matthias Steinl. The monastery was dissolved by order of Emperor Joseph II in 1788 and fell to the Herzogenburg Priory. During the War of the Third Coalition the Battle of Dürenstein was fought nearby on November 11, 1805.

Discover Melk Abbey

2010-06-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Melk Abbey will welcome the CIC travelers on Tuesday morning, June 29. Melk Abbey was originally a palace, and it shows. Located on the bank of the Danube River between Salzburg and Vienna, Melk Abbey stands crowned by towers and resplendent in a golden hue. The impressive Baroque ensemble at Melk was built in 1702-1736 by architect Jakob Prandtauer. Especially noteworthy is the church with magnificent frescoes by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library containing countless medieval manuscripts. The monastic community of Melk is over 900 years old and black-robed Benedictine monks still stroll amidst the marble sculptures and frescoed walls. It is now also a prestigious coed monastery school with more than 700 students.

Home away from Home in Krems - June 28 & 29

2010-06-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

Steigenberger Avance Hotel, a 4 star hotel, is surrounded by vineyards, apricot gardens and mystical villages. In the middle of this enchanting countryside, high above the river Danube and the 1,000 year old town of Krems, stands the hotel. It offers splendid views of the city of Krems and marvelous opportunities for walks through Lower Austria’s lovely Wachau region. One can also enjoy the Spa World, the hotel's wellness area. It includes an infinity indoor pool with large panorama windows, that allow views of the vineyards, a panorama terrace with pool bar, as well as organic herbal saunas and more.

CIC explores Linz

2010-06-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

On their way to Krems, the CIC travelers stop in Linz and explore the Austrian city on a guided tour. Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria. It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately 30 km south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is 189,284 (2009), and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is 271,000. The city was founded by the Romans, who called it Lentia. The name Linz was first recorded in 799 AD, after Bavarians expanded south and Linz became a center of trade.

Next stop: Krems, Austria

2010-06-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

Visit the website of Krems and the Danube Valley for information and impressions from the beautiful part of Austria.

CIC Wine Tasting this afternoon - Essential culinary experiences on the 2010 CIC Tour

2010-06-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

In addition to planning unique performance tours to Europe, our team of American and European travel specialists and concert managers shares another passion. Those of you who traveled with Incantato already know that we are foodies and love to share our culinary discoveries with you. This refers to the meals you enjoy together as a group as well as the times when you are on your own. Have a look at the Sonnleitner wine cellar and their tasting room which CIC will visit this afternoon for a special tasting. The terrace even offers you a spectacular view of the Benedictine Abbey where CIC is presenting a highlight concert on Tuesday, June 29 at 7:30 pm.

CIC concert at Chapel of St. Ann in Panenské Brezany (Czech Republic) on Saturday, June 26, at 6 pm

2010-06-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

The beautiful Chapel of St. Ann was built by architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel in the 18th century and it will be renovated soon. The chapel is based on circles crossing each other in intricate ways. The organ is precious and can be used for concerts.
Jan Blažej Santini Aichel (February 3, 1677 - December 7, 1723) was a Czech architect of Italian descent, whose major works represent a curious amalgam of the Gothic and Baroque styles. Santini was born in Prague to a family of stonemasons. His grandfather Antonin Aichel moved from Italy to Prague in the 30th of the 17th century. Borromini's influence is apparent in his predilection for star-shaped forms and complex symbolism. Many of his buildings are airy and elegant, yet he was considered a maverick genius by his contemporaries and exerted little influence on subsequent generations of Bohemian architects.

First CIC Tour Concert at St. Nicholas Church in Prague on Friday, June 25, at 2 pm

2010-06-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

The Hussite Church of St. Nicholas on the Old Town Square in Prague is the venue for the first CIC 2010 Performance Tour concert. The Carolina International Chorale and String Ensemble present an afternoon concert at this beautiful baroque church on Friday, June 25, at 2 pm.
The construction on St. Nicholas was completed in 1735. It replaced a parish church, mentioned in records dating back as early as 1273. It wasn't until 1901, when the Krenn House was demolished, that its lovely white façade became visible to the rest of the Old Town Square. It simply gleams, hit by the sun during the day and lit by strong white lights at night. St. Nicholas is a Baroque church, decorated with sculptures by Antonín Braun. The interior design was inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-invalides in Paris. The delicate stucco decoration was executed by Bernardo Spinetti, and the frescos are by Peter Adam the Elder. In 1781 decoration inside St. Nicholas was removed after emperor Josef II ordered the closure of all monasteries without a social function.From 1870-1914 St. Nicholas became Russian Orthodox. Then, during the second World War, Czech army units were stationed here and artists were set to work restoring the church. After the war, St. Nicholas was handed over to the Czech Hussite movement, with whom it remains today. It now serves as both a church and a magnificent venue for classical concerts.

Welcome to Prague!

2010-06-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated on the Vltava River in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. For many decades during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the city proper is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, making the city one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.1 million international visitors annually.
Prague is traditionally one of the cultural centres of Europe, hosting many cultural events. There are hundreds of concert halls, galleries, cinemas and music clubs in the city. Prague hosts Music Festivals including the Prague Spring International Music Festival, the Prague Autumn International Music Festival and the Prague International Organ Festival. Film festivals include the Febiofest, the One World and Echoes of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Prague also hosts the Prague Writers' Festival, the Summer Shakespeare Festival, the Prague Fringe Festival, the World Roma Festival as well as hundreds of Vernissages and fashion shows.

