Photos from Special Events in Saint Petersburg and Amsterdam
We’ve recently received additional photos from the special events in Saint Petersburg and Amsterdam during the President’s Cruise.
In Saint Petersburg, guests were transferred from the ship after an early dinner to the sumptuous Mikhailovsky Theater, which is seldom open to visitors, being mostly used for sponsored events by its owners. Upon arrival, they proceeded up a red carpet being heralded by the St. Petersburg Horn Capella, the only ensemble of its kind in Russia, playing antique straight brass horns that were popular in the 18th century. They were ushered into the theater where drinks and dessert bites were offered, and had a chance to peruse the theater’s collection of artworks. Then they were seated in the theater for a ballet performance exclusively created for them by the renowned Russian choreographer Boris Eifman. The evening’s performance consisted of a medley of scenes from his most famous works – Tchaikovsky, Red Giselle, Anna Karenina, and I am Don Quixote – and performed by a troupe hand-picked for the occasion by Mr. Eifman. Following the performance, the guests were informed that a donation had been made on their behalf to Mr. Eifman’s ballet school, where he boards and trains talented orphans and children from distressed families to enter the traditions of the Russian ballet. A cadre of the young students passed thank you gifts to the guests as they departed to return to Seabourn Sojourn.
A beautiful performance in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo courtesy of Anton Udovichenko
In Amsterdam, guests visited the historic Westerkerk church, dating from 1631. They were greeted by characters who seem to have stepped out of Rembrandt paintings. (Rembrandt is buried in the church, but nobody is sure exactly where.) They entered a restoration of Holland’s Golden Age, with music, games, refreshments and lots of fun. There was a recital of music from the period on the church’s magnificent pipe organ, built in the 17th century and expanded early in the 18th. After an evening of this time travel, they left the church and embarked on canal boats and enjoyed dessert during a beautiful canal cruise back to Seabourn Sojourn.
In Amsterdam, guests enjoyed a live recreation of Rembrandt's famous “Night Watch." Photo courtesy of Martine Berendsen
Check out the photos from both of these events on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/seabourn.
