MUSIC CRUISES

2018

“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart P a g e 7 Program 19/2018 - Classical Music on the Rhine - Status: 05.12.2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC ON THE RHINE 8 days from € 1.899 per person Amsterdam - Basel 2018 ITINERARY DAY PORT / CITY ARR DEP HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM 1 Amsterdam Check-in from 4 pm; Welcome Cocktail (incl.); Welcome Dinner (incl.) Welcome concert on board (incl.)

DUDOK QUARTET W. A. Mozart, Divertimento KV 138 in F major F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, No 6 in F minor, Op post 80

2 Amsterdam 09.00 City tour Amsterdam with private concert in the monumental Dominicus Church (by bus from Amsterdam/ to Utrecht) (incl.)

DUDOK QUARTET F. Schubert, String Quartet No. 10 (D 87) in E-flat major R. Schumann, String Quartet No. 3 in A Major, Op. 41

Utrecht 12.30 13.00 Rejoin the ship

3 Cologne 09.00 11.00 Cologne walking tour in the morning (opt.) Bonn 14:30 23.59 Visit of Beethoven‘s House in Bonn and private piano concert (incl.)

PIANIST MARTIN IVANOV L. van Beethoven, sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 in C sharp minor L. van Beethoven, sonata No. 21, Op. 53 in C major

4 Cochem 13.30 22.00 In the morning, scenic scruise along the Moselle river Cochem walking tour with wine tasting in the afternoon (opt.) In the evening, exclusive concert on board (incl.)

NATHAN QUARTET J. Haydn, String Quartet Op. 64/2 in B flat major F. Mendelsohn-Bartholdy, String Quartet in D major, Op. 44/1

5 Koblenz 06.00 11.00 Koblenz walking tour in the morning (incl.) Musical tea party on board in the afternoon (incl.)

NATHAN QUARTET Selection of famous musical pieces from the world of operetta and waltz music (Ludwig van Beethoven, Fritz Kreisler, )

Rüdesheim 17.00 22.00 Rüdesheim walking tour with visit of Siegfried‘s music museum (opt.)

6 Speyer 09.00 19.30 Speyer walking tour in the morning (opt.) Excursion to Heidelberg in the afternoon (from/to Speyer) (incl.) Captain‘s Gala dinner

7 Strasbourg 08.00 14.00 In the morning, city tour of Strasbourg followed by an exclusive organ con- cert in St Thomas' Church (incl.)

ORGANIST DANIEL MAURER

J. S. Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, 730 and 731 G. F. Händel, Suite for a Musical Clock / A Flight of Angels W. A. Mozart, Andante F major, KV 616 J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532

Farewell concert on board (incl.)

STUTTGART STRING QUARTET Port times and itineraries are subject to W. A. Mozart, Divertimento K. 136 in D major change. A. Dvořák, String Quartet No. 12 Op 96 "The American" Excursions marked in bold are not 8 Basel 08.00 Disembarkation after breakfast included in the cruise rate.

LÜFTNER CRUISES· Menardi Center· Amraser See Straße 56· A-6020 Innsbruck· TEL: +43/512/365781· [email protected]· www.lueftner-cruises.com P a g e 8 Program 19/2018 - Classical Music on the Rhine - Status: 05.12.2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC ON THE RHINE 8 days from € 1.899 per person Amsterdam - Basel 2018

vçìê=ãìëáÅ=ÉñéÉêí=çå=Äç~êÇW= Antonella Placheta

Austrian born, Antonella Placheta studied piano at the Innsbruck Conservatory for ten years.She continued her studies at the University of Innsbruck, where she concentra- ted on history and philosophy. After her studies she was able to combine her love of history with her love of music and the arts. In addition to her work as a historian and organizer of various cultural events, Antonella moderates concerts and music events and is active as a state-licensed tourist guide. Since 2015, she has been the director of the women's choir "Sono". As a music and cultural expert, she accompanies travel groups and cruises throughout Europe and is happy to share her knowledge and her enthusiasm for music with our national and international guests.