Wishing you safe travels to Central Europe

2010-06-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

The CIC Tour is about to take off on Incantato's preferred airline: Lufthansa. After your short commuter flights, the members of the 2010 CIC Central Europe Performance Tour, are boarding the German airline for the long-haul and inter-European journey. While we recommend that you do get some sleep on the transatlantic overnight flight, you are in for several treats such as hot towels to refresh yourself shortly after take-off, two warm meals served with salad and dessert plus two or more recent movies. For more information on the on-board experience, visit Lufthansa's website. The Incantato Tours Team wishes you save travels and an unforgettable stay in Europe!

Weather Forecast for Prague

2010-06-22T05:50:00.000-07:00

With the CIC tour to Central Europe just around the corner, the Incantato Tours team had a look at the weather forecast for the next few days in Prague, the first stop on the itinerary. On Thursday, June 24, the weather is said to be mostly sunny with some clouds and temperature around 69°F. Partly cloudy sky and perfect weather for sightseeing (71°F) awaits CIC on Friday, June 25. On Saturday it is again partly cloudy (69°F) in Prague.

Vienna Restaurant Tip: Fabios

2010-06-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dear CIC travelers,
If you would like to dine at a high quality restaurant, then follow the tip of the website www.redguide.at and visit Fabios. Owner Fabio Giacobello says that Italian cuisine is a matter of the heart, and you can taste that. The Vienna VIPs aren’t the only ones that are convinced of the Italian’s culinary art. International celebrities also love the place, Mick Jagger, Uma Thurman and Bruce Springsteen were already here. The restaurant is located on the street Tuchlauben 6, 1010 Vienna; phone: +43 01 5322222. It's open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 1 am.

Vienna Sightseeing Tip: The Mumok

2010-06-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

The Mumok (Museum Moderner Kunst/Museum of Modern Art) is the biggest museum of contemporary art in Central Europe, and Vienna’s greatest. The Mumok is always worth a visit, if only for its architecture. And inside it’s just as impressive, since the curators can draw from an extensive collection and present interesting focal points. There are five levels with works by Pablo Picasso, Nam June Paik, Andy Warhol and Günter Brus, ranging from Pop Art to Photorealism and from Fluxus to New Realism. 230 pieces were given to the museum by the German industrialist and art lover Peter Ludwig and his wife Irene in 1981. The Mumok regularly organizes special exhibitions and is known for its large collection of art related to Viennese Actionism. The Mumok is located in the Museumsquartier in Vienna, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien; Phone: +43-1-525 00. It is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, Thursdays till 9 pm. This sightseeing tip originates from the website www.redguide.at.

Take a ride on the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel

2010-06-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Dear members of the Carolina International Chorale & String Ensemble,
If you would like to see Vienna from above and enjoy an amazing experience, then go on a ride with the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel. On Wednesday, June 30, you have the opportunity to take a ride in the evening, please advise Dr. Klausmeyer if you would like to participate.
Here is some information about the famous Ferris Wheel: The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel (in German: Riesenrad) is located at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt. It is now one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, and symbolizes the district as well as the city for many people. The Riesenrad was one of the earliest Ferris wheels, erected in 1897 to celebrate Emperor Franz Josef I's golden Jubilee, and has an overall height of 64.75 meters (212.4 ft). The wheel originally had 30 gondolas, but was severely damaged in the World War II, and when it was rebuilt, only 15 gondolas were replaced. The spokes are steel cables, in tension, and the wheel is driven by a circumferential cable which leaves the wheel and passes through the drive mechanism under the base. A demolition permit for the Riesenrad was issued in 1916, but due a lack to funds with which to carry out the destruction, it survived. For more information, please click here.

Vienna City Tips

2010-06-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dear travelers,
If you would like to know more about the beautiful city of Vienna, what to see and where to shop, then visit the website www.redguide.at. You will also find more pictures online to get an impression about the Austrian capital which you are going to visit on June 30.

A quick reminder about the luggage policy on your upcoming tour

2010-06-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Members of the CIC 2010 Performance Tour. We sure hope you are looking forward to being in Europe soon. Here is a quick reminder about what to bring and also what not.
Due to limited luggage space on the coach, Incantato's policy allows only one checked suitcase within the dimensions and weight limites imposed by Lufthansa for international flights.
The size of the bag is not to exceed 62 inches and not to exceed 50 pounds (23 kilos).
You are also allowed a small, and we recommend ideally backpack-style carry-on, which should not exceed 45 total inches and a weight of 18 pounds or 8 kilos.
I wish we could make any exceptions for garment bags, but cannot do so with the amount of travellers coming on the CIC tour and sharing one coach. As you also have fellow violinists and viola players traveling whose instruments are fragile and cannot be checked, we kindly ask you to please allow the strings to board ahead of you as just in case the room in the overhead compartment should fill up all the way, additional carry-ons will be checked curbside, but we would not want for that to happen to a string instrument.
Here is the answer we received from our partners at Lufthansa in regards to their carry-on policies and advise how we can all work together to benefit the string players when it comes to bringing their instruments on the plane:

Please advise the travelers to take as little carry-on with them as possible. Since the group occupies about 1/3 of the connecting flights, that should then not be a problem with the over-head bins.The passengers with carry-on string instruments should approach the gate agent and ask to be considered for preboarding and point out the violas and violins.

Cell phone links to help you travel internationally

2010-06-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Cell phones can be tricky if you don't notify your wireless company prior to leaving the country. When you do notify them, the process is pretty painless, but you have to notify them. There are various services to meet your needs, regarding phone calls, messages, texts, pictures, etc. Since there are so many carriers, we are giving you some links to go to based on your provider. Hopefully this will help you stay connected while you are traveling this summer.

