Theme travel has become a popular reason to travel, whether it is as part of a larger group or independently:  companies who put together tours centered around a theme, or travelers who prepare their itinerary around a given theme.

Opera and classical music buffs will want to consider this Top 10 list compiled by Frommer’s (read the full article for lots more details):

1. 

   La Scala in Milan, Italy

   Göttingen, Germany – The small Deutsches Theater provides a cozy venue for opera lovers.  The town is also home to  the world’s oldest Baroque music festival, the International Handel Festival.

2. St. Petersburg, Russia – The Mariinsky Theater features classical performances as well as those from Russian composers.  The summer White Nights Festival, featuring opera and classical music, is Russia’s largest public event.
3. Wexford, Ireland – Home to the Wexford Festival, and the recently opened Wexford Operate House.  Little knows performers and operas can frequently be seen here.
4. New York City – You knew this had to be on the list, with its outstanding venues of the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  There’s music everywhere you turn.
5. Milan, Italy – Another city that was sure to be in the top 10, Milan has a storied history of opera.  Home to La Scala (dating back to the 18th century), you’ll find both classic and innovative productions.
6. 

   Civic Opera House in Chicago

   Paris, France – The city that’s been the inspiration for a number of operas, Paris  offers myriad venues for opera and classical music.  From the gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, to the classic Palais Garnier (the site of Phantom of the Opera), to the modern Opera de la Bastille, you’ll find venues that you’re sure to love.

7. Chicago, Illinois – The Civic Opera House is an architectural beauty (worth a visit even if you’re not an opera buff), and home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  The city’s Chicago Opera Theater presents edgier productions in Millennium Park.
8. Stockholm, Sweden –The painstakingly restored 18th century Drottningholm Court Theatre has a brief summer season, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
9. Santa Fe, New Mexico – This one was a surprise to me, as I hadn’t realized how popular the Santa Fe Opera had become.  The high desert landscape has been incorporated into the adobe theater, providing compelling drama onstage and off.
10. Sussex, England – Home to the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, taking place every summer on the estate of its founder, John Christie.  Think of it as a fancy country house party, complete with world class performances.

Source:  Frommer’s

Photo credit:   Both from flickr,  La Scala, Civic Opera House

Our son is not a big sleeper. Although we’ve tried numerous techniques, tips and tricks described by doctors, friends and family members, only on rare occasions has he slept more than 4 hours in a row in the past five months.

Introducing a source of white noise to block out external sound is one of the first things people advise, which we already do. We have an air purifier in his room which provides sufficient white noise to isolate him from noisy cars, barking dogs and the like. The other night we tried a different approach to improving his sleep, which so far seems to be working.

We bought a cheap CD player for his room and played a Mozart mix on repeat all night long, in addition to his white noise. The result, since we’ve done this he’s had two nights of 7+ hours of uninterrupted sleep, and another night of 6 hours in-a-row. This could be pure coincidence, but it looks promising.

I’d love to believe there is a causal relationship between the Mozart and length of sleep, but it could be something else completely; he could be experiencing a growth spurt and needs more sleep, or played harder than usual and tired himself out. I’d like to hear from any of you who have played music in their kids rooms at night, and what effect it had on their sleep.