Singing with Serenades Choral Travel in Puglia

Two days in the Eternal City, then taking the train to Bari, on the east coast of Italy—on the Adriatic. That was my beginning with the 2023 Serenades Choral Travel.

The photos you see are only a sampling of the many that I took. They give you a hint of what we experienced which included a 3-hour rehearsal starting around 9:30, then a break for lunch, then a visit to—say—an olive oil plant, the gorgeous sea-side town of Monopoli where we sang in a fantastic basilica, or a picturesque city with ancient houses—the trulli in Arbellobello. Sometimes we traveled to a fabulous lunch after rehearsal, then had free time in the evening. All in all, the itinerary was well-considered.

Did I have fun?

You better believe it. There is nothing like singing with friends and friends-to-be in gorgeous venues. Even our rehearsal space was pretty fabulous. This being my tenth outing with Serenades Choral Travel, I knew what to expect and how to roll with the program, which meant laying out one day after a morning rehearsal to recoup and rest from jet lag. You see, you don’t have to go to all the planned activities, but you will also be missing out if you don’t!

This was Serenades Choral Travel’s 16th season. The repertoire was well-chosen and a joy to sing. We’re talking about high-level music-making, the bonding of participants to the process of preparation, and to each other in its execution in three different acoustics. You really have to be on your game, And we were. The payoff is huge and magic happens.

I love this program so much! And you will too when you go. I don’t know where the next season will be but do know you can apply in October for the summer of 2024.

Find out more information here.

Arrivederci, Puglia!