Consider Travel Insurance to Protect Yourself and you Investment

Incantato Tours requires getting travel insurance for your upcoming journey.
Not only are you covered medically should anything happen when traveling, but with a company of your choice or with our preferred supplier and TravelGuard's policies, you also protect your investment should you have to cancel or interrupt the trip. Last but not least, there is also coverage for delayed and lost luggage, etc.
Here is a direct line to purchase travel insurance online, and you can do so with your credit cards and also select the option that is best for you.



In the meantime, have a look at the most comprehensive coverage option The Protect Assist Gold below.

Protect Assist (Gold) -

Comprehensive Travel Protection for the World Traveler

Trip Cancellation JUST ADDED! - Trip Cancellation due to employment loss or layoff if employed with the same employer 1 year or longer Trip Interruption and Travel Delay Emergency Medical and Emergency Medical Transportation Baggage and Travel Document Protection Baggage Delay and Lost Baggage Tracking NEW - Cancel For Any Reason option now available NEW - Cancel For Work Reasons option now available NEW - Children age 17 and under covered at no additional cost IMPROVED -Trip Cancellation limit increased to $100,000 (from $15,000), IMPROVED - Trip Interruption coverage increased to 150% of Trip Cost IMPROVED - Travel Delay required hours reduced to 5 hours (from 12) ProtectAssist special features: Best coverage for Weather Related Cancellations Pre-existing Condition Exclusion Waiver* Default/Bankruptcy Protection* $50,000 Flight Accident Insurance* 24-Hour "LiveTravel" Travel Agency Emergency Cash Transfers Identity Theft Restoration * These additional benefits apply If you are purchasing within 15 days of making your initial trip deposit or payment, however, coverage may still be purchased at any time up to 24 hours prior to departure. Increase your coverage with these valuable additions to your Protect Assist Plan: Cancel For Any Reason – 50% reimbursement of nonrefundable expenses if you cancel your trip for any reason, up to 48 hours prior to your departure. Only available when this plan is purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment. Cancel For Work Reasons – Offers additional work-related reasons for cancellation or interruption. Also includes our exclusive “Business Assistant” services if you have work obligations during your travels. Only available when this plan is purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment. Umbrella Package – Medical Expense limits are doubled and coverage is upgraded to primary. Emergency Medical Transportation limits are doubled and benefits upgraded to take you home or to the hospital of your choice. $25,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage will be added. Car Rental Collision Coverage – $35,000 in primary coverage. Covers cost of repairs for covered collision damage to a rental car for which the car rental contract holds you responsible. Subject to $250 deductible. Optional coverages cannot be purchased separately. Must be purchased with base ProtectAssist plan.

Comprehensive non-insurance travel services* automatically included with plan!
With the ProtectAssist plan, every customer also has access to these valuable travel services when they travel:
· Arrangements for last-minute flight changes
· Hotel finder and reservations
· Rental car reservations
· Emergency medical assistance
· BagTrak® -- lost baggage tracking
· Pre-trip health and safety advisories
· Live e-mail and phone messaging to family and friends
· Cash transfers
· Airport transportation
· Golf course reservations
· Event ticketing
· Floral services
· Identity Theft restoration

Business Assistant* (available when Optional Cancel for Work Reasons coverage is purchased)

*Non-Insurance services are provided by AIG Travel Assist.

Eligibility
Citizenship: All Nationalities
Residency: United States
New York, Oregon, and Washington residence please call to purchase
Some rider options are not available and other restrictions may apply
Destination: Worldwide
Ages: All Ages
Max Trip Length: 365 Days

Incantato Destination Weimar, Germany: A city of culture

Weimar, Germany is best known for its cultural heritage. Located in the federal state of Thuringia southwest of Leipzig, Weimar dates back as far as the year 889. The city previously served as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar.

