Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Germany
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Netherlands
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Switzerland
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Rhineland
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Germany
)
)
)
Music along the Rhine - Outstanding music, beautiful countryside and historic towns along Germany’s principal river
8
days
from
US$6,780
ex flights
31st August 2026
- Seven private concerts in beautiful and appropriate historic buildings, carefully chosen for their architectural appeal or resonance with the music performed.
- Beethoven features throughout: Alina Ibragimova performs the dazzling 'Kreutzer' sonata in the Beethovenhaus, Bonn and we hear string quartets by the superb Leonkoro Quartet.
- The Orchestra of the 18th Century close the festival in the magnificent neoclassical Felix Meritis in Amsterdam with symphonies and Mozart's gorgeous Violin Concerto No.3.
- Two of Europe’s finest Baroque ensembles perform (Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and Vox Luminis), in Freiburg itself and in the resplendent 18th-century Holy Trinity Church in Speyer.
- The Dudok Quartet play Mozart and Schubert in the grandeur of Schloss Manneheim, and the Sollazzo Ensemble explore the music of Cologne in the 15th century in a Romanesque church.
- Travel seamlessly through four countries, with time to explore many of the most compelling towns and cities along the way – Basel, Freiburg, Speyer, Bonn, Cologne, Utrecht and Amsterdam.
- Accommodation throughout on a first-class river cruiser, which sails from Basel to Amsterdam.
- Daily talks by leading music expert Dr Katy Hamilton.
There is little to match the pleasure of a sequence of curated concerts in beautiful historic buildings.
This delightful river festival combines the two, stopping at historically significant and attractive places along the Rhine to create a truly exceptional musical experience. Each of our seven private concerts take place in venues carefully chosen for their architectural appeal or resonance with the music performed, and all are in spaces that foster an informality and intimacy between artists and audiences.
Beethoven features throughout; in his native Bonn, outstanding violinist Alina Ibragimova and pianist Cédric Tiberghien perform the dazzling ‘Kreutzer’ and other sonatas in the Beethovenhaus. In Basel, the world-class Leonkoro string quartet pairs one of Beethoven’s final string quartets with Mendelssohn’s last, and the superb Orchestra of the 18th Century closes the festival with his symphonies in the magnificent neoclassical Felix Meritis in Amsterdam, alongside Mozart’s gorgeous 3rd Violin Concerto.
Two of Europe’s finest Baroque ensembles appear; the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra performs in the medieval Kaufhaus in their home town, and Vox Luminis presents Bach Cantatas in Speyer’s resplendent 18th-century Holy Trinity Church.
In the spectacular Schloss Mannheim, once home to one of Europe’s most celebrated orchestras, we hear Mozart and Schubert by the Dudok Quartet; and the Sollazzo Ensemble has curated a medieval programme specifically for our concert in one of Cologne’s renowned Romanesque churches.
Dr Katy Hamilton gives daily talks that illuminate and enlighten, and there are many opportunities to explore the splendid historic towns and cities through which we pass: Basel, Freiburg, Speyer, Bonn, Cologne, Utrecht and Amsterdam, all richly interesting in their own right.
The MS Amadeus Riva serves as our floating hotel throughout, eliminating the need for hotel changes or long drives between venues. There is no onboard entertainment, no assigned seating, minimal announcements – and absolutely no piped music.
The result is a uniquely civilised journey, where world-class music, magnificent architecture and scenic river landscapes combine to create an unforgettable experience.
Discover the place
The Rhine is one of the world’s great rivers; arguably no other has served such a prominent role in shaping the history and culture of a continent.
On the way from its source in the Swiss Alps to its extinction in the North Sea Basin, the Rhine traverses more than a thousand kilometres and passes through four countries.
For millennia the river has been a vital trading route, linking people across a broad stretch of Europe. At the same time it has always been a boundary, a border, demarcating cultures and nations and empires. It once constituted the Roman Empire’s northern frontier, and there is still much significant archaeology to be found along its banks.
Travelling downstream, we pass through a variety of landscapes and urban scenes. North of Basel, with France on the left bank, the river is flanked by wooded hills and pasture and is populated by several historic towns. The loveliness reaches a peak in the wine-producing region of the Middle Rhine before the river enters a deep gorge, a stretch much evoked in German folklore, poetry and music.
