Sunday, April 3, 2011

Impression from the Florence Concert

The La Canada Choirs under the direction of Mr. Jeff Brookey presented their first formal concert of the 2011 Italy Performance Tour at the beautiful Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on Sunday evening. More pictures and videos will follow as the internet connections improve.

Destinations: Learn more about Rieti

On April 4, the La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will perform at the Teatro Comunale Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti. But where's Rieti?

Though most international travelers know about and have visited big Italian cities like Florence and Rome, or famous smaller ones like the towns of Cinque Terra or the Amalfi Coast, few know just how many hidden gems are sprinkled throughout the Italian countryside. Rieti is one of these - a town that's important to Italians (and Italian history) and virtually unknown to American tourists.

(Bonus fun fact: One notable exception is Kobe Bryant, who went to school in Rieti - and speaks fluent Italian - because his dad, Joe, played basketball in Rieti from 1984 to 1992.)


Rieti is the name for both a city and a province (like a county) in the region (like a state) of Lazio. Many Italians know Rieti because it's along a major route to get to Rome (also, incidentally, in Lazio). As the capital of the region of Rieti, the town also is a major cultural and commercial center for the many tiny towns in northern Lazio and southern Umbria.

Historically, Reiti was a major site in the Sabine nation long before Italy was united, and later became a strategic point in the early Italian road network that linked Rome to the Adriatic Sea. Rieti also became a favorite Papal seat and was the site of several important historical events, including the marriage of Constance Hauteville in 1185, the crowning of Charles I by Pope Nicholas in 1289, and the celebration of the canonization of St. Dominic by Pope Gregory IX in 1234.

Interesting features of modern Rieti include the Cathedral, with a stunning Romanesque bell tower built in 1252 and a statue of St. Barbara by Giannatonio Mari; the Palazzo Vescovile – or Bishops Palace – with its Renaissance windows and a Grand Hall housing the Diocese Gallery; and the Santa Maria in Vescovio, an 8th century church with frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries depicting the Last Judgment and scenes from the Bible.

As the center of the Rieti province, the town of Rieti also features a number of gelaterias, clothing stores, delicious restaurants, and the surprisingly diverse music store Mussicisti.

The Rieti Valley also is an important part of the Cammino di Francesco, or Saint Francis Walk. Along with Assisi and the Verna, Saint Francis made the Rieti Valley his home. It is here that he created the first Nativity in Christianity in 1223, wrote the Rule of the Franciscan Order, and most likely composed The Canticle of All Creatures.

Blast from the Past: La Canada & J Serra Exchange in Florence

La Canada & J Serra meet for the first time in Florence at the Church of San Lorenzo last Sunday, April 3rd.







The La Canada High School Concert Choir & Chamber Singers perform at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on April 3 at 7 PM


The La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers present a feature concert together with the JSerra Catholic High School Chamber Choir  at 7 PM, at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on Sunday, April 3, 2011.
The Basilica di San Lorenzo stands as one of Florence, Italy’s largest churches, situated in the center of the city’s main market district. It is one of several churches claiming to be Florence’s oldest, having been consecrated in the year 393. The Basilica di San Lorenzo served as the city’s cathedral for 300 years until the Bishop’s official seat was moved to Santa Reparata.
In 1419 parishioner Giovanni di Bicci de Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design the new structure, although the new building did not reach completion until after the architect’s death.
 The church is part of a larger monastic complex that boasts numerous additional important architectural works including the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo and the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo’s original designs. The sanctuary’s left aisle displays a large fresco by Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, and the marble choir loft was designed by Donatello, as were the two bronze pulpits.


La Canada HS Choirs visiting Florence on Day 5 of their 2011 Italy Performance Tour


The students from La Canada High School in California along with their entourage of family and friends are sure keeping busy as they are exploring the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence today. A special highlight will be the first formal concert of their 2011 Italy Performance Tour at 7 pm at San Lorenzo Church (see special blog entry). Here are some city facts about Florence:

  • Florence is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 367,569 inhabitants.
  • A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the richest and wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.
  • The historic centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.
  • It has been the birthplace or chosen home of many notable historical figures, such as Dante, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Roberto Cavalli and Emilio Pucci.
  • Florence being historically the first home of Italian fashion is also home to the legendary Italian fashion establishment Salvatore Ferragamo, notable as one of the oldest and most famous Italian fashion houses.
  • Florence has been a setting for numerous works of fiction and movies, including the novels and associated films, such as "Hannibal", "A Room with a View", "Tea with Mussolini" and "Virgin Territory".
  • The city is one of the great wine-growing regions in the world. The Chianti region is just south of the city, and its Sangiovese grapes figure prominently not only in its Chianti Classico wines but also in many of the more recently developed Supertuscan blends.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

And more to say on Day 4: Pisa

  • The present inclination of the Leaning Tower, Pisas most important sight, is measured to be about 10 percent. The reason behind the inclination still remains a mystery. However, it is believed that the inclination was due to the subsidence of the foundation soil, which was a mixture of varied deposits and clayish material.
  • Pisa was the birthplace of the important early physicist, Galileo Galilei.
  • Pisa's origins remained unknown for centuries. The presence of an Etruscan (civilization of ancient Italy) necropolis (large cemetery), discovered during excavations in the Arena Garibald (mulit-use stadium) in 1991, allowed to clarify its Etruscan origins.
  • The city has two sister-cities in the USA: Niles, Illinois, and Coral Gables, Florida.
  • Football is the main sport in Pisa; the local team, Pisa Calcio, currently plays in the Italian Serie B (second-highest division), and has had a top flight history throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, featuring several world class players such as Diego Simeone, Christian Vieri and Dunga.
  • Pisa is also known for its excellent university, which was established in 1343 and has become one of Italy's top schools.

