WAGNER’S RING CYCLE VIENNA - 2020
Vienna – 17 days Departure: March 13, 2020 Return: March 29, 2020
In a year filled with Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Europe, we offer you the very first one performed, in the most prestigious opera house in the world. The Vienna Staatsoper which in 2019 celebrated its “150 years of the Opera House on the Ringstrasse”. In the first episode of Des Ring Des Nibelungen, DAS RHEINGOLD, produced by Sven-Eric Bechfolf, and conducted by Adam Fischer. Wotan will is sung by Tomasz Konieczny, Fricka by Sophie Koch, Lodge by Norbert Ernst, Erda by Monica Bohinec, Alberich by Leigh Melrose, and Freia by Corlenia Beskow. In the second episode DIE WALKURE, Sigmund is sung by Andreas Schager, Hundig by Ain Anger, Sieglinde by Simone Schneider, Wotan by Tomasz Konieczny, Brunnhilde by Nina Stemme, and Fricka by Elizabeth Kulman. In the third episode SIEGFRIED, Brunnhilde is sung by Nina Stemme, Siegfried by Stephen Gould, Wanderer by Tomasz Konieczny, Alberich by Leigh Melrose and Mime by Herwig Pecoraro. In the final episode GOTTERDAMMERUNG, Seigfried is sung by Stephen Gould, Brunnhilde by Nina Stemme, Hagen by Eric Halfvarsen, Alberich by Leigh Melrose, and Waltraute by Waltraud Meier. Furthermore we see TOSCA by Puccini, and L’ELISIR D’AMORE by Donizetti. While in Vienna, we are staying at the legendary GRAND HOTEL, close to the opera house, and famous museums such as: The Albertina, Hofburg Palace, Jewish Museum, Sisi Museum within the Imperial Palace, the Academy of Fine Arts. Museums of Ethnology, Furniture, Astronomy, Illusion. As well as the Mozart Museum.
Opera Performances In Vienna: March 15 – DAS RHEINGOLD by Wagner March 18 – DIE WALKURE by Wagner March 20 – TOSCA by Puccini with Sonya Yoncheva and Brian Jagde March 22 – SIGFRIED by Wagner March 24 – L’ELISIR D’AMORE by Donizetti with Rosa Feola and Alalla Ayan March 28 – GOTTERDAMMERUNG by Wagner Friday, March 13. (D).* DEPART FOR VIENNA Depart this evening, aboard any airline of your choice for Vienna, Austria, arriving the next morning. Dinner and light breakfast, served on the plane.
Saturday, March 14. (B,D). VIENNA Upon arrival at Vienna International Airport, take a taxi to the legendary GRAND HOTEL where you are staying a total of 15 nights. We reimburse you the taxi fare. Briefing, drinks and Gala Welcome dinner, at the hotel’s gourmet restaurant.
Sunday, March 15. (B). VIENNA Morning orientation tour by bus, seeing the City Hall, Parliament Building, offices of various International Organizations, the UN complex, and the Hundertwasserhaus. This evening you see the opera DAS RHEINGOLD by Wagner with Tomasz Konieczny as Woton and Sophie Koch as Fricka, at the Vienna State Opera. VIENNA: From the time the Romans selected the site of a Celtic settlement for the location of one of its most important Central European forts, Vindobona. The city which grew up in the Vienna Basin of the Danube, has played a vital role in European history. Austria grew up around the city and developed into a mighty empire. The Viennese character formed during the long history of the country, and can only be said to be a rich amalgam, of the blending of cultures, that have made Vienna what it still is today: a city whose people devote themselves to the enjoyment of the good life - music, art, literature, theatre, architecture, education, food and drink - all are part of the gemütlichkeit of Vienna. Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, the Strausses (all of them), Gluck, Mahler, Brahms, Liszt, Haydn, Weber, Schonberg - in the music world alone these are some of the outstanding names which are a part of the soul of Vienna.
