Performing Arts: Brazil

Meet your tour director and check into hotel

Stylish, sophisticated Rio thrills visitors with its beautiful beaches, stunning mountains, and innovative buildings. Most impressive may be the soaring cathedral, whose vast interior can accommodate 25,000 people. Four enormous stained-glass windows throw colored light down on the space, unbroken by columns or other supports. Back outside, you may feel that you've escaped to Paris -- the theater house and art museum were modeled after Paris's ornate Opéra Garnier and Louvre museum.

Rio's most spectacular landmark, up close and personal. Go up Corcovado ("hunchback") Mountain on a Swiss-made cogwheel train, through the lush Tijuca National Forest, and arrive at the top to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer that gazes out over the city. The views from the mountain are astounding, as is the statue itself. It stands almost 100 feet tall and weighs over 1000 tons."

Discover the Gamboa district near the port. Experience the spirit of Carnival and Samba in “Cidade do Samba” or Samba City. The complex of buildings is where the top Rio Samba schools prepare every day of the year for February’s Carnival.

Explore the Acadêmicos da Grande Rio warehouse to learn about the Carnival parade’s history and feel the Carnival spirit. Visit backstage to see where they assemble their floats, and try the vibrant costumes.

Explore Rio's largest cultural complex, City of Arts or Cidade das Artes. Music, theater, dance, plastic arts, fairs, and other expressions of art are on display here during the year. Take a backstage tour of the theaters. We will also participate in a Brazilian Music Workshop, where we will learn more about hit songs like Girl from Ipanema and Watercolor of Brazil.

Choirs often enjoy performances at churches (some have restricted sacred repertoire and others allow secular,) temples, museums and cultural centers, significant historic sites or exchange concerts with local schools, universities or community groups. Participating in a choral or cultural festival can also be a rewarding experience.

Travel to Paraty

The city of Paraty, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is located halfway between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Most of the city's charming historic downtown area dates from the 18th century, though pieces to its founding in 1531. The pedestrianized city naturally encourages walking to explore its coastal and mountain scenery, or travel inland to the Atlantic rainforest.

Explore the city of Paraty via boat today, as we view the lush mountains, crystal clear waters, and nearby islands that surround the city. Our boat will make 3 stops for a chance to discovery different underwater experiences for snorkeling. Look out for seahorses, starfish, and other creatures that live in coral. (Snorkeling equipment and flotation aids will be provided.)

Free time in Paraty

Choirs often enjoy performances at churches (some have restricted sacred repertoire and others allow secular,) temples, museums and cultural centers, significant historic sites or exchange concerts with local schools, universities or community groups. Participating in a choral or cultural festival can also be a rewarding experience.

Travel to Sao Paulo

São Paulo, Brazil's vibrant financial center, is among the world's most populous cities, with numerous cultural institutions and a rich architectural tradition. Its iconic buildings range from its neo-Gothic cathedral and the 1929 Martinelli skyscraper to modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer's curvy Edifício Copan. The colonial-style Pátio do Colégio church marks where Jesuit priests founded the city in 1554. São Paulo ranks eighth among cities in the world for the number of high-rise buildings.

The original cathedral was built in 1589, and has been rebuilt three times since. Despite having a Renaissance-styled dome, the São Paulo Metropolitan Cathedral is considered by some to be the 4th largest neo-gothic cathedral in the world.

Spend time exploring the Municipal Market of Sao Paulo. It is housed is a historical building known for its vaulted ceilings and stained glass. The market is home to vendors selling various forms of local foods; 450 tons of food passes through the market per day in more than 290 boxes.

Pass through the Liberdade District, known as the largest Japanese neighborhood in a foreign country. There is a local fair of the neighborhood's artisans on the weekends. Pass through the Jardins District, an upscale neighborhood known for quaint cafes, contemporary stores, and bars. End our tour at the Flag Monument, honoring explorers of the area from 17th - 18th centuries.

Explore Trianon Park, an urban, native rainforest along one of the city's most important, financial district avenues. The park's formal name of Tenente Siqueira Campos literally translates to "Peace if you want Nature," and reflects a human's desire to experience nature, even when living in the city.

Choirs often enjoy performances at churches (some have restricted sacred repertoire and others allow secular,) temples, museums and cultural centers, significant historic sites or exchange concerts with local schools, universities or community groups. Participating in a choral or cultural festival can also be a rewarding experience.

In most cases, your flight home is overnight. You will return home on Day 9.