SHIP / DATE CATEGORY / DECK / PRICES IN EURO PER PERSON

C-4 C-1 / C-EK B-4 B-1 A-1 SUITE AMSTERDAM - BASEL Haydn Deck Haydn Deck Strauss Deck Strauss Deck Mozart Deck Mozart Deck AMADEUS SILVER II 28.10.-04.11.18 € 1.899 € 2.099 € 2.499 € 2.749 € 2.999 € 3.449 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT PER PERSON/ ALL DATES: C-4 & C-1: 15%· B-4: 30% B-1: 50% · A-1: 60% · Suite: 100% from the cruise rate. All cabins are outside facing and have two beds that can be linked together or set up separately, as you wish. Included Features

• 8-day river cruise with large, outside river-view staterooms, most with drop-down panoramic windows, suites with walk-out balconies • Selected musical highlights and excursions as listed in the program • Mag. Antonella Placheta holds introductory onboard talks on the composers and theirs works • Complimentary state-of-the-art audio headsets for all excursions • Services of an experienced Cruise Director • Gourmet dining with all meals included (buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack) in the elegant Panorama-Restaurant, which accommodates all guests in one seating • Free-flowing quality red & white wines from Europe’s famous wine regions with every dinner on board • 24-hour complimentary coffee and tea station • Coffee and tea after lunch and dinner • Complimentary use of onboard bicycles • All port taxes and local taxes

Arrival & Transfer

AMSTERDAM You're in good hands with us from the start: Excursions Let us book you a transfer from the airport Price or train station to the ship port and City tour Amsterdam with private concert in the Dominicus Church included back. The following prices apply per person Cologne walking tour € 18 per transfer. Visit of Beethoven‘s House in Bonn and private piano concert included AMSTERDAM (NL) Cochem walking tour with wine tasting € 40 Airport – Port € 45,- Koblenz walking tour included Train station – Port € 37,- Rüdesheim walking tour with music cabinet museum € 24 Speyer walking tour € 16 BASEL (CH) Excursion to Heidelberg included Airport – Port € 48,- City tour of Strasbourg followed by organ concert in St Thomas' Church included Train station – Port € 48,- Rate per person € 98

LÜFTNER CRUISES· Menardi Center· Amraser See Straße 56· A-6020 Innsbruck· TEL: +43/512/365781· [email protected]· www.lueftner-cruises.com P a g e 9 Program 19/2018 - Classical Music on the Rhine - Status: 05.12.2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC ON THE RHINE 8 days from € 1.899 per person Amsterdam - Basel 2018

MUSICIAN’S BIOGRAPHIES DUDOK QUARTET After completing their studies with distinction at the Dutch String Quartet Academy in 2013, the Quartet started to have success at international competitions and to be recognized as one of the most promising young European string quartets of the year. In 2014, they were awarded the Kersjes Prize for their exceptional talent in the Dutch chamber music scene. The Quartet was also laureate and winner of two special prizes during the 7th International String Quartet Competition 2013 à Bordeaux and won 1st place at both the 1st International String Quartet Competition 2011 in Radom (Poland) and the 27th Charles Hennen International Chamber Music Competiti- on 2012. In 2012, they received 2nd place at the 6th Joseph Joachim International Chamber Music Competition in Weimar (Germany). The members of the quartet first met in the Dutch street sym- phony orchestra “Ricciotti”. From 2009 until 2011, they stu- died with the Alban Berg Quartet at the School of Music in Cologne, then to study with Marc Danel at the Dutch String Quartet Academy. During the same period, the quartet was coached intensively by Eberhard Feltz, Peter Cropper (Lindsay Quartet), Luc-Marie Aguera (Quatuor Ysaÿe) and Stefan Metz. Many well-known contemporary classical composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Calliope Tsou- paki and Max Knigge also worked with the quartet. In 2014, the Quartet signed on for several recordings with Resonus Classics, the world’s first solely digital classical music label. They performed with many renowned guest musicians such as Pieter Wispelwey, Dmitri Ferschtman, Quirine Viersen, Hannes Minnaar and Mikhail Zemtsov. The musicians have also performed at many prestigious festivals and performed con- certs at every major concert hall in the Netherlands, as well as venues in France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Cyprus. The quartet took its name from Willem Marinus Dudok (1884 – 1974) who was a famous Dutch architect and a great lover of music. He came from a musical family and composed music in his spare time. “I owe more to composers than I owe to any architect”, he wrote. “I feel deeply the common core of music and architecture; after all, they both derive their value from the right proportions.”

