From September 6th – 8th 2013, the elegant Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah will give guests the opportunity to embrace its history with a new ‘Orient Express Experience’weekend package.
The iconic Pera Palace Hotel was built in 1892 for the purpose of hosting the passengers of the Orient Express. To mark this original link with the famed train service, Pera Palace Hotel has invited the Musica Mundana Chamber Music Society from New York to perform their Orient Express concert in honour of the hotel’s 121st birthday celebrations on 6th September.
Guests to the hotel from the 6th – 8th September can enjoy a special ‘Orient Express Experience’ weekend package during a two night stay at the iconic hotel. And on Friday 6th, visitors will be able to travel back in time with the exclusive concert, after enjoying a VIP cocktail reception beforehand.
The Orient Express Concert, first performed last June at New York’s Lincoln Centre, is a musical journey of the historic route between Istanbul and Paris. Featuring the works of Bizet, Bartok, Debussy, and Strauss – among others – the concert is a fascinating exploration of the role of the Orient Express Train in cultural and musical exchange throughout Europe in the 19th Century. With The Orient Express carrying influences, and more literally renowned composers and performers, from Istanbul to Europe and back again, the concert captures the magic of the train’s journey in the 1930’s. The program begins with the works by Ottoman Court Music, mainly focusing on compositions written for the magical city of Istanbul, and continues with the pieces that became popular throughout the famous capitals like Bucharest, Sofia, Vienna, Budapest, and Paris.
Since opening, Pera Palace Hotel has played host to an impressive list of guests that includes Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock among others. Today the hotel maintains the elegant classical style that made it famous, with authentic 19th century features serving as a timeless focal point. As part of the package, a dinner at Agatha restaurant is also included so that guests can experience a further taste of some of the most famous stops on the Orient Express, through an exciting fusion menu of French, Italian and Turkish Cuisines, all expertly prepared by a team of master chefs. Inspired by the mystery and romance of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, a meal is the perfect way to add a touch of drama to a weekend of cultural reflection.