Monday. March 16. (B). VIENNA Morning sightseeing by foot leading up to Saint Stephen’s Cathedral and stop at Mozart’s Museum. We see where Beethoven lived, while composing some of his symphonies. Afternoon free. Tuesday, March 17. (B). VIENNA Today is free to watch the show of the Lipizzaner Horses, at the Spanish Riding School nearby, or visit any of the museums within a short walk of our hotel. Wednesday, March 18. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to visit the Secession Building housing the ‘Beethoven Frieze’ created by Gustav Klint, painter of the brilliant ‘The Woman in Gold’. This evening you will see the opera DIE WALKURE by Wagner, with Andreas Schager as Siegmund and Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde, at the Vienna State Opera.
Thursday, March 19. (B). VIENNA Morning drive to see the Schonbrunn Palace built by Empress Maria Theresa, and the Belvedere Palace built by Prince Eugene of Savoy. Afternoon free.
Friday, March 20. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to visit the Hunterwasser Haus to see the fairytale-like building he built with 50 apartments. Designed by the flamboyant Austrian architect, it is one of Vienna’s most frequented landmarks. This evening we will se the opera TOSCA by Puccini, with Sonya Yoncheva and Brian Jagde at the Vienna State Opera.
Saturday, March 21. (B,D). VIENNA Today is free to see some of famous artistic treasures of this city housed in The Albertina, Hofburg Museum, near our hotel. This evening we will have dinner at a gourmet restaurant.
Sunday, March 22. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to see some of the unusual museums in the city, such as museum of Astronomy, of Illusions, of Furniture, of Ethnalogy and others in walking distance of our hotel. This afternoon you will see the opera SIEGFRIED by Wagner, with Stephen Gould as Siegfried and Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde, at the Vienna Staatsoper.
Monday, March 23. (B). VIENNA Today is free to see the Imperial Treasury or the Jewish Museum near our hotel. Tuesday, March 24. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to sip coffee at CAFÉ DEMEL, and visit Sisi Museum inside Imperial Palace. This evening we see the opera L'ELISIR D'AMORE by Donizetti, with Rosa Feola and Alalla Ayan, at the Vienna State Opera.
Wednesday, March 25. (B). VIENNA Today is free to visit the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's Museum at Berggasse 19, or any other museum near our hotel.
Thursday, March 26. (B). VIENNA Today is free to visit the Johann Strauss Monument in Stadt Park. In the afternoon, you are free to hear an open-air performance of some of his works.
Friday, March 27. (B,D). VIENNA Today is free to visit the Liechtenstein Museum and Library, a short walk from our hotel. This evening we will have our Gala Farewell dinner at the world famous SACHER restaurant.
Saturday, March 28. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to shop or take in any museum near our hotel. This afternoon we will see the opera GOTTERDAMMERUNG by Wagner with Stephen Gould as Siegfried, and Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde, at the Vienna State Opera.
Sunday, March 29. (B). VIENNA-BACK HOME We arrange your transfer from the hotel to the Vienna International Airport, for your flight back home.
* B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine)
LAND COST
DOUBLE: $8,950 PER PERSON
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1,950 PER PERSON
DEPOSIT: $2,000 PER PERSON
BALANCE DUE: DECEMBER 13, 2019
TOUR INCLUDES • 1st Category Orchestra Level seats in theaters • Six operas • Deluxe centrally located hotels • Buffet breakfast daily, three dinners with wine in gourmet restaurants • Welcome reception with drinks • Private sightseeing in the city • Experienced English speaking guides • Guide, driver and bellboys gratuities • Complete package with details of operas listed • Transfers from and to airports on published arrival and departure days only
H.A.T. Tours Address: PO Box 46876, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33741, USA Phone: (727) 367 3973 Fax: (727) 360-8459 Toll free: (800) 472-4448 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.EuropeanOperaTours.com