Weimar is historically recognized as the locaton of the signing of Germany’s first democratic constitution following World War I, lending its name to the Weimar Republic period of German politics (1918 – 1933). The city was also the focal point of the German Enlightenment and the home of Goethe and Schiller, the prime authors of the literary genre of Weimar Classicism. Additionally, Weimar is the birthplace of the Bauhaus fine arts movement, founded in 1919 by artists Walter Gropius, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Oskar Schlemmer, and Lyonel Feininger. Weimar is home to Germany’s most important musical and theatrical venue, the Deutsche National Theater and Staatskapelle Weimar. The twin institution, consisting of the German National Theater and the symphony orchestra Staatskapelle Weimar, operates a total of six stages throughout the city, hosting touring orchestras and theater companies from throughout the world. Throughout the years, many of Weimar’s historical landmarks have become designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Weimar was even selected by the European Council of Ministers in 1999 as the European Capital of Culture.

FRANZ LISZT - A European in Weimar

From 1848 to 1861 Franz Liszt was chief conductor of the Hofkapelle Weimar. 

Summary and first Itinerary for "Great Composers' Central Europe"

 HIGHLIGHTS 

• See and experience major cities and off-the-beaten path gems of Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria 

• Up to four professionally organized and promoted formal concerts, plus mass participation and recitals in magnificent venues 

• Plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local culture 

• Visits of and exchanges with local conservatories and universities 

• Educational and entertaining sightseeing 

• Central accommodations, free time for individual explorations ... 

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS 

Incantato‘s Hospitality Managers take pride in working only with pre-inspected hostels and hotels that fit your budget and selected restaurants frequented by locals. To keep the overall cost low, we selected central accomodations within a short distance (walking or public transportation) to many city attractions. We included buffet breakfasts and four other meals featuring typical dishes served in charming places. Your Incantato Tour Manager is with the group 24/7 to coordinate scheduled activities and offer advice during free time. Transportation is via modern, air-conditioned motor coach. 

CULTURAL EXCHANGES 

Incantato encourages your group to interact with like-minded people and their organizations during your journey to Europe. Through our team members’ contacts and the relationships we have built over the years, Incantato is uniquely qualified to set up meet & greet events with audiences, and to organize exchanges and joint concerts. 

 LIKELY PERFORMANCE VENUES 

• Frauenkirche — MUNICH 

• Margravial Opera House — BAYREUTH 

• various venues from concert halls to palaces, the university auditorium and churches — WEIMAR 

• St. Vitus, Castle, Jesuit Hall — CESKY KRUMLOV 

• University, Karlskirche, Stephansdom — VIENNA 

Day 1, Monday, May 27, 2013 

Overnight flight to Germany 

Nonstop group flight with Lufthansa from LAX to Munich. 

Day 2, Tuesday, May 28 

Willkommen in Muenchen Your Incantato Tour Manager and driver welcome you at Munich airport. Transfer to your hotel for check-in, followed by a traditional Bavarian welcome dinner. 

Day 3, Wednesday, May 29 

Munich sightseeing 

Take a guided tour of Bavaria’s capital in the morning as you discover some of Munich‘s most famous sights, such as the Marien Square, the New Town Hall or the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady. Afternoon at leisure for more exploring and/or shopping in some of the city‘s many traditional and creative shops. 

Day 4, Thursday, May 30 

Bayreuth - Recital at Opera House 

It is all about music today. Transfer to the festival city of Bayreuth, home to the Wagner Festspielhaus. A local expert guide will show you around the city prior to a recital at the Margravial Opera House that was just recently added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. 

Day 5, Friday, May 31 

Welcome to Weimar 

Continue to charming Weimar, a UNESCO world heritage city for its rich culture and high artistic quality. A mayor’s reception is scheduled today followed by an exchange with students from the Liszt University. 

Day 6, Saturday, June 1 

Weimar Concert 

See the city’s highlights with a local guide, then present a highlight concert in a magnificent venue. 

Day 7, Sunday, June 2 

In Bach‘s Footsteps? - Concert The morning is at leisure with an optional visit to nearby Buchenwald, once a Nazi concentration camp. Alternatively, your group could visit Eisenach with the Bach Museum, as well as Wartburg Castle. Performance opportunity. 

Day 8, Monday, June 3 

Via Pilsen to Cesky Krumlov 

Next stop is the Czech Republic where you will be visiting first Pilsen and then one of Dr. Talberg’s favorite places: Cesky Krumlov. 

Day 9, Tuesday, June 4 

Concert in Cesky Krumlov 

You will feel transported back in time in this charming Czech Village. Concert in the evening. 