Further downstream, as we travel north, we experience the charming scenery of the Lower Rhine with pollarded willows and grazing cattle interspersed with building clusters of the once heavily industrialised Rhine-Ruhr valley, still today the largest conurbation in Germany. The river was at the heart of Germany’s industrial revolution.
There is some time to explore a selection of the towns, palaces and gardens along its course, to see some great art and architecture, and to watch the countryside slide by as you travel along Germany’s most important river.
Videos
Brochure
Musicians
Programme
Join one of our festival flights to Basel or Zurich (see page 20). Lunch is included for those travelling directly to Basel.
The ship is moored in Basel. You can board any time from 4.00pm onwards. Afternoon tea is available. There is an early dinner before the concert.
Straddling the Rhine at the uppermost point for shipping, the Swiss city of Basel (Bâle) abuts the borders of France and Germany. In part due to its nodal location, Basel has always been an important centre of music, with many of the great performers, teachers and composers passing through. It retains much of its centuries-old streetscape and architecture, including a cathedral and four fine churches dating to the Middle Ages.
The Martinskirche in Basel dates to the 12th century, and in 1529 Basel’s first German-language Reformation sermon was delivered here. By 1798 it fell into disuse, but a thorough restoration in the 1850s introduced a semi-circular stage for choral concerts, marking its transformation into Basel’s oldest concert venue.
Concert, 8.15pm:
Basel, Martinskirche
Last String Quartets
Leonkoro Quartet
The concert opens with a selection of early Purcell Fantasias, published around 1680. They were originally written for ensembles of either three or four viols, but have very frequently been performed by violin-family ensembles instead, with modern players relishing the young composer’s playful counterpoint. We then move on to two stormy 19th-century quartets: Mendelssohn’s No.6 Op.80 in F minor, written following the death of his sister Fanny and two months before his own, and Beethoven’s No.14 Op.131 in C Sharp minor, one of his last works.
The ship remains moored in Basel until early the following morning.
Wake to the scenic delights of the Upper Rhine passing by your cabin window before mooring at Breisach am Rhein just after breakfast. The first of the daily talks by Dr Katy Hamilton takes place on board.
This morning you have a choice: free time in Breisach until after lunch, or travel by coach immediately after the talk to Freiburg to join a guided tour – see below.
Breisach is an attractive town built on a hill which rises from the water’s edge with a superb Gothic church crowning its summit. The climb to the top well repays the effort, though the lower town has plenty of charm. Or you could just relax on the ship. Lunch is on board – as every day, except for those on optional excursions. Set off by coach for today’s concert in the early afternoon.
There is an option of an excursion to Freiburg im Breisgau to join a tour with a local guide. This is one of Germany’s loveliest historic towns, with fine streetscape, a major Gothic cathedral and an excellent art gallery. The coach leaves after the morning talk and does not return to the ship before the concert.
Today’s concert venue is the Historisches Kaufhaus, the Merchant’s Hall, a partly medieval building in the main square with a wonderfully flamboyant 1520s façade.
Concert, 4.00pm:
Freiburg, Historisches Kaufhaus
German Baroque
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Programme to be confirmed; a smaller version of the full orchestra performs.
Return to the ship for dinner and set sail overnight to Speyer.
Sail throughout the morning. There is a talk on the music before lunch on board.
Moor just after midday in Speyer. Separated from the river by wooded parkland, the little city is dominated by the largest Romanesque cathedral in Germany, burial place of the Salian emperors. There is some free time here.
A rare example of a fully preserved Baroque Lutheran interior, the Holy Trinity Church features an abundance of carved wood, vivid and intricate ceiling paintings, and a prominent east organ.
Concert, 5.30pm:
Speyer, Church of the Holy Trinity
Early Bach Cantatas
Vox Luminis
With the final tally of cantatas standing at over 200, it can be easy to forget that in the 1700s Bach had only just started working in this form. The works in this programme come from Arnstadt, Mühlhausen and Weimar, and the varied ensembles reflect his frequently-changing circumstances, from the intimate Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich to the expansive Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen. Right from the beginning, though, Bach’s close matching of music to the expressive demands of the text comes through, even becoming a full narrative in Christ lag in Todes Banden.
