Few places on Earth compare to the great natural beauty and rich cultural heritage that is found in the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Located between India and China in the high Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan rises within just a few hundred miles from the steamy plains of Assam to some of the world’s highest peaks along its northern border with Tibet. This diversity of ecosystems – representing most of the climatic zones found on planet Earth but packaged within an area only about the size of Switzerland -- also provides refuge to many thousands of species of birds, plants, insects and animals that make Bhutan one of the world’s most treasured environmental sanctuaries, too.
The history of Bhutan is closely associated with the spread of Buddhism throughout the Himalayas, and Bhutan is the last place on Earth where the Vajrayana form of Mahayana Buddhism is practiced as a way of life that influences all aspects of society. Because Bhutan has never been colonized or occupied by any foreign invaders since the coming of Buddhism more than a thousand years ago, its cultural heritage and traditions remain authentic and intact. The authenticity of its robust cultural life also stems from the fact that Bhutan remains largely isolated from the rest of the modern world -- with the first road to the outside (India) constructed only in the early 1960s and with the number of permitted tourists admitted to the Kingdom still averaging below 20,000 annually.
This especially unique experiential travel opportunity is offered in conjunction with development and production of the very first Western opera that will incorporate important artistic elements reflecting Bhutanese culture. The opera is ‘Acis & Galatea’ by GF Handel, whose pastoral themes and celebration of metamorphosis resonate deeply with the most transformative spiritual experiences represented in classical Western as well as Eastern philosophical traditions. This production of ‘Acis & Galatea’ is a cooperative project between the University of Texas at El Paso and the El Paso Opera, the Royal Government of Bhutan, opera professionals resident in Rome, and other important international collaborators.
Throughout the trip, European and American artistic and educational directors from the project will be working with their Bhutanese counterparts on important production elements; and, accompanying travelers will have the chance to attend behind-the-scenes creative meetings with Bhutanese artists, weavers, dancers and musicians as the elements of the opera begin to take shape. Because of the unique nature of the trip as part of a historically important musical work-in-progress and to ensure the highest quality cultural experience possible in Bhutan, space is limited.
This very special journey into the heart of Bhutan -- from the Western highland areas with overland travel into more remote central Bhutan that will include visits to Bhutan’s most important cultural and environmental sites, the opportunity to attend a sacred masked-dance festival in Trongsa and to see the rare black-necked cranes from Tibet wintering in the hauntingly beautiful Phobjika valley-- is designed to provide an introduction to the culture and environment of the Eastern Himalayas and the gentle way of life of the Bhutanese people -- an intellectually and spiritually exciting journey designed to provide a sense of discovery, adventure, and renewal.