For T-Mobile:
WorldClass international service

For Verizon:
http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Roaming/index.html

For Sprint:
http://shop.sprint.com/en/services/worldwide/worldwide.shtml

For AT&T:
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/international-roaming.jsp

Power in Europe

2010-06-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Dear travelers,
Here’s another travel tip from Greg Egan that might be useful to you. If you are bringing digital cameras, laptops, etc. on our trip or anything else that needs power then you might want to read on. Here in the U.S. we run on 110 volts/60 cycles. In Europe they run on 220 volts/50 cycles. In the past, people who traveled to Europe had to bring power converters that were heavy and expensive but would turn foreign voltage/cycles into U.S. voltage/cycles. However, most, if not all power supplies that we now have for cameras and computers are dual voltage. That means they can tell what power is coming in and can use it. So, no more power converters. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there is no international standard for the plug that goes into a socket. Which means that the plug we have (2 or 3 prong here in the U.S.) will not fit in a European socket. In most cases the European socket takes a plug with 2 round prongs. There are adapters that are relatively inexpensive that allow a U.S. plug to plug in to the back of the adapter and the front of the adapter plugs into the European socket.
What you need to do is to look on your power supply (camera, laptop, etc.). On the power supply it will give you the information you need to determine if it is a dual power supply or not. Look for Input 100-240 V (volts) 50-60 Hz (cycles). If it says that or something like it (you need to see 100 or 110 and 220 or 240) then it’s dual voltage.
The adapters for Europe look like the one on the picture. It’s a plug with 4mm round plugs (some are 5mm round plugs but they are for Asia).

Incantato proudly presents: The CIC Concert Marketing Cards

2010-06-14T08:08:00.001-07:00

We sure hope you like them as much as we do and thousands have been distributed in Prague, Göttweig and Budapest to spread the word about your upcoming concerts.

Travel Tip: Money matters

2010-06-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Travelers, for more information on how to handle your travel funds, this is a website recommended by one of the CIC tour members: Here is lots of useful information about Travel money comparison also you can directly apply for money cards, travel cards and travel currency cards.
From Incantato's experience, we recommend bringing a small amount of cash (ideally already in Euro) plus a debit card; this allows you to withdraw money from any ATM machine with only being charged a small withdrawal fee. The fee differs between banks. The ATMs in the various countries have only their local currency. Be sure to call your bank before your departure to tell them where you are going and for how long so they won't freeze your account. Some debit cards given by the bank have the compatibility of Visa, MasterCard, however, Visa is the most widely accepted worldwide. If you bring cash, you can exchange it but you will be charged commission and given a less favorable exchange rate to pay for this service. Most places in Europe won't accept traveler's checks anymore or only at a hefty fees, thus we do not recommend to bring them. Also, be prepared to pay for water and a little fee for restroom use. Last not least, there are no free refills on soft drinks in Europe which is why most Europeans ask for little to no ice in their drinks.
Around 20 Euro per day should cover a snack for lunch, drinks, postcards, some souvenirs. Dinners start around 15 Euro and there is not limit to the sky. Now you may be a more conservative spender and there are many ways to lower your expenses such as:
· Most restaurants have menus outside so you can check their price range.
· Venture off the main roads to find a restaurant. These usually have more character, better food, and better prices.
· Bring your own water bottle. Most places have safe tap water to fill up with.
· Buy food from the "convenient" stores. You don't have to sit down in the restaurant for every meal.
· Shop around for souvenirs; many stores have the same things on sale for very different prices.

Last not least, remember that your Incantato Tour Manager is with you pretty much 24/7. Barbara is there to help you make the right choices.

What's going on in the Czech Republic?

2010-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

If you would like to know what is going on in the Czech Republic, then take a look at the website CzechTourism. There you can find news about festivals, gallery openings, new exhibitions and many more. For example the Bohemia Jazz Fest, which is an open-air festival taking place in mid July on beautiful medieval squares in seven cities throughout the Czech Republic, featuring top jazz artists from around the world such as Stanley Clarke Quartet, Yellow Jackets, Roy Hargrove Quintet and many others. All concerts are free of charge, more info: www.bohemiajazzfest.cz. And then there is the new Krehky Gallery, which just opened in Prague. The Krehky Gallery will showcase the "Krehky Limited Edition" consisting of contemporary Czech glass and porcelain sculptures by Czech artists. More info: www.krehky.cz.

Travel Tipps from Greg Egan

2010-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Dear CIC travelers,
Here is some interesting information about your upcoming trip. Thanks to Greg Egan!

Currency: Every country accepts Euros. That makes life a lot easier since we’ll only need Euros and, in fact, some places take U.S. Dollars but prefer Euros.

Carry on Items: Liquids and gels in carryon luggage have to be no more than 3 oz. each and all of them have to fit in a 1 quart zip lock bag. That bag has to be placed in the tray on the X-Ray belt. They have always asked me to take my camcorder out of my backpack and put it on the belt as well. This is also true for Laptop Computers. If you are carrying a netbook (one of the little laptops in a protective sleeve) you can leave it in its sleeve but it must be put on the belt or in a tray. You can leave the power supply in your carry on. For more information you can go to this website http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm where there is all of the information about what’s permissible.

Locking Luggage: If you plan on locking your luggage you should use a lock that is sold as a TSA lock and has the red diamond on it. The TSA agents at US airports have a key that opens the lock so they can inspect your checked luggage. These locks are sold everywhere (Target, Wal*Mart, REI). In that way they can open and relock your luggage for overseas travel. If they do open your luggage they leave a nice note telling you they did. Every time they’ve inspected ours everything inside was just as we left it. I wish I could repack as well as they do. I guess practice makes perfect.