NATHAN QUARTET This all female quartet is made up of talented performers. Together, they celebrate their passion for music in performances that reflect their ability and verve and combine deeply felt emotions with a buoyant joy of music. Romanian born poet, painter and violinist Dana Anka (1st violin) has lived in Hamburg since 1982, where she studied at the School of Music and Performing Arts. She has released many CD recordings with Arte Nova Classics. As a soloist, Ms Anka has performed with the Mozart Orchestra, the Hamburg Camerata and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, under the guidance of Robert Stehli, Max Pommer, Emil Klein, Hans-Jörg Albrecht, Saulius Sondeckis and others. As a painter, she had her vernissage in the Atrium in Hamburg (2000), in Karstadt (2002), in St. Michaelis (2004), in Seoul, Korea (2005), in the Schnittke Academy (2007) and in the Zunftsaal of the Schmiedenhof, Basel (2008). Dana is a founding member of the “Nathan Quartet”. Maja Hunziker (2nd violin) began her studies with Alexander van Wijnkoop at the School of Music in Basel. Later, she studied in the class of Prof. Marco Rizzi at the University of Music in Detmold, as well as with Christoph Schickedanz in Hamburg. She enhanced her training with master classes by Stephan Picard, Valery Gradov, Christian Tetzlaff, and others. Maja is particularly interested in chamber music. She re- ceived further incentives from Andras Schiff, the Auryn Quartet, the Vermeer Quartet and the Guarneri Quartet. Her musical explorations include klezmer, tango, baroque music and performance practice with historical instruments. Ms Hunziker is a founding member of the Vino- rosso Ensemble and a member of the Hamburg “Ensemble Barockwerk”. Swiss Roswitha Killian (viola) studied with Serge Collot in Paris and Hirofumi Fukai at the School for Music and Performing Arts in Hamburg. Thereafter, she took master classes with Wolfram Christ, Fjodor Druschinin, Hatto Beyerle, Hariolf Schlichtig and repeatedly with the Ama- deus Quartet in London. Her debut was a performance of the viola concert “L’Enracinement” by Takashi Fujii in Zürich. Roswitha gained her chamber music experience as violist in various ensembles and played as a soloist with the “Augsburger Kammersolisten” and the “Hamburger Solisten”. She performs regularly throughout Europe as part of the Killian Duo with her sister. Ms Killian is responsible for the organization of the “Nathan Quartet” concert series in Hamburg and Basel. Born in Tel Aviv, Hila Karni (violoncello) studied in the US with Bernard Greenhouse, and later with Prof. David Geringas in Lübeck und Berlin. She has played at many festivals, including Schleswig-Holstein, Stresa und Ravinia. Hila's CD recordings of Robert Volkmann’s concert with the Hamburg Camerata received great critical acclaim. She has been a cellist with the Mondrian Trio since 2006 and has performed in concert halls such as the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Megaron (Athens), the Festspielhaus (Baden-Baden), the Palais des Beaux Arts (Brussels), Kölner Philharmonie, Wigmore (London), Carnegie (New York) and the Konzerthaus (Vienna).

LÜFTNER CRUISES· Menardi Center· Amraser See Straße 56· A-6020 Innsbruck· TEL: +43/512/365781· [email protected]· www.lueftner-cruises.com P a g e 1 0 Program 19/2018 - Classical Music on the Rhine - Status: 05.12.2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC ON THE RHINE 8 days from € 1.899 per person Amsterdam - Basel 2018

PIANIST MARTIN IVANOV Born in 1990 to a Bulgarian family of musicians, Martin Ivanov is quickly establishing himself as an outstanding and captivating pianist. He began playing piano in 1994 with his mother, and graduated the National Arts School of Ruse in 2009. He participated in over 50 piano com- petitions in Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Russia, Spain and the USA, with huge success at each one of them. In 2008, Martin was awarded the prize Ruse XXI Century (Bulgaria) for extraordinary accomplishments in music. In 2009, he began studying with Prof. Maisenberg at the Uni- versity for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and later with Prof. Stevan Vladar. Martin has given concerts at festivals in Bulgaria, Austria, Spain, Holland, the USA, France, Italy and Romania. In 2012 he was invited to play at the Life Ball Vienna charity event in front of Hollywood stars and famous singers. ORGANIST DANIEL MAURER Daniel Maurer studied in Paris with Jean Langlais, who dedicated one of his organ compositions (“Noël N ° 3 avec variations”) to him in 1979. He accompanied Langlais regularly on tours as an assistant and played several concerts for four hands and four feet with him. Daniel also studied with André Marchal, Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet and Lionel Rogg. In 1982 he won the Premier Prix d'Honneur at the International Competition in Paris, as well as the Premier Prix d'orgue at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Daniel Maurer is a titu- lar organist at the J.A. Silbermann organ of the St. Thomas church in Strasbourg. He teaches as a professor of organ and improvisation at the Conservatoire and at the Académie Supérieure de Musique in Strasbourg. STUTTGART STRING QUARTET

Stefan Balle (1st violin) was born in Stuttgart in 1966 and has been first violinist of the Stuttgart Philharmonic since 1996. He studied with Prof. Lukas David in Detmold and with Prof. Tibor Varga in Sion, for whom he also worked as an assistant. In addition to chamber music train- ing with Christoph Poppen (Cherubini Quartet), he also studied in the master class of Young-Uck Kim (Beaux Arts Trio). In 1989, Stefan founded the Arensky Trio, with which he won numerous prizes and awards during competitions. He performed as a chamber musician in various ensembles and, as a soloist, performed at festivals in Switzerland, in the south of France and South America. Julius Calvelli-Adorno (2. Violin) received his first violin lessons at the age of six and by the age of eleven, he had begun his musical career in the Taunus string orchestra, successful at the Würzburg orchestra competition in 1986. He studied violin at the Hochschule für Musik Det- mold. Julius devoted himself intensively to piano trios and string quartets, with mentors like the Opus 8 trio, the Cherubini and the Vogler Quartets. Between 1991 and 1998, he was active as a member of the Detmold Chamber Orchestra, mainly as voice guide of the second violin and concertmaster. After working at the Staatstheater Kassel, at the Städtischen Bühnen Osnabrück and at the Münchener Kammerorches- ter, Julius Calvelli-Adorno joined the Stuttgart Philharmonic (March 2000). As a sought-after chamber musician and committed educator, he regularly takes part in various ensembles and festivals in Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, the USA and Japan. Martin Höfler (viola) studied violin and viola at the Freiburger Musikhochschule and the Amadeus Quartet in Cologne. With the Spohr Quar- tet, which was founded in 1984, he won first place at the Freiburg University Competition in 1985. This ensemble not only represented the ARD at the “Internationale Musiktage” in Salzburg in 1986, but also performed numerous concerts and broadcasts for various institutions. As an orchestral musician, he has played with the SWR-Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern, the baroque orchestra Collegium Aureum in Cologne, the Ensemble Aventure for contemporary music in Freiburg and the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart of the International Bach Academy. As an ac- complished chamber musician, Martin is also involved in chamber music performances of various combinations with colleagues of the Stutt- gart Philharmonic. Bernhard Lörcher (violoncello) was born in Freiburg in 1970 and toured throughout Europe as a youth with the “Landes- und Bundesjugen- dorchester”. With his cello trio, he won 1st place at the “Bundeswettbewerb Jugend Musiziert”. He studied with Prof. Martin Ostertag in Karlsruhe and received his chamber music education in Vienna with the Alban Berg Quartet and the Haydn Trio. Together with various cham- ber music ensembles, Bernhard was a guest at many music festivals and received invitations to concerts all over Europe. In 1994, he won the Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin. Since 1999 he has been a cellist with the Stuttgart Philharmonic and has been a solo cellist since 2001. In 2006, he performed for the first time at the Santa Catarina Music Festival in Brazil, where he has since been invited as a guest lecturer and soloist.

LÜFTNER CRUISES· Menardi Center· Amraser See Straße 56· A-6020 Innsbruck· TEL: +43/512/365781· [email protected]· www.lueftner-cruises.com P a g e 1 1 Program 19/2018 - Classical Music on the Rhine - Status: 05.12.2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC ON THE RHINE 8 days from € 1.899 per person Amsterdam - Basel 2018

DAY-BY-DAY DESCRIPTION OF THE CRUISE

DAY 1 | NETHERLANDS: AMSTERDAM DAY 3 | GERMANY: COLOGNE - BONN Begin your classical music odyssey in the Dutch capital city of After breakfast venture out into the vibrant city of Cologne Amsterdam. After embarking and settling into your home for the with its famous twin spired cathedral, through an optional next 8 days, join the cruise director for a Welcome Cocktail follo- walking tour or on your own. Return to the ship for lunch as wed by a special Welcome Dinner. This evening listen to the your vessel continues to the next stop along the Rhine river sounds of Mozart and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in a special con- - Bonn. Continue your music education with a visit to the cert onboard - a wonderful beginning to your cruise. Beethoven House - a memorial site and museum focusing on the life and work of composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Written in 1772 when Mozart was just 15 years old, the Diverti- Music of Beethoven is the focus of a private piano concert. mento K. 138 in F major reflects not only his youth period, but also his journeys around Europe and especially in Italy. The To understand Ludwig van Beethoven’s work of art, one young Mozart immersed himself in the Italian musical styles, new must comprehend the young man’s childhood. His first years explorations that would influence him later in preparing his work in Bonn were tragically unhappy, because of his father’s for stringed instruments. This bright composition embracing the demented ambition to turn his boy into a “child prodigy” Italian grace was meant as background, outdoor music for social like Mozart. A musical enthusiast, but a violent alcoholic, his events, such as garden parties. The title Divertimento in the ma- father, who was also his first teacher, forced him to practice nuscript is not Mozart’s handwriting. all the time and if mistakes were done, he would punish him. The father would often wake up the boy in the middle Composer, conductor, pianist and organist, - of the night to play for his drunken friends. Yet, the suffering Bartholdy significantly developed the German musical scene. was transposed in sensitivity and joy for music. Given his Jewish heritage, his reputation was altered when the Nazis banned his music and tore down his statue in front of the Ludwig van Beethoven’s deafness started by the age of 26 Leipzig Gewandhaus. The String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 and aggravated deeply in time, so after the age of 50, the was composed in 1847 as homage to his sister Fanny who had musician was in complete silence. Though devastating the died on 17 May of that year and it bore the title "Requiem for brilliant pianist, his public performances and social events, Fanny." It was the last major piece he completed before he died the composer’s deafness revealed more of his capacity to two months later on 4 November 1847. create music, ringing freely in his inner ear. The “Conversation Books” are a priceless testimony of that peri- DAY 2 | AMSTERDAM - UTRECHT od; records of conversations between the composer and his Explore the beautiful canal city of Amsterdam during this mor- friends or visitors that facilitated their discussions in writing. ning's city tour. As a special highlight, we will visit the beautiful In Beethoven House Museum in Bonn, one can view his hea- Dominicus Church for a private concert. Relax as you listen to ring aids, such as a special ear horn. the strains of Schubert and Schumann are performed. Continue through the picturesque countryside in the north of Holland, to DAY 4 | COCHEM rejoin the vessel for a peaceful afternoon onboard. Relax onboard while cruising the lovely Moselle River to the romantic wine-growers village of Cochem. Spend the after- Born in the Heaven’s Courtyard (Himmelpfortgrund), a suburb of noon exploring the village or join a walking tour with a Vienna, Franz Schubert did not have what we can call a paradisi- tasting of the famous wines of the Moselle region. This eve- ac life. One of the nineteen children of a school master, Franz ning enjoy an exclusive concert onboard highlighted by mu- was considered an extremely talented musician from an early sic of Haydn and Mendelsohn-Bartholdy. Your vessel de- age. Despite his rich work, he lived in poverty and died at the age parts later this evening. of 31, before his 32nd birthday. When he died, his only possessi- ons were a bed, some clothes and his music. He was buried next Born in 1732, Franz Joseph Haydn is one of the most in- to Beethoven, whom he admired so deeply that he acted as one fluential composer of his time and not only. Known as the of the thirty torch bearers at Beethoven’s funeral. “father of symphony”, his work had a great impact on all the other genres, also. His creations are as present today as commenced his remarkable instrumental in the past because one of his songs, “The Deutschland explorations in 1842 with three string quartets. The Quartet No.3 Lied", is the national anthem of Germany. “Papa Haydn”, as is the most structurally traditional work of the group. The very he was called by his friends in appreciation of his good first gesture of the first movement's brief introduction is identi- sense of humor, never had children, but helped as much as cal, harmonically and motivically, to the opening gesture of Beet- he could young struggling musicians as Mozart, whose stir- hoven's Op.31, No.3, and one must suspect a conscious or sub- ring Requiem was played at Haydn’s death. conscious debt on Schumann's part.

