Royal Opera & Theater of England Tour: Private Recitals, Sublime Performances

There's nothing more quintessentially English than punting (flat-bottomed boating) on the River Cam with a tub of strawberries and a glass of champagne. As you glide along the Backs, past the elegant university buildings, you revel in a tradition unchanged for centuries. Disembark and take a walking tour through Cambridge and across the cobbles of ancient colleges. The stone has turned green with moss in old chapels, bridges curve alongside towering oak trees, and there's a sneaking sense that you're entering the setting for some televised costume drama. Arriving at the Gothic King's College Chapel, you sit in on a closed rehearsal by the Choir of King's College. Voices reverberate around the medieval stained glass, filling the world's largest fan vault with the harmonic sound of youth. Continuing the music is an afternoon of Evensong with the choir, conducted by the man you met for lunch yesterday. The rest of the evening is free for your leisure.

A first glimpse at Stratford-upon-Avon and you can't mistake the resemblance. If feels like you've seen Shakespeare's home before, probably in a production on the other side of the world. Thatched roofs slope over winding country lanes, townhouses seemingly spring from a medieval fairytale, and it seems that nothing has changed since the 17th century. The birthplace of the world's greatest playwright is your base for the next three days. Especially in the evening, when the tourist buses have left, this town immerses you in yesteryear. Explore at leisure, wandering down the Avon River and getting lured in by the gastro pubs that stand over the water. En route, you'll be guided through Upton House, home to fabulously green gardens and a sublime collection of art and porcelain.

The man responsible for a quarter of the English language has left his mark on all corners of Stratford-upon-Avon. A local guide connects the tales with a behind-the-scenes Shakespeare tour. Journey up the RSC Tower, visit his birthplace, explore the cottage that was the home of his wife, and talk through the literary context of the town's famous son. Quite understandably, Stratford-upon-Avon celebrates the drama of Shakespeare, and the locals are prone to reciting lines at random. As the home of English theater, there's always a character testing your knowledge with a quick line from a forgotten act. In the evening, enjoy dinner at Hall's Croft, a townhouse that remains in the Shakespeare family and continues the immersion in Tudor architecture.

Smoke wafts from the chimneys of Baddesley Clinton, rising above the moat and beams of Elizabethan timber. This National Trust property is an epitome of Tudor architecture, providing another journey down the lanes of England's memories. Relax in the town through the afternoon before a sampling of “love looks not with the eyes but with the mind.” The Royal Shakespeare Company performs A Midsummer Night's Dream better than anyone, narrating it all in the playwright's birthplace and taking the audience on a surreal journey through the preeminent love story. You have front row tickets for tonight's performance.

Journey to Oxford in the morning, where you continue to enjoy the finest of old England. Clustered spires rise from the halls of the world's oldest university, standing proudly above the cropped lawns and famous courtyards. There's more than a millennium of history to find in Oxford, etched into the ornate hallways and high-ceilinged dining halls. A local guide expertly guides you along the cobblestone, taking you down the narrow alleyways to the timeless university buildings. To connect with literature, take a few steps into the Bodleian Library and absorb the smell of aged paper. Almost every book ever published in England is housed here, some 100 miles of shelves a delight to the eyes and the nose.

In the afternoon, there's a new sense of England's past. Wormsely Estate symbolizes the pomp of the 18th century, its vaulted ceiling dominating fields of wild antelope and the odd game of cricket. Explore the Walled Garden, then walk to Garsington Opera for an exquisite rendition of Eugene Onegin. The stylish modern pavilion provides a contrast to the estate's heritage, yet the resonance of the performance continues to reflect the regal traditions of Wormsely. It's an intimate and exclusive venue, where the audience is close enough to see throats vibrate and hear the songs come out in their purest form. You'll be transferred back to your Oxford hotel in the evening.

Blenheim Palace revels in its eminence, three centuries of history gilded into sumptuous reception halls and sublime private quarters. On this behind-the-scenes tour, you're guided through dozens of glorious rooms, each providing the setting for another intriguing tale. While many tourists continue to flock to Highclere Castle, intent on seeing the iconic setting of Downton Abbey, most miss out on Blenheim, one of England's finest stately homes. During June, the Blenheim Palace Flower Show adds further enchantment, the floral scents roving across their award-winning formal gardens. Complete the private tour with a champagne lunch in the India Room, a chance to celebrate the luxuriant tastes of the past. Return to Oxford in the mid-afternoon, and the rest of the day is at your leisure. The city's pedestrianized central streets always make for quaint explorations.