European Weather in June

2010-06-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

June 23 through July 2 2009 temperature history

	Prague		Budapest		Vienna
Date	High	Low	High	Low	High	Low
6/23/09	61	52	68	59	60	54
6/24/09	60	53	76	61	68	58
6/25/09	71	59	81	60	76	59
6/26/09	75	56	74	61	77	60
6/27/09	73	59	76	56	78	58
6/28/09	68	59	74	62	70	63
6/29/09	77	61	81	76	80	62
6/30/09	79	59	85	65	82	61
7/1/09	81	59	87	65	85	63
7/2/09	79	61	85	64	84	61

Averages	72.4	57.8	78.7	62.9	76.0	59.9

Many thanks to Greg Egan who did the research about the weather!

Eating in Prague

2010-06-07T06:52:00.001-07:00

Eating in Prague can be difficult. There are so many places to choose from with traditional Czech dishes, but the closer you get to the Old Town Square, the more expensive it can become (but at least the beer is pretty cheap!). Here are a couple of suggestions from Incantato Tours.

If you do not mind spending the money, I can suggest Restaurace U Supa, quite near the Old Town Square. It is just one of many traditional restaurants in the old town of Prague. It has a great outside cafe area right on the pedestrian street Celetna, and on a warm day, you can watch the people walk by and take in the old buildings around you. Here was the view from my table.

The menu offers a variety of food, with a large section of traditional Czech dishes, as well as pasta dishes and great appetizers for beer drinking :)

I ordered a Caprese Salad and a Pilsner Urquell (the main beer brewed in the Czech Republic - it is like Guinness to the Irish), and had quite a nice lunch, but be prepared to spend about $15-$25 per person.

Keep in mind that there are cheaper places to go for lunch, such as Paneria, where you can get many different kinds of baguettes, paninis, salads, etc. for a very good price. A meal will cost you about 150-200 Czech Crowns (less than $10).

Happy Eating!

-Tasha

Incantato Impressions: Cesky Krumlov

2010-06-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Incantato Impressions: Prague

2010-06-06T17:18:00.001-07:00

Homes away from Home: Accomodation Overview

2010-06-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

June 24-26, Prague
Mövenpick Hotel Prague, Mozartova 1 - 150 00 Prague, web: www.moevenpick-prague.com

June 27, Český Krumlov
1) Hotel The Old Inn, Nám. Svornosti 12, 38101 Český Krumlov,
phone: +420 380 772 199, web: www.hoteloldinn.cz
OR
2) Hotel Ruze, Horní 154 - 38101 Český Krumlov, phone: +420 380 772 100,
web: www.hotelruze.cz

June 28-29, Krems
Steigenberg Avance Hotel Krems, Am Goldberg 2, 3500 Krems,
phone: +43 27 32 710 10 715, web: www.steigenberger.com/Krems

June 30, Wien
Austria Trend Hotel Messe, Messestrasse 2, 1020 Wien,
phone: +43 1727 270, web: www.austria-trend.at/mhw

Juli 1-2, Budapest
K+K Hotel Opera, Révay utca 24, 1065 Budapest,
phone: +36-1-269 02 22, web: www.kkhotels.com/opera

A Beautiful Prague Welcome Dinner at The Blue Duckling II

2010-05-31T23:54:00.000-07:00

For the Carolina International Chorale's welcome dinner on their 2010 Performance Tour of Central Europe, Incantato Tours has hand-picked this delightful restaurant for your tasting pleasures!

The Blue Duckling II follows the success of the first restaurant bearing the same name, with a new locale mere steps away from the Old Town Square in Prague. The Blue Duckling II attempts to refine standard Czech dishes into true Bohemian haute cuisine, and has a menu that is loaded with an array of wild game and quirky spins on Czech village favorites. Even the President and former prime minister Václav Klaus took visiting leaders here when he wanted to prove that Czechs, too, have a unique style.

The building consists of small dining rooms with vaulted ceilings and playfully frescoed walls, and is packed with antique furniture and pastel-flowered linen upholstery. The Blue Duckling II is an ideal place to relax while tasting some very sophisticated Czech cuisine, where traditional recipes are improved to guarantee extraordinary culinary experiences.

Bon Appétit!

CIC Tour Itinerary updated

2010-05-03T06:11:00.000-07:00

Dear CIC travelers, please find a more updated itinerary below and you will be receiving your very detailed day by day information via email after Memorial Day Weekend. We sure hope you are excited about your upcoming tour to Central Europe -- Auf Wiedersehen from all of us at Incantato Tours.

DAY 1 Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Travel to Europe
Overnight group flight to Prague with Lufthansa.

Group Flight Schedule:

Raleigh to Philadelphia with US1238 departing at 3:40 PM, arrival at 5:11 PM
connect to LH 427 to Frankfurt departing at 6:50 PM and arriving at 9:05 AM (dinner and breakfast served on board) on June 24, then clear customs and immigration and continue with LH3260 to PRG departing at 12:00 PM and arriving at 1:00 PM.

DAY 2 Thursday, June 24
Vítejtes to Central Europe
Your tour manager Barbara Holl will welcome you at Prague airport and assist you in the transfer plus check-in at the Moevenpick Hotel. Time to rest prior to a welcome meeting in the lobby,followed by a special welcome dinner in Prague’s historic Old Town with local specialties.

Overnight in Prague at the Moevenpick Hotel.

Mövenpick Hotel Prague
Mozartova 1 - 150 00 Prague Czech Republic
Phone:+420 257 151 111
www.moevenpick-prague.com

DAY 3 Friday, June 25
Prague in-depth & first Concert
Your guided sightseeing tour starts in the Royal Castle District where you will see beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral and then cross over Charles‘ Bridge into the Old Town. Next stop is the Smetana Museum followed by free time for a quick lunch and a brief rehearsal.
At 2 pm, CIC presents the first formal concert at the baroque church of St. Nicholas located right in the heart of the city center and on one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. The remainder of the day is at your leisure under the guidance of your tour manager.

Overnight in Prague at the Moevenpick Hotel.

