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The Ring in Munich - Wagner in the Bavarian capital
10
days
from
£6,320
Book today with a deposit from
£948
16th - 25th July 2027
Tour highlights
- A new Ring production by Tobias Kratzer, staged where Wagner’s works premiered.
- Nicholas Brownlee (Wotan), Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde), Benjamin Bruns (Siegfried).
- Talks on the operas by Barry Millington, editor of The Wagner Journal.
- Art historians Tom Abbott and Dr Ulrike Ziegler reveal Munich’s art, architecture and history.
- Full-day excursions to medieval Regensburg and the Baroque church at Wies.
Wagner’s 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.
The tour is built around the National Theatre in Munich’s new production by Tobias Kratzer, among the most sought-after directors of his generation, launched with Das Rheingold in 2024 and continuing with Die Walküre in 2026. Without imposing ideas of his own, Kratzer brings out the Ring’s themes through the joys and traumas of contemporary life, while keeping its plot clear throughout. Vladimir Jurowski conducts, his reading responsive to both the drama’s sweep and its psychological depth. The National Theatre has a long history with Wagner: the premieres of Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Tristan und Isolde and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg all took place here.
Nicholas Brownlee, rapidly establishing himself as one of the leading Wotans of his generation, is joined by Miina-Liisa Värelä (Brünnhilde), Joachim Bäckström (Siegmund), Irene Roberts (Sieglinde) and Benjamin Bruns (Siegfried) in a cosmopolitan cast.
Barry Millington, Wagner specialist and editor of The Wagner Journal, gives talks on each opera. Full-day excursions with art historians Tom Abbott and Dr Ulrike Ziegler take in the medieval streets of Regensburg and the Baroque splendour of Linderhof Palace and the Wieskirche. Days in Munich allow time to explore the Wittelsbachs’ Residenz and Nymphenburg Palace and the city’s galleries, with time also set aside to rest and prepare between performances.
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 via Ettal to Linderhof Palace with Tom Abbott, 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), Soloists 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.
Expert speaker
Mr Barry Millington
Writer, lecturer and broadcaster specialising in Wagner. He is founder/editor of The Wagner Journal and author of eight books on Wagner including The Wagner Compendium and Richard Wagner: The Sorcerer of Bayreuth. He is Chief Critic for the Evening Standard. He has also acted as dramaturgical adviser at opera houses internationally.
More tours led by Mr Barry Millington
Practicalities
Two sharing: £6,630 or £6,320 without flights. Single occupancy: £7,620 or £7,310 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 the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
16th - 25th July 2027
Speaker:
Mr Barry Millington
Price:
from £6,320
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