A relaxed day as you enjoy the morning rhythm of Oxford, then explore the 17th-century splendor of Lainston House, a country home that introduces you to the charms of Hampshire, one of England's most rural counties. Weaving through the countryside, you discover the romance of Grange Park, its neoclassic mansion standing in a redolent state of ruin. The atmosphere seems to bounce off the crumbled stone, and that's before the first bars of Verdi's Don Carlo. You have prime tickets for the performance, and few opera settings are as evocative. Voices ring out as the composer's longest opera is performed, with the afternoon drifting into the evening and then the crescendo peaking at dusk. Dinner is served during the extended interval, and there's a lovely informality to the performance here. Continue to Winchester and you'll hear the famous cathedral chime before retiring for the night in a boutique hotel.

Winchester is as old as they come, its cathedral spire a symbol of the city's role in shaping British history. Despite the fame, Winchester still feels like a village, filled with independent shops and small boutiques. Travel here during the morning with a luxury chauffeured transfer. Like every day, the transfers are private and flexible to when you want to depart. Also, you're driven by a Blue Badge guide with an intimate knowledge of music in the UK. Arrive in Winchester, where you start with the famous attraction and a guided tour of Canterbury Cathedral, one that goes behind the scenes and provides an intriguing connection with Jane Austin. Then you have an afternoon amongst the delicate archways and the 12th-century chapels of the town, a chance to explore at your leisure and find your own fairytale version of medieval England.

The Wallace Collection takes you over the Channel, revealing 18th-century France through paintings, furniture, and delicate porcelain. This stop at Hertford House is the start of an inspiring day through the undiscovered classics found around the capital. At the exclusive 1901 Arts Club, you meet composer Julian Johnson and talk openly about the capital's summer opera season. It's followed by a private recital by musicians performing at the Royal Opera House – a wonderful introduction to the next three nights of live performances in the capital. You'll have the chance to meet the musicians in a very informal atmosphere as this day helps explore the essence of performance in London.

Wander through the gilded corridors of the Royal Opera House, with so much history cascading from the velvety seats and adorned ceilings. You go backstage, following the trail from the royal box to tonight's performance space. For opera in England, there is no venue more iconic, and every monarch since the 17th century has witnessed a performance here. The afternoon is free, giving you time to explore your own interests of London. Then return to the Royal Opera House for Verdi's Nabucco, an epic opera that befits the drama and identity of the venue. Expect intimate seats and an atmosphere that captivates, with every voice roaming through three centuries of architectural history.

A solo harpsichord plays as you explore the home of Handel, the Baroque composer that swapped Germany for London. He would entertain guests in the intimate chamber room, and this tradition continues, even if it's only Handel's composition rather than his skillful hands providing the music. Decadent and dancing with heritage, this home in Mayfair is a symbol of musical development in England, and the guided tour reflects its air of exclusivity. Like yesterday, the afternoon is free for a stunning evening performance. Tonight it's Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe, a timeless production at a venue that's a recreation of the 17th-century theater of Shakespeare's time. There's always a raucous expectant atmosphere, building to deafening levels as the body of Macbeth is dragged from the stage.

June ushers in the elegant Glyndebourne Festival Opera and a series of redolent nights with internationally acclaimed performers. After a free morning and afternoon, you travel down to the gracious gardens of the Glyndebourne Estate. There's a hum in the air, as opera lovers congregate on cultivated lawns for the following evening performances. Quite simply, this is the UK's preeminent opera festival. Dinner is served during the extended interval, and the program of productions celebrates both the famous and unknown of world opera. It's with almost reluctance that you leave the festival, the scenes still alive as you spend your final night in England.

With the music fresh in your ears, you must depart England. There's been close to a dozen performances, some on a scale of grandeur and others for your enjoyment only. You're transferred to the airport, where you say farewell to the guide and head off on your international flight.