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The Schubertiade - Music and mountains in the Vorarlberg
7 or 9
days
from
US$6,580
Book today with a deposit from
US$987
15th - 23rd June 2027, 25th - 31st August 2027
Tour highlights
- Amid the superb mountain scenery of the Vorarlberg, the Schubertiade is one of the most prestigious and enjoyable festivals in Europe.
- Musicians and ensembles of the highest calibre perform, including Elisabeth Leonskaja, Marc-André Hamelin, Ian Bostridge, Christoph Prégardien and the Pavel Haas Quartet (in June) and Christiane Karg, Andrè Schuen, Konstantin Krimmel, Julian Prégardien and Lukas Sternath (in August).
- Excursion to the historic town of Bregenz and an optional hill walk on the Baumgartner Höhe, but time also to relax among ravishing upland scenery.
The combination of music-making of the highest quality with a pre-Alpine mountain setting is a heady mix. Devotees of the Schubertiade return year after year; addiction is a distinct possibility. Add guided walks and visits in the surrounding area and top up with relaxation among ravishing upland scenery and this begins to sound like the recipe for the perfect holiday for music lovers.
It takes place in the Vorarlberg, the westernmost province of Austria, with all the concerts in the village of Schwarzenberg, described by the philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder as ‘the prettiest village in Europe’. Our tour is based in the neighbouring village of Mellau, seven miles away.
Itinerary
Fly in late-morning from London City to Zurich (British Airways). Drive through Switzerland and into Austria, arriving late afternoon at Mellau in the lovely upland landscape of the Bregenzerwald. All eight nights are spent in this very attractive village.
Drive down to Feldkirch, a little town built at a narrowing of the valley of the River Ill. Historic buildings, arcaded streets and a network of alleys nestle beneath high limestone cliffs; a tour includes medieval defences, town hall and Gothic cathedral (altarpiece by Wolf Huber). Return to Mellau for an afternoon lecture and some free time before driving to Schwarzenberg for an evening piano recital with Paul Lewis (piano): Mozart, Piano Sonatas in D major, K. 284 and A major, K. 331; Mendelssohn, Variations sérieuses in D minor, Op. 54; Schubert, Impromptu in B-flat major, D. 935 No. 3.
Optional walk on the Baumgartner Höhe: 4km (max 2½ hours), altitude gain 200m, a moderate walk with inclines and terrific views and starting and ending with a funicular ride. Return to Mellau for a lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon chamber concert with Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano), Wolfram Brandl (violin), Andrei Ioniță (cello): Schubert, Piano Trios in B-flat major, D. 898 and E-flat major, D. 929. Followed by an evening Lieder recital with Ian Bostridge (tenor), Maya Oganyan (piano): Schumann, Liederkreis, Op. 39 (Eichendorff) Five Songs, Op. 40; Kerner Lieder, Op. 35.
Morning excursion to Bregenz, the regional capital located beside Lake Constance. Begin in the upper town, the picturesque older part, and walk down to the lake and visit the local history museum. Return to Mellau for a late-afternoon lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg. Evening chamber concert with the Leonkoro Quartet: Haydn, String Quartet in D major, Op. 76 No. 5; Mendelssohn, String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80; Schubert, String Quartet in A minor, D. 804 ‘Rosamunde’.
After the morning lecture, drive to Schwarzenberg for a morning piano recital with Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano): Schubert, Piano Sonatas in A minor, D. 845, D major, D. 850 ‘Gasteiner’ and G major, D. 894. Return to Mellau for an independent lunch and a second lecture before driving back to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon chamber concert with the Pavel Haas Quartet: Beethoven, String Quartets in F minor, Op. 95; F major, Op. 135; F major, Op. 59 No. 1. Followed by an evening Lieder recital with Ilker Arcayürek (tenor) and Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano): Schubert, Selected Lieder, including ‘Erlkönig’, ‘Der Winterabend’ and ‘Der blinde Knabe’.
After the morning lecture, drive to Schwarzenberg for a morning chamber concert with the Mandelring Quartett, Isang Enders (cello): Schubert, String Quartet in E-flat major, D. 87; String Quartet Movement in C minor, D. 703; String Quintet in C major, D. 956. Return to Mellau for an independent lunch before driving back to Schwarzenberg for an evening piano recital with Francesco Piemontesi (piano): Bach, Goldberg Variations, BWV 988.
