The Danube Music Festival
The Seventeenth Annual Danube Music Festival
- Nine Concerts in palaces, theatres, churches and manor houses which are all related in some way to the music.
- Stay on board a first-class river cruiser on the Danube.
- Musicians are among the finest from Austria, Hungary, Britain and the Netherlands.
- Two performances by Roger Vignoles who will be spending time on board the ship.
- Talks by renowned musicologist Roderick Swanston and Professor of Modern History Richard Evans.
This festival combines music and architecture in a singularly beguiling way. The nine private concerts take place in palaces, churches, theatres and other historic buildings which are among the most beautiful along the Danube.
But the value of the juxtaposition goes deeper than visual attraction. The buildings are generally of the same period as the music performed in them, and in some cases there are specific historical associations between the two. Matching music and place – that is the governing principle of this festival.
Musicians of the highest calibre
Now in its seventeenth year, it is established as a prestigious annual event in the musical calendar attracting musicians of the highest calibre from Austria, Hungary, France, The Netherlands and Britain.
The festival explores the music of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner, Smetana, Brahms, and a selection of less familiar composers.
A rare intensity of musical communication
The concerts are private, being accessible exclusively to the 120 participants who take a package which includes accommodation, all meals, lectures and much else besides. (Also attending are participants on the parallel walking tour – see page 10 for details.)
The size of the audience in combination with the relatively small size of the venues leads to an informality and intimacy which engenders a rare intensity of musical communication.
Musicians love playing for this festival. Not only are the venues an inspiring change from modern concert halls, the audiences are among the best in the world – attentive, knowledgeable, appreciative.
The spoken word
Talks and lecturers are another important ingredient.
Roderick Swanston, music lecturer and broadcaster, and
Richard Evans, Professor of Modern History at Cambridge, give daily talks on the music and the history of the region.
Travelling in comfort
To this exceptional artistic and intellectual experience is added a further pleasure, the comfort and convenience of a first-class river cruiser which is both hotel and principal means of travel.
The Amadeus Royal is one of the more comfortable cruisers on the waterways of Europe, and we have chartered it exclusively for this festival. This enables you to attend all the concerts and see some of the finest scenery and townscape in the region without having to change hotels or drive long distances.
In many ways, however, this venture is far removed from the usual cruising routine: there is little regimentation, no obligatory seating plan, no on-board entertainment – and no piped music. More time is spent ashore than is conventional but there is also plenty of time to relax on board the ship.
Floods and droughts
Climate change is affecting weather patterns. We cannot rule out changes to the programme due to severe increases in water levels (which lead to the closure of locks) or indeed low levels of water. Such changes might necessitate more travel by coach, but we would always try to minimise the impact on the itinerary.
Fitness for the festival
Quite a lot of walking is necessary to reach the concert venues and to get around the towns visited. Participants need to be averagely fit, sure-footed and able to manage everyday walking and stairclimbing without difficulty. The ship does not have a lift, nor do all the venues.
This festival is not really suitable for wheelchair users but please speak to us if you would like to discuss the matter.
Read about the concerts