Members of Chorus North Shore were off to Italy and Switzerland for a concert and sightseeing tour this summer!!

The 10-day tour started in Milan, where they gave a recital at Casa Verdi.

Casa Verdi was established by composer Guiseppe Verdi as a rest home for retired opera singers and musicians in Milan in 1896. It contains his tomb and memorial and has been supported throughout the years by such famous musicians as Lucianno Pavarotti and Arturo Tosconini.  Rest home guests were thrilled to hear our concert, sang along with us on many songs and were gracious and welcoming.

The group toured Lugano, Switzerland, and then headed to Lake Como where they held a concert performance at Basilica di San Fedele in Como. The basilica dates from 1120. Lugano lies on Lake Lugano, surrounded by the spectacular mountains of the Lugano Prealps.

It was on to Verona where they saw a performance of Aida under the stars at the historic Arena di Verona. The arena was built in 30 AD! The Roman Colosseum, by comparison, was started in 70AD! A truly memorable night.

From Verona to Venice, the group toured the canals and St Mark’s Square before a performance at the Church of Saint Pietá.

From Venice, the group headed back to Milan, where they had a tour of Teatro alla Scala – one of the most famous opera houses in the world – with their final performance at the Church of San Marco.