Next stop for La Canada on Day 4: Verona

Verona is a city in Veneto, northern Italy, home to approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven provincial capitals of the region. It is the second most populated municipality of the region and the third of North-East Italy. The metro area of Verona has an area of 1.426 km2 (0.55 sq mi) and has a population of 714,274 inhabitants. It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, thanks to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans. The city has been awarded world heritage site status by UNESCO because of its urban structure and architecture.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

First big tour stop for the La Canada High School Choirs: Magical Venice



  • Venice has been described by the "Times Online" as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.
  • Italian baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) is Venice' most famous son.
  • The city has an average of 50,000 tourists a day
  • The Republic of Venice seized a number of locations on the eastern shores of the Adriatic before 1200, mostly for commercial reasons, because pirates based there were a menace to trade.
  • By the late thirteenth century, Venice was the most prosperous city in all of Europe. At the peak of its power and wealth, it had 36,000 sailors operating 3,300 ships, dominating Mediterranean commerce.
  • The newly-invented German printing press spread rapidly throughout Europe in the fifteenth century, and Venice was quick to adopt it. By 1482 Venice was the printing capital of the world, and the leading printer was Aldus Manutius, who invented the concept of paperback books that could be carried in a saddlebag.
  • The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland. Under water, in the absence of oxygen, wood does not decay.
  • The city has been a setting for numerous films and music videos, such as the James Bond series "From Russia with Love", "Moonraker" and "Casino Royale". Furthermore you might have seen a Venice location in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "The Italian Job", "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider", and Madonna's song "Like a Virgin".
  • Venetian cuisine is obviously characterized by fish, but not only: the products of the gardens of the islands, the mainland rice, game, fishing in the northern Adriatic and polenta.

Second La Canada Choir Group arrived in Venice too

Just a quick update on the second flight group that also arrived safely in Venice on Thursday evening and was welcomed by their Incantato Tourmanager Eloisa. Together with the travelers that landed a few hours earlier, the singers from La Canada High School under the direction of Mr. Jeff Brookey plus their family and friends enjoyed their welcome dinner and then turned in for a first night on Italian soil. "Everything is okay, even all the luggage made it", commented Ambra from the Incantato Tours Italy Team this morning. Next stop for the group is the magical island of Venice.

Incantato presents La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers at St. Mark's Basilica (Venice) on Friday, April 1 at 6:45 PM

The La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers from La Canada, California, will sing High Mass at Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 6:45PM.


The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It lies on Piazza San Marco adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace. Originally it was the "chapel" of the Venetian rulers, and not the city's cathedral. Since 1807 it has been the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, from the 11th century onward the building has been known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).
The original Saint Mark's was a temporary building in the Doge's Palace, constructed in 828, when Venetian merchants stole the supposed relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist from Alexandria. This was replaced by a new church on its present site in 832; the first St. Mark's Campanile (bell tower) dates from the same century. The new church was burned in a rebellion in 976, rebuilt in 978 and again to form the basis of the present basilica since 1063.
The spacious interior of the building with its multiple choir lofts was the inspiration for the development of a Venetian polychoral style among the composers appointed maestro di cappella at St. Mark's. The style was first developed by a foreigner, Adrian Willaert, and was continued by Italian organists and composers, Andrea Gabrieli along with his nephew Giovanni Gabrieli, and later Claudio Monteverdi.

First group landed safely in Italy

The first group from the La Canada High School Choirs traveling to Venice with Lufthansa German Airlines landed safe and sound in Italy and was welcomed by Incantato Tour Manager Ambra. We will update you soon about the second traveling group on Swiss Air. Arriverderci from Italy, your Incantato Team

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Travel Tips: Italian phrases for April Fool's Day

Like in the States, April 1 in Italy is a whimsical holiday based on practical jokes. Called Pesce d' Aprile - literally meaning "April's fish" but referring to an Italian idiom that means "April Fool's Trick" - the holiday can be celebrated with everything from childish schoolyard tricks to false communiques from government offices.

