OVERVIEW ADFAS Travel is delighted to offer a three-day sojourn in Canberra, giving you the chance to visit the upcoming Cartier exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia and attend two concerts at the Canberra International Music Festival, one of Australia’s leading small-scale festivals.

Michael Carr, a well-known Australian gallerist and decorative arts specialist will provide an expert introduction to the Cartier exhibition.

Cartier: The Exhibition showcases more than 300 spectacular items, with loans from royal families, celebrities and the Cartier Collection itself. Highlights include Dame Nellie Melba’s diamond brooch, the Queen’s “Halo” tiara, worn by Kate Middleton at her wedding to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Barbara Hutton’s imperial jadeite necklace, Princess Grace of Monaco’s diamond engagement ring and Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond and ruby necklace.

At the Canberra Festival we will attend a performance by the Orava String Quartet, a young Australian ensemble currently enjoying great success at home and internationally. The quartet will play works by Haydn, Rachmaninov and Debussy. We will also hear Stravinsky’s 60-minute musical play A soldier’s tale, written in 1918 “to be read, played and danced”.

Michael Carr is an art dealer and historian with over 20 years’ experience in handling major Australian and international paintings and sculptures, including Old Masters and contemporary works. Michael has been asked to present a talk on Cartier as part of the National Gallery’s lecture series.

TOUR PRICE The tour price is $1,590 per person, twin share (plus airfares). The supplement for a single room is $200.

ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Hannah Kleboe at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email hannah@academytravel.com.au

CARTIER IN CANBERRA + CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL | MAY 3-5, 2018

ITINERARY THURSDAY MAY 3 TALK & THE ORAVA QUARTET

After checking in to our hotel, Michael Carr will give a background talk on the Cartier pieces displayed in the NGA exhibition. The talk will be followed by tea/coffee and refreshments before we head to the Fitter’s Workshop, a former industrial site that is today one of the main venues for the Canberra International Music Festival. The Orava Quartet has been hailed as ‘world class’ and ‘the most exciting young quartet on the block’. Overnight Canberra. (Afternoon tea)

FRIDAY MAY 4 EXHIBITION & A SOLDIER’S TALE

We head to the National Gallery, with time to enjoy the exhibition before the weekend crowds arrive. Michael Carr will be on hand to explain specific pieces in the exhibition. There will be plenty of time to explore other parts of the NGA or visit the adjacent National Portrait Gallery, where a 20th anniversary exhibition of photography, celebrating Australian icons, is underway. In the evening we return to the Fitter’s Gallery for Stravinsky’s remarkable 1918 work, A soldier’s tale. Overnight Canberra. (B)

SATURDAY MAY 5 DEPART

Our program finishes after breakfast. If you are a music lover, you might want to stay in Canberra for a day of performances, featuring the guitarists of I bassifondi, Schubert’s Trout Quintet and a rendition of the Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf. (B)

ACCOMMODATION

AVENUE HOTEL CANBERRA 4.5*

The award-winning Avenue Hotel provides comfort and luxury in the heart of Canberra, close to Parliament House, local museums, dining and entertainment in the Braddon district. www.avenuehotel.com.au