fly at c. 12.45pm from London Heathrow to Dresden—drive to Leipzig, the largest free city in Saxony and always a major centre of trade and industry, especially publishing—overnight Leipzig.

Leipzig—a guided walking tour around the city centre—see the Markt, large square with the arcaded town hall, the maze of alleys and courtyards behind the streetfronts, the City Hall and the churches of St Nicholas and St Thomas (where J.S. Bach was choir master)—free afternoon—concert in the Gewandhaus (as all concerts) with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly (conductor), Radio Choir Berlin, MDR Radio Choir, Twyla Robinson (soprano), Christianne Stotijn (alto): Mahler, Symphony No.2 (‘Resurrection’)

Leipzig—tour of the Museum of Musical Instruments and visit the Mendelssohn House—free afternoon—concert, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor), Choir of the Semperoper Dresden, Lilli Paasikivi (alto): Symphony No.3 in D minor.

Halle—drive to Halle and visit the 16th-century Marktkirche, an outstanding example of the very last phase of Gothic with coevil paintings and furnishings, and the Gothic and Baroque cathedral—the excellent Handel Museum, once believed to be his birthplace—return to Leipzig—concert, MDR Symphony Orchestra, Jun Märkl (conductor): Symphony No.10.

Altenburg—drive to the court city of Altenburg which is one of the rarely visited jewels of the former DDR, with a hilltop ducal residence featuring mediaeval fortifications, Baroque apartments and a quite remarkable collection of Italian Renaissance paintings—some free time in Leipzig—concert, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: Symphony No.7.

Leipzig—morning concert,Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Fabio Luisi (conductor), Anna Larsson (alto), Robert Dean Smith (tenor): Totenfeier (‘Death Celebration’) and Das Lied von der Erde—free afternoon—concert, London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev (conductor): Symphony No.1 in D.

Leipzig, Großpösna—free morning—afternoon lecture and excursion to Großpösna for a private guided tour of the Blüthner piano factory—concert with the New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert (conductor): Kindertotenlieder (‘Songs on the Death of Children’); Symphony No.5.

Leipzig—free day; perhaps take a train to Dessau to see Bauhaus architecture or further explore Leipzig—concert with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman (conductor): Symphony No.6 in A minor (‘Tragic’).

Naumburg—drive eastwards to see the imposing Early Gothic cathedral of Naumburg with astonishingly naturalistic statues of the twelve founders—some free time here before returning to Leipzig—concert with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Harding (conductor), Mojca Erdmann (soprano): Lieder from 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn', Symphony No.4.

Leipzig—free day—early dinner before the concert with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, MDR Radio Choir, Leipzig Opera Choir, Gewandhaus Choir, Riccardo Chailly (conductor), Erika Sunnegårdh, Christiane Iven, Chen Reiss, Lioba Braun, Gerhild Romberger, Stephen Gould, Dietrich Henschel, Georg Zeppenfeld: Symphony No.8 (‘Of a Thousand’).

Dresden—by train to Dresden—walk with a local guide to take in the Zwinger, a unique Baroque arena for festivities, the Residenzschloss (the former electoral and royal palace), the Catholic Cathedral, Semperoper (opera house) and the great domed Frauenkirche the rebuilding of which is now complete—optional visit to the Historic Green vault to see one of the world’s finest princely treasuries—free evening in Leipzig.

Leipzig—free day—concert with the Vienna Philharmonic, Daniele Gatti (conductor): Symphony No.9 in D.

Coach to Dresden airport, arriving London Heathrow c. 12pm.