The morning is free for independent exploration or relaxation. After the lecture, drive to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon chamber concert with the Goldmund Quartett: Haydn, String Quartet in A major, Op. 20 No. 6; Beethoven, String Quartet in D major, Op. 18 No. 3; Schubert, String Quartet in D minor, D. 810 ‘Death and the Maiden’. Followed by an evening Lieder recital with Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Leila Schayegh (violin), Felix Knecht (cello), Olga Pashchenko (piano): Beethoven, Piano Trios in D major, Op. 70 No. 1 “Ghost Trio”, B-flat major, Op. 97 “Archduke Trio” and E-flat major, Op. 1 No. 1; British Folk Songs, arranged for voice and piano trio; Schubert, Selected Lieder including ‘Die Forelle’ and ‘Der Zwerg’; Piano Trio in E-flat major, D. 929.
Day 8. Enjoy another leisurely morning. After the lecture, drive to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon Lieder recital with Konstantin Krimmel (baritone), Wolfram Rieger (piano) and Brigitte Fassbaender (speaker): Brahms, ‘Die schöne Magelone’, Op. 33 — fifteen romances with narration by Tieck. Followed by an evening piano recital with Marc-André Hamelin (piano): Schubert, Rondo in A major, D. 951 (arr. Friedman); Six Moments musicaux, D. 780; Hamelin, Étude No. 8 ‘Erlkönig’; Schubert, Ballet Music from ‘Rosamunde’ (trans. Godowsky); Impromptu in F minor, D. 935 No. 4.
Drive from Mellau to Zurich Airport, arriving at London City at c. 3.30pm.
Fly in late-morning from London Heathrow to Zurich (British Airways). Drive through Switzerland and into Austria, arriving late afternoon at Mellau in the lovely upland landscape of the Bregenzerwald. All six nights are spent in this very attractive village.
Drive down to Feldkirch, a little town built at a narrowing of the valley of the River Ill. Historic buildings, arcaded streets and a network of alleys nestle beneath high limestone cliffs; a tour includes medieval defences, town hall and Gothic cathedral (altarpiece by Wolf Huber). Return to Mellau for an afternoon lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon chamber concert with the Cuarteto Casals, Lukas Sternath (piano): Mozart, String Quartet in G major, K. 80; Schubert, String Quartet in D minor, D. 810 “Death and the Maiden”; Brahms, Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. Followed by an evening Lieder recital with Julian Prégardien (tenor) and Daniel Arkadij Gerzenberg (piano): Schubert, Selected Lieder to be announced.
Optional walk on the Baumgartner Höhe: 4km (max 2½ hours), altitude gain 200m, a moderate walk with inclines and terrific views and starting and ending with a funicular ride. Return to Mellau for a lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon piano recital with William Youn (piano): Schubert, Piano Sonatas in A-flat major, D. 557; E-flat major, D. 568; C minor, D. 958. Followed by an evening Lieder recital with Alexander Grassauer (bass-baritone) and Marcelo Amaral (piano): Schubert, ‘Winterreise’, song cycle after poems by Wilhelm Müller, D. 911.
After the lecture, drive to Schwarzenberg for a morning chamber concert with Javus Quartett: Haydn, String Quartet in D major, Op. 20 No. 4; Schubert, Dances (D. 734, D. 779 No. 13, D. 925); String Quartet in A minor, D. 804 ‘Rosamunde’. Return to Mellau for an independent lunch before driving back to Schwarzenberg. Afternoon Lieder recital with Andrè Schuen (baritone) and Daniel Heide (piano): Schubert, Lieder on the theme of water. Followed by an evening piano recital with Lukas Sternath (piano): Schubert, Piano Sonata in G major, D. 894; Beethoven, Diabelli Variations, Op. 120.