Remain in Speyer overnight.
Sail in the early morning from Speyer to Mannheim. The ship remains here all day. There is a talk on the music before the morning concert.
Mannheim succeeded Heidelberg as the capital of the Palatinate, one of the richest and most culturally accomplished of the smaller states of Germany. In the mid-18th century the court orchestra was famous throughout Europe; Mozart called it an army of generals. The great Baroque Schloss, within walking distance of the ship and venue for our concert, is one of the largest in Europe. Our concert is in the Knights’ Hall.
Concert, 10.15am:
Barockschloss Mannheim, Rittersaal
Mozart & Schubert String Quartets
Dudok Quartet
The string quartet as a conversation among four intelligent friends is one of the most enduring musical metaphors, and this concert shows us why. After an exploration of some Renaissance transcriptions, with the intricate counterpoint of voices imitating each other, Mozart’s Quartet K575 brings the cello out of its normal Classical support role to an equal share of the spotlight, catering to the abilities of King Frederick William II of Prussia. Schubert’s Quartet D.804 then pushes the integrated ensemble to the heights of despair and nostalgic drama.
Return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon there is a choice between an optional excursion (a guided tour at Schloss Schwetzingen), time for independent sightseeing in Mannheim or Heidelberg, or simply relaxing on board.
The ship departs around midnight for Bonn.
Most of the morning is spent sailing through the Middle Rhine, the most dramatically picturesque stretch of the river. See vine-clad hills with castles on many of the peaks, and charming little towns and villages at the water’s edge. There is a talk on board before mooring at Bonn just before lunch.
Famously disparaged as a village by the diplomatic corps when it was capital, Bonn had in fact been a significant centre of culture while seat of the Elector Archbishops of Cologne in the early modern period. In the 18th century a second-rate tenor inclined to drink, named Johann van Beethoven, was employed at the archiepiscopal court. His son was a better musician.
There is some time for independent exploration, including a visit to the Beethovenhaus museum, before an early dinner.
This evening’s recital takes place in the Kammermusiksaal, a handsome modern chamber music hall attached to the Beethoven family home within walking distance of the mooring.
Recital, 8.15pm:
Bonn, Beethovenhaus, Kammermusiksaal
Beethoven Violin Sonatas
Alina Ibragimova violin
Cédric Tiberghien piano
Beethoven wrote his ten violin sonatas in a fifteen year span, but there is huge diversity for pieces that mostly came quite close together. The Sonata No.8 is at the wittier end of the spectrum, one of a set of three that earned him a diamond from the dedicatee, Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Sonata No.9 (‘Kreutzer’) is then the complete opposite, fully symphonic in scope and emotion. Nearly ten years then passed before the final one, No.10, and its more peaceful lyricism, albeit still with plenty of Beethovenian twists.
Remain in Bonn overnight.
Sail from Bonn to Cologne in the early morning.
Cologne was one of the largest and most flourishing cities in northern Europe under the Romans and during the Middle Ages, and again in the 19th century. The enormous and perfectly proportioned Gothic cathedral dominates a historic centre which possesses several major Romanesque churches and world-class museums and galleries. There is time both before and after the concert for exploration – many of the most important sights are within walking distance of the mooring.
In a city famed for its Romanesque churches, St Maria im Kapitol is the largest of them, its ground plan highly influential in the Rhineland. The original wooden doors, carved with scenes from the life of Christ, are precious survivals.
Concert, 11.30am:
Cologne, St Maria im Kapitol
Cologne in the 15th Century
Sollazzo Ensemble
The Sollazzo Ensemble conjure the environment of 15th-century Cologne for this performance, with the mixing of composers from across Europe and a special focus on the intricate delicacies of Franco-Flemish polyphony. This is a rare opportunity to hear some of the music from the Strasbourg Codex 222, transcribed by Edmond de Coussemaker (1805–1876) from a manuscript that was otherwise destroyed in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war. These extracts are performed alongside works by Conrad Pauman, Johannes Pullois, Guillaume Dufay and Gilles Binchois.