DAY 4 Saturday, June 26
Prague at Leisure - Evening Concert and reception
Explore the Czech capital at your own pace until the early afternoon, then around 2:30 pm take a short ride just a few miles outside of the city to the town of Panenské Brezany u Prahy for a special highlight performance in the magnificent Chapel of St. Ann. After the concert, a special reception by the local town's people awaits you and the mayor of the small village invites all members of the CIC Tour to refreshments. You will return to Prague around 8 pm.

Overnight in Prague at the Moevenpick Hotel.

DAY 5 Sunday, June 27
Magical Cesky Krumlov
After a leisurely breakfast and check-out around 9:30 am, drive to South Bohemia and visit Cesky Krumlov‘s historic city center (UNESCO World Heritage). You will arrive around noon. At 2 pm, two local guides show you around town for an hour or two. Aside from having plenty of time for museum visits, shopping or just strolling around town, a medieval-style dinner in a cellar tavern awaits you. The Satlava restaurants is one of our old time favorites and known for its special garlic soup. The now rustic tavern once served as the town prison.

Overnight at Hotel The Old Inn

Hotel The Old Inn
Nám. Svornosti 12 - 381 01 Český Krumlo
Tel: +420 380 772 500
www.hoteloldinn.czv

DAY 6 Monday, June 28
Via Linz to the Danube Valley
Cross the border to Austria and visit Linz. Two local guides will introduce you to their city’s highlights followed by free time for lunch. At 2 pm, continue along the Wachau Valley first to your hotel in Krems for check-in and to explore town. A special wine-tasting with some light snacks is offered this evening, dinner is on your own.

Overnight at Hotel Steigenberger Avance Krems

Steigenberger Avance Hotel
Am Goldberg 2 - 3500 Krems/Wachau, Österreich
Tel: +43 2732 71010
www.steigenberger.com/Krems

DAY 7 Tuesday, June 29
Krems - Melk - Dürnstein & another very special Concert
After a leisurely breakfast, your group visits beautiful Melk Abbey and then continues to the picturesque town of Dürnstein for lunch on your own. then continue to the Benedictine Abbey of Goettweig where a special reception and private tour awaits you. This evening, at 7:30 pm, a highlight concert takes place at the magnificent Stiftskirche at Göttweig Abbey followed by dinner in the panoramic restaurant.

Overnight at Hotel Steigenberger Krems

DAY 8 Wednesday, June 30
Vienna Sightseeing
“Willkommen in Wien“: Visit Schubert‘s Birthplace and the Mozart Museum, then drive along the famous Ring and last not least see Stephansdom. The afternoon and evening are at leisure so you can pursue your own activities, be it a stroll through the city center, attending a concert at the State Opera House or Schönbrunn Palace, or enjoying a special dinner at one of the many famous Viennese restaurants. Your home away from home is the Austria Trend Hotel Messe right near the Prater Park with the famous giant ferris wheel.

Overnight at Hotel Austria Trend Messe

Austria Trend Hotel Messe Wien
Messestraße 2 -1020 Wien, Austria
Tel.: +43 (1) 727 27-0
www.austria-trend.at/Hotel-Messe-Wien/en/

DAY 9 Thursday, July 1
Off to charming Budapest
Cross the border to Hungary and drive straight to Budapest. Start your stay in the Hungarian capital city with a panoramic sightseeing that takes you up to the Castle District, Matyas Templom and the Fishermen's Bastion. Evening at leisure.

Overnight at Hotel K+K Budapest Opera

K+K Hotel Opera
Révay utca 24, 1065 Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: +36-1-269 02 22
www.kkhotels.com/opera

DAY 10 Friday, July 2
Szentendre - Finale Concert & Cruise
Embark on a half-day excursion to the nearby artist colony of Szentendre in the morning, then return to Budapest in the afternoon for some free time. At 6 pm, CIC presents another highlight concert at the beautiful church of St. Michael’s followed by a fun farewell dinner cruise with music and local specialties on the Danube.

Overnight at Hotel K+K Budapest Opera

DAY 11 Saturday, July 3
Departure to the US
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight or for those of you who would like to stay longer, embark on your individual extensions.

Group Flight Schedule:
Leave Budapest on LH3465 departing at 7:00 AM to Munich arriving at 8:15 AM, connect to LH 428 to Charlotte leaving at 11:40 AM and arriving at 3:35 PM, clear immigrations and customs, then continue with US1236 to RDU departing at 8:05 PM and arriving at 8:58 PM.

Springtime in Vienna

2010-04-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Dear travelers of CIC,
Long-awaited springtime has finally arrived in Europe. On this occasion the Tourist Board of the Austrian capital, Vienna, launched a new campaign for outdoor & indoor activities in the beautiful city. As you are going to visit Vienna on your Incantato Performance Tour in June, check out the official website www.wien.info to learn more about what the city has to offer - like Summer Night's Concerts, new exhibitions and the Wiener Festwochen (drama & musical theater). Enjoy!

CIC Group Flights confirmed

2010-04-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Those of you who chose the air-land package will be flying the friendly skies on the long-hauls with one of the world's premier airlines, Lufthansa, on the 2010 CIC Incantato Performance Tour to Central Europe.
We are currently holding 47 seats on the following schedule. Travelers with individual flights, please remember to meet the group at the first hotel on arrival day.

US1238 / 23 JUN RDU to PHL 3:49 PM - 5:13 PM
LH 427 / 23 JUN PHL to FRA 6:15 PM - 8:25 AM
LH3260 / 24 JUN FRA to PRG 12:10 PM - 1:10 PM

LH3465 / 03 JUL BUD to MUC 7:00 AM - 8:15 AM
LH 428 / 03 JUL MUC to CLT 11:40 AM - 3:30 PM
US1236 / 03JUL CLT to RDU 7:55 PM - 8:45 PM

CIC Visits Magical Cesky Krumlov

2010-04-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

Cesky Krumlov‘s historic city center is an UNESCO World Heritage. On Sunday, June 27, CIC will have plenty of time for museum visits, shopping or just strolling around town.

Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. The city is named Český Krumlov ("Bohemian Krumlov") to differentiate it from Moravský Krumlov ("Moravian Krumlov") in the southeast of the country.
Construction of the town and castle began in the late 13th century at a ford in the Vltava River, which was important in trade routes in Bohemia. In 1302 the town and castle were owned by the House of Rosenberg. Emperor Rudolf II bought Krumlov in 1602 and gave it to his natural son Julius d’Austria. Emperor Ferdinand II gave Krumlov to the House of Eggenberg. From 1719 until 1945 the castle belonged to the House of Schwarzenberg. Most of the architecture of the old town and castle dates from the 14th through 17th centuries; the town's structures are mostly in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. The core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend of the river, with the old Latrán neighborhood and castle on the other side of the Vltava. The town was seat of Duchy of Krumlov. 8,662 inhabitants lived in Krumau an der Moldau in 1910, including 7,367 Germans and 1,295 Czechs. During the interwar era it was part of Czechoslovakia. Between 1938 and 1945 it was annexed by Nazi Germany as part of the so-called Sudetenland. The town's German-speaking population was expelled after liberation by the American Army during World War II and it was restored to Czechoslovakia. During the Communist era of Czechoslovakia, Krumlov fell into disrepair, but since the Velvet Revolution of 1989 much of the town's former beauty has been restored, and it is now a major holiday destination popular with tourists from Germany, Austria, and beyond. In August, 2002, the town suffered from damage in the great flood of the Vltava River.
Český Krumlov Castle is unusually large for a town of Krumlov's size; within the Czech Republic it is second in extent only to the Hradčany castle complex of Prague. Inside its grounds are a large garden, an extensive bridge over a deep gap in the rock upon which the castle is built and the castle itself, which in turn consist of many defined parts dating from different periods of time. Church of St. Vitus (Kostel Sv. Víta) is a Gothic church dating back to the 15th century with frescoes from the same period. Český Krumlov Castle preserves its Baroque theatre (completed 1766), complete with original stage machinery, scenery and props:, one of only a few such court theatres that still exist. Due to its age, the theatre is only used three times a year (only two are open to the public), when a Baroque opera is performed in simulated candlelight. The castle's last private owner was Adolph Schwarzenberg. It was here that he received President Edvard Beneš and gave him a large contribution for the defence of Czechoslovakia against the growing threat of Nazi Germany. His property was seized by the Gestapo in 1940 and then confiscated by the Czechoslovak government in 1945. Krumlov has a museum dedicated to the painter Egon Schiele, who lived in the town. Ten kilometers from Krumlov is one of Bohemia's oldest monasteries, Zlatá Koruna ("The Golden Crown"). About 30 km from Krumlov is the Hluboka Castle, established in the twelfth century and later remodelled in imitation of Windsor Castle. Krumlov is close to the Šumava National Park, the Czech Republic's largest national park. The Šumava mountains lie along the border with Austria and Germany and offer a range of natural habitats - peat bogs, Alpine meadows, old-growth forests, lakes, and rivers. The area is popular with walkers, cyclists, and canoeists on the Vltava. Cesky Krumlov is only a short distance from the man-made Lake Lipno, on which many people take boat trips to various small towns on the lake and also to the Dam, which is a Hydro-electic power plant. Český Krumlov is home to Pivovar Eggenberg brewery. It has also been used as filming locations for movies such as the 2006 films "The Illusionist" and "Hostel" as well as the 1970s German movie "Traumstadt".

City Facts about Prague

2010-03-16T06:01:00.001-07:00

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Nicknames for Prague have included Praga mater urbium/Praha matka měst ("Prague – Mother of Cities") in Latin/Czech, Stověžatá Praha ("City of a Hundred Spires") in Czech or Zlaté město/Goldene Stadt ("Golden City") in Czech/German.
Situated on the Vltava River in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. For many decades during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the city proper is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, making the city one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.1 million international visitors annually.
Prague is traditionally one of the cultural centres of Europe, hosting many cultural events. There are hundreds of concert halls, galleries, cinemas and music clubs in the city. Prague hosts Music Festivals including the Prague Spring International Music Festival, the Prague Autumn International Music Festival and the Prague International Organ Festival. Film festivals include the Febiofest, the One World and Echoes of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Prague also hosts the Prague Writers' Festival, the Summer Shakespeare Festival, the Prague Fringe Festival, the World Roma Festival as well as hundreds of Vernissages and fashion shows.

We proudly present: The CIC Tour Poster 2010

2010-02-13T14:02:00.000-08:00

We sure hope you like the new yet familiar look of the Carolina International Chorale Incantato Performance Tour poster. Our designer, Mrs. Marti Naughton took her inspiration from the Chapel Hill Community Chorus colors and created this poster just for your upcoming journey to Central Europe. Enjoy this sneak preview!

A special Farewell Party for CIC: Dinner Cruise on the Danube

2010-02-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

We sure hope you like to party hearty as a special farewell cruise with Hungarian folk music and dance awaits CIC on July 3, 2010 for your last night in Budapest. Below is a slideshow of the San Marino Chamber Singers taking a similar journey on the Danube in 2007 which starts off right before sunset and gives you all the opportunity to dance the night away while seeing the Hungarian capital city from its prettiest side, the water.

Here we come, Central Europe - CIC Performance Tour 2010

2010-02-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

The Carolina International Chorale (CIC) under the direction of Dr. Sue Klausmeyer is heading to Central Europe from June 23 to July 3, 2010.

