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The Ring in Munich - Wagner in the Bavarian capital
10
days
from
A$12,740
Book today with a deposit from
A$1,911
16th - 25th July 2027
Tour highlights
- Wagner’s monumental Ring of the Nibelung cycle anatomises the shortcomings of materialistic society – mankind’s greed, its lust for political power, its despoliation of the environment – and offers a powerful vision of a better future.
- An excellent cast including Nicholas Brownlee Wotan), Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde) and Benjamin Bruns (Siegfried).
- Talks on the operas by Barry Millington, chief music critic for 'The London Standard' and editor of 'The Wagner Journal'.
- Visits on most days to study the art, architecture and history of Munich and full-day excursions to some of the most special sights in Bavaria – the beautifully preserved medieval town of Regensburg, and the outstanding Baroque church at Wies.
- Art historians Tom Abbott and Dr Ulrike Ziegler accompany some of the excursions and visits.
The National Theatre in Munich has a long and distinguished tradition of Wagner performance, the premieres of Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Tristan und Isolde and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg all taking place there. The new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen by Tobias Kratzer, one of the most exciting emerging talents in the opera world today, was launched with Das Rheingold in 2024 and continued with Die Walküre in 2026. Capturing the spirit of the times, it confronts us with the joys and traumas of our own lives. Without imposing extraneous ideas of his own, Kratzer explores the complexities of Wagner’s multivalent masterpiece while always ensuring the plot remains comprehensible. Witty, intelligent and dramatically gripping, it’s likely to be regarded as a landmark production in years to come.
Vladimir Jurowski complements this rich staging with his finally calibrated reading, responsive to its sweeping drama and psychological penetration alike. The American bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee is rapidly establishing himself as one of the leading Wotans of his generation. He is joined by the Finnish soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde), the Swedish tenor Joachim Bäckström (Siegmund), the American soprano Irene Roberts (Sieglinde) and the German tenor Benjamin Bruns (Siegfried) in a cosmopolitan cast that offers some of the finest exponents of those roles today.
There will be lectures on each instalment of the Ring by Barry Millington, the Wagner specialist and editor of The Wagner Journal.
There are two full-day excursions through beautiful countryside to some of the greatest sights in Bavaria – Regensburg, Linderhof Palace and the Wieskirche. And there is time to visit the city’s outstanding galleries and museums. However, plenty of time is allowed to rest and to prepare for experiencing the greatest achievement of music drama.
Itinerary
Fly at c. 12.45pm from London Heathrow to Munich (British Airways). Settle into the hotel before dinner.
Morning lecture on the music, before departing for an introductory walk to see some of the city’s treasures, including the vast Gothic cathedral and the Asamkirche, a Baroque masterpiece. Some free time is followed by an early dinner and an evening performance at the Nationaltheater: Das Rheingold. Vladimir Jurowski (conductor), Tobias Kratzer (director), Nicholas Brownlee (Wotan), Liam James Karai (Donner), Christopher Sokolowski (Froh), Sean Panikkar (Loge), Georg Nigl (Alberich), Matthias Klink (Mime), Matthew Rose (Fasolt), Timo Riihonen (Fafner), Ekaterina Gubanova (Fricka), Matilda Sterby (Freia), Wiebke Lehmkuhl (Erda), Sarah Brady (Woglinde), Verity Wingate (Wellgunde), Yajie Zhang (Flosshilde).
Morning lecture, then visit the Residenz, which was the principal Wittelsbach palace and seat of government; a magnificent sprawl of buildings, courtyards, state apartments and museums of every period from Renaissance to the end of the 19th century. There are fine works of art and sumptuous interiors of the highest importance, especially the Rococo interiors and the Cuvilliés Theatre. Afternoon performance at the Nationaltheater: Die Walküre. Vladimir Jurowski (conductor), Tobias Kratzer (director), Joachim Bäckström (Siegmund), Ain Anger (Hunding), Nicholas Brownlee (Wotan), Irene Roberts (Sieglinde), Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde), Ekaterina Gubanova (Fricka), Dorothea Herbert (Helmwige), Julie Adams (Gerhilde), Elene Gvritishvili (Ortlinde), Claudia Mahnke (Waltraute), Niina Keitel (Siegrunde), Christina Bock (Rossweisse), Natalie Lewis (Grimgerde), Noa Beinart (Schwertleite).
All-day excursion to Regensburg with Dr Ulrike Ziegler, one of Germany’s finest medieval cities, home to a Gothic cathedral and parliament of the Holy Roman Empire.
In the morning a second walking tour which culminates in a visit to the Alte Pinakothek, one of the world’s greatest Old Master galleries. In the afternoon drive out to Nymphenburg, summer retreat of the ruling Wittelsbachs. Set in an extensive park there is a Baroque palace and several delightful garden pavilions, the apogee of Rococo.
Travel by coach to Ettal with Tom Abbott, site of Linderhof Palace, commissioned by the legendary ‘Swan King’ Ludwig II. The lavish interiors are in Renaissance and Baroque styles and gardens include grottos and Oriental adornments. Continue to the 1740s church at Wies by Dominikus Zimmerman, one of the finest of all Rococo churches.
Morning lecture is followed by some free time, opportunity to visit more of Munich’s many outstanding art collections. Afternoon performance at the Nationaltheater: Siegfried. Vladimir Jurowski (conductor), Tobias Kratzer (director), Benjamin Bruns (Siegfried), Matthias Klink (Mime), Nicholas Brownlee (Der Wanderer), Timo Riihonen (Fafner), Wiebke Lehmkuhl (Erda), Georg Nigl (Alberich), Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde), Solists of the Tölzer Knabenchor (Stimme eines Waldvogels).
In the countryside southeast of Munich and surrounded by a park, woodland and a great lake, Schloss Herrenchiemsee is a copy of Versailles. Ludwig II’s megalomaniac hymn of homage to the absolutism of Louis XIV, his final folly, brought the Bavarian state to the brink of bankruptcy. Tom Abbott accompanies today’s excursion.
Final lecture. The rest of the day is left free for independent exploration or relaxation. Afternoon performance at the Nationaltheater: Götterdämmerung. Vladimir Jurowski (conductor), Tobias Kratzer (director), Benjamin Bruns (Siegfried), Alexander Grassauer (Gunther), Sam Carl (Hagen), Georg Nigl (Alberich), Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde), Magdalena Hinterdobler (Gutrune), Claudia Mahnke (Waltraute), Sarah Brady (Woglinde), Verity Wingate (Wellgunde), Yajie Zhang (Flosshilde), Noa Beinart (First Norn), Szilvia Vörös (Second Norn), Lauren Fagan (Third Norn).
Fly to London Heathrow from Munich, arriving c. 1.00pm.
Practicalities
Two sharing: A$13,360 or A$12,740without flights. Single occupancy: A$15,360 or A$14,740 without flights.
Travel by private coach; hotel accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners and interval canapés at 3 performances, with wine or beer, soft drinks, water and coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Music: tickets (top category) for 4 performances are included. Tickets to be confirmed in autumn 2026.
Platzl Hotel, Munich: 4-star hotel located in the heart of the old city, a 5-minute walk from the opera house. Single occupancy rooms are doubles for sole use.
The tour involves a lot of walking in the town centre and standing around in museums, churches and castles, and should not be attempted by anyone who has difficulty with everyday walking and stair-climbing. The excursions to Regensburg and Schloss Linderhof involve a fair amount of driving. Average distance by coach per day: 47 miles.
Typically between 10–24 participants.
Before booking, please refer to Smartraveller to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting. As a British company we follow the advice of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
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Price
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