Depart Cologne for Utretcht in the mid afternoon. There is a talk on board and dinner.
Arrive in Utrecht just before breakfast. There is some free time here – the centre is an easy walk from the mooring point.
One of the best-preserved historic cities in the Netherlands, Utrecht features canals flanked by unbroken stretches of 17th-century houses. There is an excellent art museum, which has a major collection of paintings of the 17th-century Utrecht School.
Sail over lunchtime from Utrecht to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is as distinctive as it is beautiful. It grew rapidly in the 16th and 17th centuries from a small and precarious sea port to become the greatest trading emporium in Europe. With its concentric canals and close-set brick merchant houses, soaring churches and picturesque alleys, the inner city has hardly changed since its heyday.
Felix Meritis’ oval concert hall was the main music hall in Amsterdam until late into the 19th century and enjoyed a great international reputation. Many famous musicians performed there, including Robert and Clara Schumann, Saint-Saëns and Brahms. The small hall of the Concertgebouw is a replica of this concert hall, where our concert takes place.
Concert, 4.30pm:
Amsterdam, Felix Meritis
Mozart & Beethoven
Orchestra of the 18th Century
The festival concludes with a concert that illustrates the shock of the Romantic after the Classical era. The overture and ballet music from Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice move through grandeur to tenderness to bravura and everything in between, while Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.3 is more poised in its elegance, albeit with plenty to show off the soloist. Beethoven in the 1800s then blew the lid off such graces with the wildness of the Second Symphony, with its rollercoaster finale.
Drinks reception and final dinner on board. Overnight Amsterdam.
Coaches leave the ship between 8.15 and 9.15am. See page 20 for the flight and rail options available for returning to London. All passengers must disembark by 9.30am.
Expert speaker
Dr Katy Hamilton
Writer and broadcaster, she has provided talks for, amongst others, Wigmore Hall, BBC Proms and the Oxford Lieder 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
The price includes:
– Seven private concerts in historic and appropriate buildings.
– Talks on the music by Dr Katy Hamilton.
– Accommodation on a first-class river cruiser for 7 nights.
– Return flights or trains between London and Basel/Amsterdam (reduced price if you arrange your own).
– All meals, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last, with wine, and interval drinks.
– Coach travel between airport and ship, and to concert venues when not reached on foot.
– All tips, taxes and admission charges.
– A detailed programme booklet.
– The assistance of festival staff.
Please note that each outbound option is tied to a particular inbound option – we are unable to amend your return transport to include the outbound and inbound travel from two different options. At the time of publication, flight and train schedules had not yet been published for August/September 2026 so these times are indicative and subject to change.
Option 1 – Flights both ways (LHR)
31 August: London Heathrow to Basel (BA 760) departing at 08.40 and arriving at 11.20. Lunch is included in Basel. This is followed by free time for independent exploration before transferring to the ship at c. 4.00pm.
7 September: Amsterdam to London Heathrow (BA 431) departing at 11.50 and arriving at 12.10.
Option 2 – Flights both ways (LCY)
31 August: London City to Zurich (BA 8765) departing at 11.45 and arriving at 14.20. Transfer directly to the ship.
7 September: Amsterdam to London City (BA 8465) departing at 11.25 and arriving at 11.30.
Option 3 – Flight out (LHR), Train back
31 August: London Heathrow to Basel (BA 760) departing at 08.40 and arriving at 11.20. Lunch is included in Basel. This is followed by free time for independent exploration before transferring to the ship at c. 4.00pm.
7 September: Amsterdam to London St Pancras (Eurostar 9145) departing at 13.40 and arriving at 16.57. There is time for independent exploration of Amsterdam before departing for London.
Option 4 – Flight out (LCY), Train back
31 August: London City to Zurich (BA 8765) departing at 11.45 and arriving at 14.20. Transfer directly to the ship.
7 September: Amsterdam to London St Pancras (Eurostar 9145) departing at 13.40 and arriving at 16.57. There is time for independent exploration of Amsterdam before departing for London.
Connecting flights
It may be possible to arrange connecting flights with British Airways from Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Belfast.
