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Prague, Cathedral of St Vitus, watercolour by B. Granville Baker, publ. 1923.

Prague Spring - The International Music Festival amid Bohemia in bloom

Overview Itinerary Practicalities Map

Section:

Tour highlights

Prague’s celebrated Spring Festival remains one of the most illustrious in Europe, and the city is at its loveliest in May.
Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for two concerts at the Obecní dům; our venue also for a performance of Smetana’s Má vlast by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Piano duo Lucas & Arthur Jussen perform at the Rudolfinum with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
A staged performance of Puccini’s Turandot at the sumptuous 19th-century National Theatre completes the programme.
Talks on the music by Dr Michael Downes, Director of Music at the University of St Andrews.
Visits and walks led by Martina Hinks-Edwards with free time before performances.

The Prague Spring ranks among Europe’s most prestigious music festivals, enjoying the unmatched advantages of a supremely beautiful setting, a wealth of historic venues, and an exceptional showcase of international musicians as well as first-rate Czech performers.

Our tour begins with a performance of Smetana’s epic Má vlast (My Country) – six symphonic poems celebrating the history, mythology and glorious countryside of Bohemia. This stirring work traditionally opens the Festival and it promises to be a memorable and moving occasion.

Following this icon of Czech patriotism come two superb symphonies by Haydn and Brahms together with the Czech premiere of Ondřej Adámek’s Where are You?, whose solo part was written specifically for Magdalena Kožená. Sir Simon Rattle and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra return to present Schumann’s introspective Second Symphony alongside Stravinsky’s music for the ballet The Firebird, the work that first propelled the 27-year-old composer to international fame.

Our programme also includes a performance of Puccini’s Turandot at the sumptuous 19th-century National Theatre (Národní divadlo). The most harmonically daring of all Puccini’s operas, Turandot was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1924. It exemplifies Puccini’s fascination with the exotic – Ancient China, in this instance – and is seen by many as representing the end of Italian opera as a popular art form. Our week in Prague concludes in the elegant neo-Renaissance surroundings of the Rudolfinum, with works by J.S. Bach, J.C. Bach and Mozart.

Given that the festival is also a celebration of Czech nationhood, this tour is not only about attending concerts. You also have the opportunity to join guided walks and excursions through the beautiful city of Prague. As well as insightful talks and discussions led by distinguished musicologist, Dr Michael Downes, there is also some free time on most afternoons for independent exploration – or for preserving your energies for the evening performances.

Itinerary

Practicalities

Two sharing: £4,150 or £3,940 without flights. Single occupancy: £4,620 or £4,410 without flights.

Private coach for airport transfers and excursions; some use of tram; hotel accommodation as described below; 3 dinners and 2 lunches with wine, water, coffee, as well as interval food and drinks at one of the performances; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and Czech guide-tour manager.

Tickets (top category) to 5 concerts are included.

Hotel Maximilian: A small, recently renovated 4-star hotel with a restaurant in a quiet yet central location near St Agnes Convent. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.

There is quite a lot of walking, much of it on roughly paved and cobbled streets. In order to participate fully, the tour would not be suitable for anyone with difficulties with everyday walking and stair-climbing. There are some late evenings.

Are you fit enough to join the tour?

Between 10 and 22 participants.

Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.

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