After the lecture, drive to Schwarzenberg for a morning chamber concert with Carolin Widmann (violin), Nils Mönkemeyer (viola), Julian Steckel (cello), Nabil Shehata (double bass), William Youn (piano): Schubert, Adagio and Rondo concertante in F major for Piano Quartet, D. 487; Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 ‘Trout Quintet’; Lekeu, Piano Quartet in B minor (unfinished). Return to Mellau for an independent lunch before driving back to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon Lieder recital with Konstantin Krimmel (baritone), Marcelo Amaral (piano): Wolf, ‘Abendbilder’ and ‘Harfenspieler I–III’; Beethoven, ‘An die ferne Geliebte’, Op. 98; Schumann, Heine Liederkreis, Op. 24; Schubert, Selected Lieder. Followed by an evening piano recital with Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen (piano): Beethoven, Three Marches, Op. 45; Great Fugue in B-flat major, Op. 134 (composer’s four-hand arrangement); Variations WoO 74; Schubert, Variations in E minor, D. 624; Trois Marches Héroïques, D. 602; Fantasy in F minor, D. 940.
Morning excursion to Bregenz, the regional capital located beside Lake Constance. Begin in the upper town, the picturesque older part, and walk down to the lake and visit the local history museum. Return to Mellau for a lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg. Afternoon Lieder recital with Christiane Karg (soprano) and Joseph Middleton (piano): Lieder by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert; individual works to be announced. Followed by an evening chamber concert with the Ensemble der Münchner Philharmoniker, Rafael Fingerlos (baritone): Schubert, Overture in D major ‘in the Italian style’, D. 590 (arr. Tarkmann); Selected Lieder arranged for baritone and octet; Octet in F major, D. 803.
Drive from Mellau to Zurich Airport, stopping at Winterthur to see the Old Master and Impressionist paintings of the Oskar Reinhart Collection, beautifully displayed in the collector’s home in the woods outside the city. Fly from Zurich arriving at London Heathrow at c. 5.15pm.
Expert speakers
Richard Wigmore
Music writer, lecturer and broadcaster for BBC Radio 3. He writes for BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone and has taught classes in Lieder history and interpretation at the Guildhall, Trinity College of Music and Birkbeck College. He read French and German at Cambridge and later studied Music at the Guildhall. His publications include Schubert: The Complete Song Texts and Pocket Guide to Haydn. Twitter: @wigmoresworld | Website: wigmoresworld.co.uk
More tours led by Richard Wigmore
Dr Katy Hamilton
Writer and broadcaster, she has provided talks for, amongst others, Wigmore Hall, BBC Proms and the Salzburg Festival. A frequent contributor to BBC Radio 3, Katy’s specialism is the music of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and she is the editor of Brahms in the Home and Concert Hall (2014) and Brahms in Context (2019). Katy has taught at the Royal College of Music, City Lit, and the Universities of Nottingham and Middlesex.
More tours led by Dr Katy Hamilton
Practicalities
In June 2027:Two sharing: US$8,380 or US$8,080 without flights. Single occupancy: US$8,900 or US$8,600 without flights.
In August 2027: Two sharing: US$7,100 or US$6,580 without flights. Single occupancy: US$7,560 or US$7,040 without flights.
Private coach throughout; accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 6 dinners with wine in August and 8 dinners with wine in June; all admissions; all tips for restaurant staff, drivers, guides; all taxes; the services of the lecturer.
Please note that all dinners are included on this tour and we alternate between a couple of restaurants since the options in Schwarzenberg are limited.
Music: first category tickets to 12 performances in August and 13 performances in June are included.
Hotel Sonne, Mellau: 4-star hotel, modern and functional with a pleasant atmosphere and very helpful staff. All rooms are doubles. There is a swimming pool and restaurant. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.
There is some walking through towns and over uneven ground. The optional walk is rated moderate and participants wishing to take part should bring appropriate walking footwear. Average distance by coach per day: 55 miles.
Between 10 and 24 participants.
Before booking, please refer to Travel.State.Gov 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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Testimonials
“The music was memorable. A never-to-be-forgotten experience. Would I go again? Absolutely!
”
“We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience, which managed to successfully combine significant musical and intellectual stimulation with a relaxing and very pleasurable holiday in a lovely location.
”
“A wonderful lecturer – we often have heard of him and he never disappoints. His talks enhanced the concerts a great deal.
”
“Wonderful. I cannot think of any way it could be improved.
”
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