Day 10 to Day 12, Wednesday June 5 to Friday June 7 

Vienna in-depth & Concert Austria‘s capital city is another must-see place for musicians and you will be exploring its many offerings during the almost three days in Vienna with Dr. Talberg as your expert guide. A final concert and farewell party conclude the journey. 

Day 13, Saturday, June 8 

Flight back to LA Board your return flight home with memories to last a lifetime or extend your stay in Europe further if you chose the land-only option. 

Video Recap

Here is the complete video library from the tour. Definitely leave comments on the videos or in this post if you notice anything that's off or to make recommendations for the 'Greatest Hits' Playlist. I hope everyone had as much fun being in these videos as it was to film them. Thanks everyone for a truly magical getaway of a tour and hope to see everyone again soon - remember the pool party in August!

All videos from the tour in chronological order:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F632014AAF9D59B1

All videos, continued:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F470EED9383FCF91

People Play list:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A7F26098C45AFCE9

Performances Play list:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E32A3CD6ABE6471E

Places Play list:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DEE159C57CB2560B

Places, continued:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3E8EBE127DE1B964

Don't have much time? Check out the highlight reel:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2FBEBDDC7ECD982B

Impressions from the CSULB 2010 Performance Tour Farewell Night in Berlin

Dancing the night away!!!

BCCM Berlin Concert

Bob Cole Conservatory Choir presents Mendellsohn-Bartholdy set at Gedäch...

Impressions from the Bob Cole Conservatory Choir finale Berlin Concert

CSULB singers at Gedächtniskirche in Berlin June 9

Bob Cole Consevatory Choir sings at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche: Elijah rock

Bob Cole Consevatory Choir sings at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche: Sanctus

Finale highlight concert: The Bob Cole Conservatory Choir performs at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin on June 9 at 7.30 pm

Welcome to Berlin! After exciting days in the Czech Republic, the Bob Cole Conservatory Choir arrived in the German capital. At the famous Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche the final tour concert will take place on June 9 at 7.30 pm.

The Protestant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (in German: Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche) is located on the Kurfürstendamm in the center of the Breitscheidplatz. The original church on the site was built in the 1890s. It was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943. The present building, which consists of a church with an attached foyer and a separate belfry with an attached chapel, was built between 1959 and 1963. The damaged spire of the old church has been retained and its ground floor has been made into a memorial hall.
The foundation stone for the old church was laid on March 22, 1891. The competition for the design was won by Franz Schwechten who planned for a large church to be built in neo-romanesque style, including 2,740 square meters of wall mosaic. The spire was 113 meters (370' and 8.81") in stature and the nave seated over 2,000 people. The church was consecrated on September 1, 1895. By this time of the consecration the entrance hall in the lower section had not been completed. This was opened and consecrated on February 22, 1906. In the Second World War, on the night of November 23, 1943, the church was irreparably damaged in an air raid. The church was largely destroyed but part of the spire and much of the entrance hall survived. The entrance hall in the base of the damaged spire was reopened to visitors, having been consecrated on 7 January 1987.
Its floor contains a mosaic of the Archangel Michael fighting the dragon. The vault shows a procession of Hohenzollern princes, early and more recent. Other mosaics show important monarchs in medieval Germany, Reformation thinkers and Reformation princes. Bas-relief sculptures illustrate scenes from biblical stories, scenes from the life of Kaiser Wilhelm I and symbolic figures representing war and peace. In the north apse are 16 display panels which tell the story of the old church and its destruction. At the opposite end of the hall are three items which symbolize the history of the church. In the middle is a damaged statue of Christ which originally stood on the altar of the old church. To its right is the Cross of Nails which was made from nails in the roof timbers of Coventry Cathedral. This cathedral had been severely damaged in a German air raid on 14 November 1940. To the left of the statue of Christ is an icon cross which was given by the Russian Orthodox Church and handed over in 1988. Outside the hall are four sandstone figures made by Stefan Kaehne.

The pictures are from the official website of the church.

Hallooooooo Germany!

On June 8th The Bob Cole Conservatory Choir said good-bye to the Czech Republic and Guten Tag to Germany! The group from Cal State Long Beach began their tour of Germany by visiting Dresden, a city that has been completely rebuilt since WWII.

Here, Incantato arranged a special recital in the beautifully rebuilt Our Lady's Church, or Frauenkirche, in the heart of Dresden.


