2026 Solar Eclipse Cruise:

Totality in The Mediterranean  

with Sarah Rugheimer

FRANCE & SPAIN

Great Music Masters of Italy: Verdi and Italian Opera

with Robert Greenberg

ITALY

ENGLAND & FRANCE

D-Day: Courage, Conflict, and History in England and France  with Ed Lengel

Great Music Masters of Vienna: The Romantics

with Robert Greenberg

Enchanted England: Folklore, Fairy Tales, and Wonder

with Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman

Revisiting World War 1 in France

with Keith Huxen

Exploring Cuba: From Trinidad 

to Havana

with Joyce Salisbury

Great British Mysteries: Conan Doyle, Christie, and More

with Maureen Corrigan

ENGLAND

ENGLAND

FRANCE

CUBA

AUSTRIA

Travel with Insight, Explore with Passion

CLOSE MENU

Champs-Élysées

Opéra Comique

Giverny

Claude Debussy

Parisian Café Food

Starting at $9,295 per person

Embark on an extraordinary musical journey through Paris, curated for passionate learners and music lovers. This immersive program, led by The Great Courses’ renowned professor Robert Greenberg, offers a rare opportunity to explore the city’s rich musical heritage, iconic venues, and the lives of legendary composers. Through exclusive access to historic sites, expert-led lectures, and behind-the-scenes experiences, participants will gain a profound understanding of French music’s evolution and its ties to the Impressionist art movement—a revolution that transformed both sound and vision. Join us for a journey where Paris’s melodies, stories, and artistry come alive in the company of fellow enthusiasts and a world-class scholar.

Great Music Masters of Paris: La Belle Èpoque

with Robert Greenberg

DEPARTURE DATE AND PRICING

October 24–29, 2027

Starting at $9,295 per person

Highlights

View rare treasures on a guided tour of the Collection of Historic Instruments and discover the crossover of art nouveau and music in the Secession Museum.


Set off on an excursion to the spa town of Baden bei Wien and discover the reasons key creatives from Vienna sought sanctuary there.

Gain insights into the life and works of great composers, on guided visits to their homes and haunts with The Great Courses expert Robert Greenberg.


Take an after-hours tour of Schönbrunn Palace and enjoy a classical concert under the vaulted ceiling of the Orangerie featuring the works of Mozart and Strauss. 

Step inside the world of art and sound with an excursion to Giverny and visits to the homes of Monet, Ravel, and Debussy.


Celebrate Parisian culture at unforgettable live performances* (specific performances and venues to be announced)

    Dive deep into Impressionism with Robert Greenberg’s expert lectures, connecting shimmering harmonies to Monet’s luminous brushstrokes.

    Walk in the footsteps of composers like Debussy, Satie, and Poulenc during guided tours of Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

    Experience musical history firsthand at the Musée de la Musique and Phono Museum, exploring centuries of innovation.

    Highlights

    Robert Greenberg

    Dr. Robert Greenberg is Music Historian-in-Residence with San Francisco Performances. A graduate of Princeton University, Professor Greenberg holds a Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley. He has seen his compositions-which include more than 45 works for a wide variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles-performed all over the world, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, England, Ireland, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands. 


    He has served on the faculties of the University of California, Berkeley; California State University, Hayward; and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and has lectured for some of the most prestigious musical and arts organizations in the United States, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and the Chicago Symphony. For The Great Courses, he has recorded more than 500 lectures on a range of composers and classical music genres. 


    Professor Greenberg is a Steinway Artist. His many other honors include three Nicola de Lorenzo Composition Prizes and a Koussevitzky commission from the Library of Congress. He has been profiled in various major publications, including The Wall Street Journal; Inc. magazine; and the London Times. 

    Journey Expert

    Robert Greenberg

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    Paris

    Arrive in the City of Light and check into the elegant Hôtel Château Frontenac, a refined retreat just steps from the Champs-Élysées. Meet both your professional tour manager and Professor Robert Greenberg for an engaging introduction to the week’s musical themes, setting the tone for an unforgettable journey. In the evening, enjoy a private welcome reception followed by a sumptuous dinner at a local Parisian restaurant. This first night offers the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow travelers and begin immersing yourself in the cultural and artistic heartbeat of Paris.


