Moulin d’Ande, Normandie, France: Hop a train at the Gare Saint Lazare to this spectacular 12th-century stone mill and artists’ retreat along the winding banks of the Seine (below). “Musical weekends” include chamber concerts at the small, hilltop theater–built to resemble Versailles’s Petit Trianon. (Doubles: ¤56. Singles: 40, including breakfast.) 022-32-59-70- 00. moulinande.asso.fr.
Glimmerglass Opera, Cooperstown, New York: Set beside a tranquil lake, this intimate theater (above, right) has walls that slide open to reveal breathtaking views of the countryside. Visitors can stay in picturesque Cooperstown (cooperstownchamber.org), a four-hour drive or bus ride from New York City.
Saito Kinen Festival, Matsumoto, Japan: Each year, Seiji Ozawa returns home to conduct this 10-day festival (Aug. 22 to Sept. 14) in the Japanese Alps–a 2 hour drive or train ride from Tokyo. Visitors can stay at one of many hot-springs inns near town (outdoorjapan.com; click on ‘onsen’). For concert schedules, go to www.saito-kinen.com.
