Orient Express 101

The SSO brings Quartetto Gelato to Saskatoon to take us for a musical ride on the Orient Express. We are very excited about this fantastic concert – where we get to sit back, sip some wine, and enjoy wherever the music takes us.

But where are we going? What is the Orient Express? Isn’t there a chance of murder I should be worried about?

Many are familiar with the Orient Express described in Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express, or perhaps their introduction came from the 1974 film by the same name.


The actual Orient Express began in 1883 as the Express d’Orient, a luxury sleeper car train run by Belgian company La Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. The initial route ran twice a week from Paris (Gare de L’Est) and then traveled to Constantinople (Istanbul) via Strasbourg – Munich – Vienna – Budapest – Bucharest – Giurgiu, with a short ferry ride across the Danube to Ruse, then back on a train to Varna. Once in Varna, passengers would take a steamer to their final destination.

In it’s heyday of the 1930s two more variations were added; the Simplon-Orient Express (which Christie’s novel is based on) and the Arlberg-Orient Express. These iconic trains were the epitome of class and high society. It’s no wonder this journey has been taken by many literary and film characters like Christie’s Hercule Poirot, James Bond, and Alfred Hitchcock’s vanishing Lady.

 

Our journey with Quartetto Gelato will take us on a slow train from London, under the skies of Paris, pass through Munich, take a heartfelt stop in Budapest, and then we will dance our way through Prague and Milan. The musical ride comes to a rousing finish in Bucharest.

The last true Orient Express train ran in December of 2009. If you really feel like you missed the adventure of a lifetime there is a luxury vacation package based on the Simplon Orient Express route. The 1930’s art deco train voyages start at $3,200 Canadian (not including airfare), and can run upwards of $9,000! As beautiful as this looks, we’ll stick to enjoying the Orient Express route right here and Saskatoon with the SSO and Quartetto Gelato.

So join us for a night of fantastic music, mystery, romance, and perhaps a glass (or two) of wine. See you there!

 

Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express
7:30pm, Thursday August 18
Remai Arts Centre
Tickets are available here, or contact the Persephone Theatre box office (306-384-7727)

Leave a Comment