          Included Meal: Dinner

          Accommodations: Hôtel Château Frontenac

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    Père-Lachaise Cemetery

    Begin your day in Montmartre, the bohemian quarter that inspired generations of artists and composers. With Professor Greenberg and a local guide, trace the footsteps of Claude Debussy and Erik Satie, whose music reflected the neighborhood’s avant-garde spirit. Visit the Phono Museum to explore 140 years of sound technology, from Edison cylinders to modern devices. Later, pay homage at Père-Lachaise Cemetery, where Poulenc rests among cultural giants like Chopin and Edith Piaf. Conclude with an intimate lecture on how Paris’s artistic ferment shaped musical innovation. The evening is yours to savor Paris at leisure.


          Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

          Accommodations: Hôtel Château Frontenac

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    Théâtre du Châtelet

    Today celebrates Paris as a global center of musical excellence. Visit the Ècole Normale de Musique, where Poulenc honed his craft, and explore the Musée de la Musique, home to treasures like Chopin’s piano and Brassens’ guitar. Stroll past the Stravinsky Fountain and Théâtre du Châtelet, where Debussy’s famed Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune premiered. After a delightful Parisian dinner, attend a world-class concert or opera performance (subject to confirmation of performance schedule). Professor Greenberg will provide expert commentary, enriching your experience of the evening’s repertoire and its historical significance.


          Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

          Accommodations: Hôtel Château Frontenac

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    Monet's Gardens at Giverny

    Escape to the countryside for a day steeped in Impressionist beauty. In Giverny, wander through Monet’s gardens and the Musée des Impressionnismes, where light and color revolutionized art. Continue to the homes of Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy, discovering how their music mirrored Monet’s brushwork—fluid, atmospheric, and evocative of fleeting sensations. Back in Paris, Professor Greenberg’s lecture will illuminate the parallels between Impressionist painting and music, revealing how composers like Debussy and Ravel broke from tradition to create shimmering soundscapes. The evening is at your leisure.


          Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

          Accommodations: Hôtel Château Frontenac

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    Monet's Water Lillies

    Immerse yourself in Paris’s grand musical heritage with exterior visits to the Opéra Comique, Palais Garnier (the interior is closed for renovation until 2029), and La Madeleine Church, where Fauré’s Requiem first resounded. Explore the Musée de l’Orangerie, home to Monet’s luminous water lilies, and stroll through Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a historic hub for composers and intellectuals. Pause for a coffee or aperitif at Les Deux Magots before gathering for a festive farewell dinner. The evening culminates in a final concert or opera performance, with Professor Greenberg offering insights that tie together the week’s themes of art, music, and cultural transformation.


          Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

          Accommodations: Hôtel Château Frontenac

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    Depart Paris at your leisure, carrying with your new friendships, memories, and a richer understanding of the city’s musical soul.


          Included Meals: Breakfast

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    After breakfast, transfer independently to the airport for your flight home. 


          Included Meals: Breakfast

    After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport independently for your flight home. 


    Included Meals: Breakfast

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    Hôtel Château Frontenac
    Paris, France
    This 4-star hotel is just a short walk from the Champs-Elysees. An elegant property that combines Parisian charm, comfort and an interesting history, the building was formerly a cabaret where Édith Piaf began her career. 104 rooms and suites boast high ceilings, feature fabric covered walls, colorful drapes, and soft furnishings. (5 nights)

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    Sign up to receive the latest trip updates and instant access to a digital version of our full-color 2025–2027 travel catalog. You will also have the option to share your mailing address and we’ll send a printed copy of our next catalog to your door.

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    Highlights

    Uncover the dynastic ambitions and historical significance of monuments like Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat.


    Experience the stony landscape of the Agafay Desert on a camel trek, culminating in a breathtaking sunset over the High Atlas Mountains.

    Admire the Islamic architecture in Marrakesh, from the grand Koutoubia Mosque and intricate Bahia Palace to the serene beauty of the Ben Youssef Madrasa.


    Discover the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest continuously operating university, and engage in a discussion on its profound influence on global scholarship.


    Wander through the labyrinthine alleyways of the UNESCO-listed Medina in Fes, where vibrant stalls overflow with textiles, spices, and artisanal crafts.