Since April 1 will be the first full day of activities for La Canada, we thought it might be fun to include a list of Italian phrases related to the holiday, courtesy of About.com (click on the links for audio of how the phrases sound in Italian):

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Three Movies, two Meals and lots of Snacks

We wish all the travelers of the La Canada High School Choirs 2011 Italy Performance Tour a save journey as they embark on two different airlines from Los Angeles to Venice. Lufthansa and Swiss are the transportation partners for the group flights. As the students, chaperones, their families and friends cross the ocean overnight from the US to Europe, plenty of movies will be played and the board restaurants will be serving dinner, snacks and breakfast. We wish all of you a very safe and relaxing journey and arriverderci a Venezia - we see you soon in Venice. Your Incantato Tours Team - Ambra, Eloisa (on tour) - Ellen, Marti, Sandra and Ted to name just a few of us ; )

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

New additions to your Incantato Tour Blog!

Dear La Canada Travelers,
We've added some new, important, and exciting details to your Incantato Tour Blog. Please click the links below to learn more about your upcoming journey. Be sure to check back regularly for further updates and browse the rest of the blog for fun destination information.

Travel information:

Confirmed performance venues:
Hotel accommodations:

Enjoy the tour blog? Then become a follower!

Dear Singers, Family and Friends of the La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, we sure hope you enjoy the blog and recommend that you become a follower by clicking on the respective option in the right side bar of this webpage. As a follower, you will never miss an update and once the group heads over to Europe there should be lots of news coming your way. You can also leave comments which are like virtual greetings. Our tour team will pass those messages to the travelers on tour whenever possible. Everyone at Incantato Tours wishes you well as you prepare for this exciting journey under the leadership of Mr. Jeff Brookey.

La Canada HS Italy Performance Tour - Updated Itinerary

Welcome to the Incantato blog for the 2011 La Canada HS Performance Tour to Italy. This is the updated itinerary and still a work in progress. While the dates are now set and flights are booked, some details are subject to change as this journey becomes more and more your tour and to enhance the overall experience. Enjoy!


DAY 1 Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Overnight flight to Italy...
... in two groups: Lufthansa leaves LAX at 2:50 PM and Swiss Air leaves LAX at 7:25 PM.

DAY 2 Thursday, March 31
Venice Arrival & Orientation
Benvenuti in Bella Italy. After meeting your Incantato Tour Manager and transfer to the hotel, enjoy a relaxing welcome dinner at your hotel. The group will stay at Hotel Delfino in nearby Mestre on March 31 and April 1.

DAY 3 Friday, April 1
Venice in depth and  Mass
Take a private boat ride, then enjoy a guided city tour of Venice’s many highlights: See the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace, visit St. Mark’s Basilica where the choir will sing High Mass in the evening, continue to the Rialto Bridge and market. Afternoon at leisure for optional museum visits and shopping. Dinner at Al Giardinetto Castello.

DAY 4 Saturday, April 2
Scenic route to Tuscany
Drive to Tuscany with a stop in Verona for sightseeing. Then continue on to beautiful Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and Miracle Square. Tonight’s dinner is served at a rustic farmhouse, Fattoria Il Poggio, known as an agriturismo and will feature local products as well as tastings of olive oil for all and wines for the adults prior to getting to the spa town of Montecatini Terme, a place very much beloved by Verdi. The group will stay at the Grand Hotel Plaza in Montecatini Terme on April 2 and 3.

DAY 5 Sunday, April 3
Florence Visit and Concert at San Lorenzo Church
Drive to nearby Florence for a guided city tour including entrance to the Accademia Museum. Afternoon at leisure for lunch on your own, exploring and shopping. Dinner at Finisterrae. Then get ready for your first formal concert at the Church of San Lorenzo at 8:15 pm together with your friends from JSerra Catholic High School. Overnight in Montecatini.

DAY 6 Monday, April 4
Via Labro and Rieti to Rome

Transfer to Labro to visit the Art Monastery, including a tour and Gregorian chant workshop, followed by a drive to Rieti where you will enjoy a Pizza-making lunch (courtesy of Incantato Tours). There the travelers will enjoy an official reception and perform at the Il Teatro Flavio Vespansiano followed by an exchange with local high school students. Then travel to the Eternal city of Rome where you will have dinner at your hotel. The group will divided and stay at either Hotel Excel Montemario or Villa Maria Regina for the remainder of the tour.

DAY 7 Tuesday, April 5
Vatican Sightseeing and Mass
Enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel this morning. Free time for lunch, individual sightseeing, etc. The choirs sing High Mass at St. Peter‘s Basilica at 5:00 this evening. Dinner at Sico Moro Restaurant.

DAY 8 Wednesday, April 6
Papal Audience & Concert
Attend and sing at the Papal Audience in the Vatican this morning followed by lunch on your own and a guided sightseeing tour of “Ancient Rome” featuring the Coliseum and Roman Forum. Your tour concludes this evening with a concert at the Church of Sant’ Agnese in Agone on beautiful Piazza Navona followed by a fun farewell Roman-style dinner.

DAY 9 Thursday, April 7
Flight to USA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flights in two groups to Los Angeles: Swiss Air leaves at 9:35AM and
Lufthansa leaves at 12:15PM.


Here are some images from the 2010 Western Reserve Academy Tour to Italy: