MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL The Danube Music Festival A Schubertiade 20–27 August 2015 In association with Wigmore Hall Curated by John Gilhooly MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL The Danube Music Festival 20–27 August 2015 In association with Wigmore Hall A Schubertiade Curated by John Gilhooly • Nine private concerts in beautiful and Matching music & place appropriate historic buildings The annual Danube Music Festival combines music and • A Schubert festival, with his music in almost architecture in a singularly beguiling way. Concerts take place in palaces, churches, monasteries, country houses every programme alongside other composers and other historic buildings which are among the most of the Austro-Hungarian Empire beautiful and historically resonant along the Danube. • Musicians of the highest calibre, most of But the value of the juxtaposition goes deeper. The whom are regulars at Wigmore Hall, London buildings are generally of the same period as the music performed in them, and in some cases there are specific • Choice between accommodation on a ship historical associations between the two. which sails the Austrian Danube or in hotels Musicians of the highest calibre for a variant which features country walks Now in its twenty-second year, the festival is established • Daily talks by leading authorities on music as a prestigious event in the musical calendar, featuring and history musicians of the highest calibre. Most of the artists performing this year are regular guests at Wigmore Hall in London – itself a guarantee of excellence. This is the line-up: singers Ailish Tynan (soprano), Robin Tritschler (tenor) with accompanist James Baillieu and Florian Boesch (baritone) with accompanist Graham Johnson; chamber ensembles the Bennewitz Quartet, the Endellion String Quartet, the Heath Quartet, and the ATOS Trio; Igor Levit (piano), Michael Collins (clarinet) and Alasdair Tait (cello); the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Philharmonic with their conductor Adam Fischer and the Wiener Kammerchor. ‘We’ve been on many MRT Music Festivals, starting in 1997 on the Danube. They have always been the BEST travel experiences we have ever had!’ Martin Randall Travel Ltd Australia: Telephone 1300 55 95 95 Voysey House, Barley Mow Passage, New Zealand: Telephone 0800 877 622 London, United Kingdom W4 4GF [email protected] Tel 020 8742 3355 Fax 020 8742 7766 Canada: Telephone 647 382 1644 5085 [email protected] [email protected] www.martinrandall.com USA: Telephone 1 800 988 6168 The Danube Music Festival, 20–27 August 2015 Wigmore abroad audience. MS Amadeus Silver II is one of the most modern and comfortable passenger ships on European waters. All the artists have been selected by John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall in London, the world’s leading Acting as both hotel and principal means of transport, centre for chamber music and song. Almost all the it enables passengers to attend all the concerts and see musicians are Wigmore Hall favourites, or are due to make some of the finest art and architecture in the region their debut in 2015. without having to change hotel or drive long distances. The itinerary takes you past some of the most picturesque John worked closely with Martin Randall and his team to stretches of the Danube. ensure a good fit between artists, music and place. In many ways, however, this venture is far removed from Celebrating Schubert the usual cruising routine. There is little regimentation, no obligatory seating plan, no on-board entertainment, no Every edition of the festival explores the music of the intrusive announcements – and absolutely no piped music. Austro-Hungarian Empire, sometimes focusing on a particular theme. In 2015, the music of Franz Schubert will The spoken word form the core of the programmes. Talks and lecturers are another important ingredient. A rare intensity of musical communication Musicologist Dr Michael Downes, Director of Music at the University of St Andrews, and Professor Sir Richard Evans, The concerts are private, being exclusive to the a leading authority on the history of German-speaking approximately 140 participants who take a package which Europe, give daily talks on the ship. Richard Wigmore, includes accommodation, meals, interval drinks, travel by music critic and broadcaster, is the lecturer attached to the air, river and road, lectures and much else besides. walking party. See page 12 for their biographies. The small size of the audience and of the venues leads to an informality and intimacy which engenders a rare intensity The walking alternative of musical communication. The walking alternative mixes the concerts with country Musicians love playing for this festival. Not only are the walks. Six of the concerts are included, and there are five venues an inspiring change from modern concert halls, but guided walks of two to three hours through some of the the audiences are among the best in the world – attentive, most ravishing scenery of the Danube valley. Participants knowledgeable, appreciative. stay in hotels, in Melk, Vienna and Dürnstein, rather than on the ship. Travelling in comfort The tour finishes a day before the main festival (the dates To this exceptional artistic and intellectual experience is are 20–26 August). See the text in grey under each day of added a further pleasure: the comfort and convenience of a ‘The Programme’ for an outline of the daily itinerary. The first-class river cruiser, chartered exclusively for the festival group is limited to 22 participants. Contents The Programme ...... 5–11 Travel Options ..............13 About us ........................15 Making a booking .........19 Lecturers ........................12 Accommodation ...........14 Pre-festival tour ............16 Booking Conditions......19 Fitness requirements ...12 Prices & the package ....15 Booking form ......... 17–18 MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL artin Randall music Ailish Tynan and Robin Tritschler, with South African Mfestivals are always spoken born accompanist James Baillieu, another firm audience of with such enthusiasm by favourite, who will also do his best to keep Irish mischief those who attend them that the at bay! Baritone Florian Boesch will already be known to opportunity to curate such a many of you as among the most compelling of all current Festival is both a challenge and recitalists, a singer who holds audiences in thrall. He will a privilege. I hugely enjoyed be partnered by Graham Johnson, doyen of accompanists. curating the 2012 Danube An always rewarding aspect of my job is the chance it Festival, meeting friends both gives me to hear young artists at early stages in their old and new, and I am therefore careers, sign them up for Wigmore Hall appearances, and delighted to be given a second opportunity to showcase watch with pride as their careers blossom, nationally and some of the wonderful performers we often hear at internationally. It is gratifying to see the rise in recent Wigmore Hall and love to share with others, especially as years of so many singers, instrumentalists, chamber and the iconic concert venues along the Danube route add so baroque groups: the ATOS Trio, founded in 2003, belongs much to the beauty and richness of the events. As before firmly in this category of relatively new and important I have tried to link artists and venues as appropriately as stars, with their ever-imaginative repertoire and committed possible, and, also as before, it is a particular pleasure for playing. What better way to hear Schubert Symphonies me to collaborate with Martin, who is such a good friend than at the Palais Ferstel with the Austro-Hungarian and supporter of our programme at Wigmore Hall. Haydn Philharmonic and surely the world famous Wiener Kammerchor will give us a moving and memorable evening When I first heard the pianist Igor Levit I was struck at in the glorious surroundings of Dürnstein Abbey. once by the maturity and sensitivity of this young artist. His Wigmore Hall debut was something of a sensation, and These are all performers I feel sure both you and I will he is now greatly in demand, as are the three magnificent enjoy and be inspired by, and I have very much appreciated string quartets which join us throughout the week. I am the opportunity to share them with you. very pleased that the acclaimed Bennewitz Quartet will John Gilhooly, October 2014 open the Festival, and look forward to the Heath Quartet with Alasdair Tait for Schubert’s Quintet in C, as well as the Endellion Quartet in partnership with the celebrated clarinettist, Michael Collins. There is likely to be an Irish flavour to the song recital by the appealing Irish singers Illustration: Schubert and friends in Vienna, painting 1927 by Otto Nowak (1874–1945). 4 INTRODUCTION book online at www.martinrandall.com The Danube Music Festival, 20–27 August 2015 The Programme Day 1, Thursday 20 August Passau Fly from London or Manchester to Munich, from where you are taken by coach to Passau. Alternatively, make your way to Passau independently (for travel options, see page 13). The ship, MS Amadeus Silver II, is ready for boarding from 4.00pm. Afternoon tea is available upon arrival. Piled up on promontories at the confluence of three rivers, the Bavarian city of Passau is dominated by a great Baroque cathedral and crammed with unspoilt streetscape and historic buildings. It was one of the most important episcopal seats in Central Europe and served as a refuge for the Habsburg court in times of danger. After sailing at 6.30pm there is a reception followed by dinner. Walkers. Fly at c. 9.00am from London Heathrow to Vienna. Drive directly to Felbring for an afternoon woodland walk through landscapes of beech and pine, with vistas across the Danube Valley. Walk c. 6km on a mixture of grassy footpaths and stony tracks, on level terrain with some downhill and uphill sections (sturdy walking boots are necessary).