LÜFTNER CRUISES· Menardi Center· Amraser See Straße 56· A-6020 Innsbruck· TEL: +43/512/365781· [email protected]· www.lueftner-cruises.com P a g e 1 2 Program 19/2018 - Classical Music on the Rhine - Status: 05.12.2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC ON THE RHINE 8 days from € 1.899 per person Amsterdam - Basel 2018

DAY-BY-DAY DESCRIPTION OF THE CRUISE

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s quartet in D major op. 44 no. 1 Though born in a German family from Halle, Germany, Ge- was completed on 24 July 1838. On 30 July 1838 Mendelssohn org Friedrich Händel will spend most of his life in England wrote from Berlin to the violinist Ferdinand David that “I have (over 45 years) until his end. There, he becomes the national just finished my third Quartet, in D major, and I would like it a idol and composer, but also the headline musician of the lot if it pleased you too. I almost believe it will, since, it appears Teutonic musical galleries. Deeply appreciated among the to me, it is more fiery and more grateful to the players than the aristocratic and intellectual groups, Handel was appointed others.“ Mendelssohn’s op. 44 is concerned predominantly with Musical Director of the Royal Academy of Music – a society the element of buffoonery that exists in Romantic irony. meant to promote the opera works. For its opening, Rada- misto was Händel’s first opera that he wrote, his greatest DAY 5 | KOBLENZ - RÜDESHEIM performance until that moment. Enjoy a music-filled day in Koblenz and Rüdesheim! This mor- ning, visit the ancient city of Koblenz, a gateway to the terraced Mozart's Divertimento in D major, K. 136 (K.125a) is the vineyards and castle ruins of the Rhine Gorge. After your visit, first of a group of works collectively known as the your ship travels through the romantic Rhine region. Enjoy a "Salzburg" symphonies. These works stands apart from Mo- musical tea party onboard, taking in the passing scenery while zart's remaining symphonies, in that they are set for strings listening to beautiful musical pieces from the world of opera alone, rather than for the otherwise customary mixed in- and waltz. Before dinner arrive in Rüdesheim, where you will strumentation including winds. Mozart's Divertimento mir- have the opportunity to visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Mu- rors the style of Italian concertos for strings, which he must seum, which is, as the name suggests, all about music and in- certainly have encountered during his several visits to Italy. struments. After a delicious dinner, your vessel continues along Antonin Dvořák’s entire life and work strongly resonate the Rhine. with his statement registered on his 7th Symphony, “God, DAY 6 | SPEYER Love and Country”, showing his emotional connection with the Czech homeland. There was though also something mo- After breakfast, arrive in the former imperial residence of Spey- re personal: the recent deaths of his mother and eldest er, which you can explore during a leisurely morning stroll child. His spirituality may be the very reason why Neil Arm- through the city. After lunch, travel to the university town of strong, the first man to walk on the moon, chose the com- Heidelberg. Tour this well-preserved old town, famous for its poser’s 9th Symphony to take it with him among stars, as picturesque castle ruins. This evening the captain invites you to the highest peak of human creating powers. Ambassador of a festive Captain's Gala Dinner. the Czech musical culture, Dvořák was the Director of the DAY 7 | FRANCE: STRASBOURG National Conservatory in New York. At breakfast time, you arrive in Strasbourg, which boasts a ma- The String Quartet No. 12 Op 96 "The American" was com- gical, historic old town. A city sightseeing tour is part of the posed in the summer of 1893, during Dvořák’s stay in Ameri- morning’s program, culminating in an organ concert in the ca. Retreated in the small town Spillville of Iowa, a farming church of St. Thomas, featuring the music of Bach, Händel, and community of 400 people, he found the spirit of his country- Mozart. This evening, celebrate your musical journey with a men that he yearned for. There, the Czech composer writes farewell concert celebrating the music of Mozart and Dvorak. in only two weeks the quartet that would become the most known and appreciated of his work. The melodic inspiration Johann Sebastian Bach’s interest in playing the organ started melts itself with the rigors of musical architecture in a work early in his childhood. After his parents’ death, he moved to of art, but nevertheless, the composition reflects themes Ohrdruf, Germany, to live with his brother, Johann Christoph, encountered by Dvořák in the American space. who was the organist at St. Michael's Church. His brother gave him the first lessons on keyboard instruments. Bach explored DAY 8 | SWITZERLAND: BASEL the organ building when his brother had to repair the larger of Arrive this morning in Basel. Enjoy a generous breakfast on the two organs at Ohrdruf. The organ brought him later a repu- board before disembarking. The entire AMADEUS team tation, but also got him in trouble; once for a conflict with a wishes you a pleasant journey home and many great me- fellow musician and once for being caught distracting a mories of your trip on board. We hope to welcome you "strange maiden" in the balcony. again soon!

LÜFTNER CRUISES· Menardi Center· Amraser See Straße 56· A-6020 Innsbruck· TEL: +43/512/365781· [email protected]· www.lueftner-cruises.com