After the group's visit to this beautiful city, it was time to move on to Berlin, where the group will have their finale performance on June 9th at 7:30 in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtniskirche!

Berlin welcomes the Bob Cole Conservatory Choir

Berlin is the capital city and one of 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. Geographically embedded in the European Plains, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Around one third of the city's territory is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes. First documented in the 13th century, Berlin was successively the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and the Third Reich (1933–1945). During the 1920s, Berlin was the third largest municipality in the world. After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall (1961–1989). Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany hosting 147 foreign embassies.
Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media, and science. Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, congress and convention venues. Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the EU. Significant industries include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, optoelectronics, traffic engineering, and renewable energy. The metropolis is home to renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums and personalities. The urban and historical legacy has made it a popular setting for international film productions. The city is recognized for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts, public transportation networks and a high quality of living. Berlin has evolved into a global focal point for young individuals and artists attracted by a liberal lifestyle and modern zeitgeist.

Home away from Home in Berlin: City Hotel

The traditional City Hotel offers 36 guest rooms on three floors. Even the hotel has a 50-year experience the guest rooms are modern equipped, elegant but stylish with the traditional charme of a typical Berlin old-fashioned architecture. The hotel offers W-LAN-internet connection free of charge. The City Hotel is located on the Kurfürstendamm - the famous boulevard. Close to the hotel you find shops, theatres, the EuropaCenter and sighseeing highlights like the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedaechtniskirche an the KaDeWe.

Bob Cole Consevatory Choir presents Recital at Frauenkirche in Dresden on June 8 at 5:30 pm

The Bob Cole Conservatory Choir under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Talberg was granted permission to present a special recital at the famous Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany on June 8 at 5:30 pm during their 2010 Incantato Performance Tour to Central Europe.
The Frauenkirche Dresden can look back on a 1000-year history. Already its predecessor churches were dedicated to the Mother of God and called Frauenkirche. In the 18th century, the famous dome structure by George Bähr was built and dominated Dresden’s cityscape for 200 years. The church was destroyed shortly before the end of World War II. Its ruin remained as a memorial at the heart of the city. For more information on the history and significance of this venue, please visit the official Frauenkirche website.

Good-Bye Czech Republic!

On June 9th, The Bob Cole Conservatory Choir said Na Shledanou (farewell) to the Czech Republic, but not before they were able to visit Northern Bohemia on their way to Germany.
Here, the students visited the music department at Usti nad Labem University, met the professors and even practiced with Dr. Riha.

After their warm-up, The Bob Cole Conservatory Choir was taken to Chlumec, where they were warmly welcomed by the mayor, also Dr. Riha (the son of the choral professor), who welcomed them with refreshments.

Then it was off to the church in Chulmec, where the group listened to a local young women's choir, under the direction of Dr. Vladimir Kuzelka, and followed it by a performance of their own!

Another Wonderful Performance by CSULB

Tonight, June 7th, The Bob Cole Conservatory Choir performed at the Martinic Palace at Prague Castle. The group, directed by Dr. Jonathan Talberg, performed in this medieval room by encircling the crowd, instead of singing at the front of the room like most traditional concerts. As a result, the sound was breathtaking, and the audience insisted on an encore song!

Students Virgil Rosales and Steven Berlanga were both invited to conduct songs this evening, and they both did a wonderful job!


After the concert, Incantato arranged a reception for the group in the courtyard of the Martinic Palace, where brats were grilled, cake was served, and the beer was flowing!






Following the reception, a boat was chartered especially for the group so that they could get one last look of Prague before they leave tomorrow morning for Germany.

Good-bye Prague!

Cesky Krumlov, Day 6 (BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!)

I'm catching up on my blogging since internet was an issue the past few days. The past few days were AMAZING though. It was nice to spend my 23rd birthday in the Czech Republic in Cesky Krumlov. When Barbara, our tour guide/coordinator explained that we were going to this "medieval town" for my birthday I said to myself, "are you kidding me? I could have gone to Medieval Times in Cali." Wow. I was nieve. CHECK IT!

Everything was BEAUTIFUL! But not as beautiful as our jumping pictures! hahahahhaah












This was the best birthday ever. THANKS FOR HANGING OUT WITH ME YO!
Love, VRO