The destinations for the singers, their family and friends include Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Highlights will be visits the imperial cities of Prague, Vienna and Budapest, but also stepping off the beaten tourist path by exploring smaller towns and villages such as Cesky Krumlov in Bohemia, Göttweig, Dürnstein and Melk along the Danube as well as Szentendre in beautiful Hungary.
The choir will perform in stunning venues and everyone traveling with the group as entourage is guaranteed the best seats. In addition, the travelers have the opportunity to experience the countries and cultures through meaningful exchanges and musical interactions. Last but not least, great food will be served from hearty sausages and Wiener Schnitzels to tasty Apfelstrudel and Sacher Torte.

The itinerary is almost final at this time with many pleasant surprises coming your way as we add the finishing touches over the next few months to make the CIC journey as special as possible.

DAY 1 Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Travel to Europe
Overnight group flight to Prague with Lufthansa.

DAY 2 Thursday, June 24
Vítejtes to Central Europe
Your tour manager Barbara Holl will welcome you at Prague airport and assist you in the transfer plus check-in at the Moevenpick Hotel. After a welcome meeting in the lobby, a special welcome dinner awaits you in in Prague’s historic Old Town with local specialties.

DAY 3 Friday, June 25
Prague in-depth & first Concert
Your guided sightseeing tour starts in the Royal Castle District where you will see beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral and then cross over Charles‘ Bridge into the Old Town. At 2 pm, CIC presents the first formal concert at the baroque church of St. Nicholas located right in the heart of the city center and on one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. The remainder of the day is at your leisure under the guidance of your tour manager.

DAY 4 Saturday, June 26
Prague at Leisure - Evening Concert and reception
Explore the Czech capital at your own pace, then take a short ride just a few miles outside of the city to the town of Panenské Brezany u Prahy for a special highlight performance in the magnificent Chapel of St. Ann. After the concert, a special reception by the local town's people awaits you and the mayor of the small village invites all members of the CIC Tour to refreshments.

DAY 5 Sunday, June 27
Magical Cesky Krumlov
Drive to South Bohemia and visit Cesky Krumlov‘s historic city center (UNESCO World Heritage). Aside from having plenty of time for museum visits, shopping or just strolling around town, a medieval-style dinner in a cellar tavern awaits you. The Satlava restaurants is one of our old time favorites and known for its special garlic soup. The now rustic tavern once served as the town prison.

DAY 6 Monday, June 28
Via Linz to the Danube Valley
Cross the border to Austria and visit Linz. Continue along the Wachau Valley to the Benedictine Abbey of Goettweig where a special reception, private tour, and dinner in the panoramic gourmet restaurant awaits you.

DAY 7 Tuesday, June 29
Krems - Melk - Dürnstein & another very special Concert
After a leisurely morning in beautiful and historic Krems, your group visits beautiful Melk Abbey and then continues to the picturesque town of Dürnstein. This evening, a highlight concert joined by a local orchestra takes place at the magnificent Stiftskirche at Göttweig Abbey.

DAY 8 Wednesday, June 30
Vienna Sightseeing
“Willkommen in Wien“: Visit Schubert‘s Birthplace and the Mozart Museum, then drive along the famous Ring and last not least see Stephansdom. The afternoon and evening are at leisure so you can pursue your own activities, be it a stroll through the city center, attending a concert at the State Opera House or Schönbrunn Palace, or enjoying a special dinner at one of the many famous Viennese restaurants. Your home away from home is the Austria Trend Hotel Messe right near the Prater Park with the famous giant ferris wheel.

DAY 9 Thursday, July 1
Off to charming Budapest
Cross the border to Hungary and drive straight to Budapest. Start your stay in the Hungarian capital city with a panoramic sightseeing that takes you up to the Castle District, Matyas Templom and the Fishermen's Bastion. Evening at leisure.

DAY 10 Friday, July 2
Szentendre - Finale Concert & Cruise
Embark on a half-day excursion to the nearby artist colony of Szentendre in the morning, then return to Budapest in the afternoon for some free time. At 6 pm, CIC presents another highlight concert at the beautiful followed by a fun farewell dinner cruise with music and local specialties on the Danube.

DAY 11 Saturday, July 3
Departure to the US
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight or for those of you who would like to stay longer, embark on your individual extensions.

A great way to get to know Budapest: Virtual 3-D Tour

2010-02-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Check out this special link that takes you on a interactive video tour of Budapest.
You can even check out St. Michael Church, the venue for CIC's finale tour concert.

CIC Tour Hotels confirmed

2010-02-09T02:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Travelers, we have all of the confirmations for the hotels and are happy to share them with you here. And while sometimes change is for the better, we would like to introduce your new home away from home for the last two nights in Budapest too and sure hope you like it even better than the previous selection.

PRAGUE
The Mövenpick Hotel

This 4-star hotel is located in the modern city center of Prague, and features large spacious rooms with high-speed internet, a spa and wellness center, as well a lobby bar and two restaurants, the Mövenpick Hotel Restaurant and the Il Giardino.

The Mövenpick Hotel Restaurant offers classic Swiss and international cuisine, and the Il Giardino restaurant serves a range of Mediterranean specialties that can be enjoyed while sitting on the garden terrace enjoying a wonderful view of the historic Prague city center.

CESKY KRUMLOV
The Old Inn

A traditional, yet recently upgraded 4 star hotel, the Old Inn is situated on the main square of the beautiful ancient town of Český Krumlov. Three historic houses have been beautifully restored to create “The Old Inn Hotel”. The hotel's buildings are amongst the finest in this beautiful, historic fairytale city.

It has a number of excellent restaurants including a large open-air Garden Restaurant in the Square and a unique Pilsner Beer Cellar located in recently discovered vaults, dating from the 13th Century, which serves only the finest beers.

KREMS
Steigenberger Hotel Advance

Steigenberger Hotel Advance, a 4 star hotel, that is surrounded by vineyards, apricot gardens and mystical villages. In the middle of this enchanting countryside, high above the river Danube and the 1,000 year old town of Krems, stands the Steigenberger Avance Hotel. This hotel offers splendid views of the city of Krems and marvelous opportunities for walks through Lower Austria’s lovely Wachau region. One can also enjoy the Spa World, the hotel's wellness area that spans over 1200m². It includes an infinity indoor pool with large panorama windows, that allow views of the vineyards, a panorama terrace with pool bar, as well as organic herbal saunas, the Finnish sauna, the amethyst steam grotto or the outdoor whirlpool.

VIENNA
Austria Trend Hotel Neue Messe

K+K Hotel Opera
The K+K Hotel Opera Budapest ist a 4 star boutique hotel right in the heart of the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. Aside from its ideal location in the city center in a quiet side street just off the Opera, this beautiful property is Austrian-owned and operated which stands for excellence in service and a wonderful breakfast. The main shopping street Vaci Utca is within easy reach too. The quite spacious guest rooms feature individually adjustable air-conditioning, sound-proof windows, satellite TV with international channels, ISDN direct-dial telephone, safe, mini-bar, coffee & tea making facilities, free high speed Internet access via LAN, electronic door lock plus fully equipped bathrooms with bathtub, hair-dryer and cosmetic mirror. The hotel offers a bistro as well as room service. And last not least, there is a wellness area offering a range of services to help your body and mind to relax, provide energy and well being! Sauna and gym can be used free of charge. Massages are available upon request and incur a fee while fitness with weight and cardio training equipment as well as the sauna and relaxation zone are free of charge. We sure hope you agree that when it comes to the Budapest Hotel, change is for the better.

We look forward to seeing you all in Europe, your Incantato Tours Team

Incantato Impressions: Stephansdom, Vienna

2010-02-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

Guess who will be taking great care of you in Europe in 2010: Barbara

2009-10-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

Dear members of the CIC 2008 Italy Tour, I am pretty sure you recall Teresa's lovely colleague Ms. Barbara Holl who stepped on the coach for the last few days of the journey as a second tour manager. Barbara, a native of Austria, will be your tour manager for the CIC 2010 Tour to Central Europe and is very much looking forward to seeing old friends again and meeting those new to the touring group.
Barbara holds a teaching degree in German and Biology, speaks four languages fluently and made her passion for travel her career. We are honored to have her on board for some of our very special tours in the third consecutive year.

UA Schola Cantorum singing at Göttweig

2009-04-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you for a great meeting

2009-04-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Singers and Friends of the Carolina International Chorale, it was great seeing all of you that went to Italy with the group last summer again and nice to meet fellow singers interested in traveling to Central Europe on the next CIC performance tour in the summer of 2010. Thank you for the warm welcome, your questions and suggestions. Please stay in touch.
Auf Wiedersehen, Sandra

2009-04-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

"Unforgettable experiences at Goettweig" - from Ember Lanuti

2009-04-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

My name is Ember and I am now a member of the Incantato Tours Team. Before I joined the company, I toured with my university choir to Central Europe in the summer of 2008. One of my most memorable times was at the Benedictine Abbey of Goettweig. I felt like we were treated like kings and queens as we were offered a private tour through the monastery with Pater Justus, the museum was full of beautiful art and history but more importantly it had original compositions by Haydn and Beethoven on display. He also allowed our fellow student and accompanist to play on the organ in the cathedral. It was so special to see the cathedral at night and to have a personal concert on their beautiful, enormous organ.

Goettweig is situated on the top of a mountain, which offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views I've ever seen. Here are some pictures from the perspective of my camera last summer. This is a picture of my friend and I (on the right) with Pater Justus, at the end of our personal tour through the monastery and museum.

This is a monastery that carries on with their Benedictine style of life but has adapted graciously to the 21st century. This was made obvious on Sunday morning after their traditional mass there was a contemporary service held outside and the whole congregation was full of motorcycles and their riders. Although it was alarming to hear all the bikes roaring up to the courtyard, it was moving to be able to witness this - it was a beautiful experience.

While staying at Goettweig, we were able to take strolls along the Danube in Duernstein and to
take a hike up to the ruins of a castle fortress, which happens to be where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned during the Crusades.

Here's a silly picture of my friend acting like she was locked up in the same place as Richard. She'd kill me if she knew I posted this! =)

Last but not least, we had a wonderful experience performing in the sanctuary. It's a beautiful spectacle for the audience but also for the singers. I firmly believe that each venue offers something different to each piece of repertoire. My musical experience was definitely enhanced while singing here. The space is very much alive and is great for classical music, especially for an orchestra. Here is a picture of the sanctuary during our performance. In this picture, the choir is singing Bach's "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied" - split into two choirs spanning both sides.

Incantato Destinations: Prague, Czech Republic

2009-04-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Prague got its name by being the threshold between the Slavic and Germanic worlds.

St. Vitus Church - Cesky Krumlov

2009-04-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

The St. Vitus cathedral shares with the castle the peninsula created by the river Vltava, thus creating an impressive architectural feature that characterizes the town.

The castle tower symbolizes the secular ruling power and the region of its influence; the church tower of St. Vitus then personifies the might of the holy Christendom which from medieval times functioned both as a counterpart and complement of the worldly powers.

This Gothic church was built in the 14th century and was rebuilt from 1407-1439 and sits at the top of hill in the village. Both towers can be seen from any point in the village.

St. Vitus has wonderful acoustics and the townspeople are eager and demonstrate great love for music and talent.