Making own arrangements
You can choose not to take any of our flight/rail options and to make your own arrangements for joining and leaving the ship. You are welcome to join our coach transfers if your travel arrangements coincide with any of the options above.
Price reduction for ‘no flights/trains’: £220 per person.
The ship
Launched in 2023, the Amadeus Riva is one of the newest and most comfortable cruisers on the waterways of Europe. The multinational crew is dedicated to the highest standards of service.
With a floor area of 16m2 (Haydn deck) or 17.5m2 (Strauss and Mozart decks) the cabins are reasonably spacious by the standards of river cruisers. All have windows to the outside and are equipped with the facilities one would expect of a first-class hotel such as adjustable air-conditioning, telephone, TV and safe.
Bathrooms have showers only. Special attention has been paid to noise insulation.
In layout and furnishings the cabins are identical, the significant differences being the size of windows and height above water level (higher cabins enjoy better views and fewer stairs).
Cabins on the top decks (Mozart and Strauss) are the most desirable, with floor-to-ceiling windows which drop down to open and minibars. There are twelve suites (Mozart) measuring 26.4m2 with a corner sofa area and small balcony. Cabins on the lowest (Haydn) deck have smaller windows which don’t open. There are no single cabins as such but we are allocating some twin-bed cabins for single occupancy.
The public areas include the lounge and bar, a library area and a restaurant that can seat everyone at a single sitting. The sun deck has a tented area for shade.
Prices
Haydn Front – lowest deck
Two sharing: £4,050 per person
Single occupancy: £5,060
Strauss Back – middle deck
Two sharing: £4,650 per person
Single occupancy: £6,510
Strauss Front – middle deck
Two sharing: £4,950 per person
Single occupancy: £6,930
Mozart – top deck
Two sharing: £5,550 per person
Single occupancy: £8,050
Mozart Suites – top deck
Two sharing: £6,440 per person
Not available for single occupancy.
Cabins towards the front of the ship are quieter than those further back.
No flights: if you choose not to take one of the flight/train options, there is a price reduction of £220 per person.
Quite a lot of walking is necessary to reach some concert venues and to get around the towns we visit. Most of the concert venues do not have a lift. You need to be averagely fit, sure-footed and able to manage everyday walking and stairclimbing without difficulty. We ask that you take these simple fitness tests before booking.
If you have a medical condition or a disability which may affect your holiday or necessitate special arrangements being made for you, please discuss these with us before booking – or, if the condition develops or changes subsequently, as soon as possible before departure.
Private. All the performances are planned and administered by us, and the audience consists exclusively of those who have taken the festival package.
Seating. Seats are not numbered – you sit where you want, or where space is left. There are pews in some churches but most seating is shaped or upholstered chairs.
Audience size. There will be up to 125 participants on the festival.
Acoustics. This festival is more concerned with locale and authenticity than with acoustic perfection. The venues may have idiosyncrasies or reverberations of the sort not found in modern concert halls.
Changes. Musicians fall ill, venues may close for repairs, airlines alter schedules: there are many circumstances which could necessitate changes to the programme. We ask you to be understanding should they occur.
Floods and droughts. We cannot rule out changes to the programme arising from exceptionally high or low water levels on the Rhine, either of which may bring river traffic to a halt. These might necessitate more travel by coach or the loss of a concert, though we would always try to minimise the impact on the itinerary.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
2026
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
31st August - 7th September 2026
Speaker:
Dr Katy Hamilton
Price:
US$6,780 ex flights
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“The quality of the performances was excellent as always with the musicians chosen being of the highest calibre... The venues were exciting for me as I had not visited any previously and loved the beauty and history of these places – I was quite entranced with the lovely Schloss Raesfeld and after the beautiful lieder performance, lost myself within its grounds while the second concert was on. The programme booklet as always, is a totally complete guide to the entire concert tour with incredible information on each of the performances including details of the lyrics and their translations that then become wonderful reference literature for me into the future. I have kept every one from your numerous music festivals that I have enjoyed over the years.
”
“'Katy Hamilton was outstanding. Her lectures were of exceptional quality and the depth of her musical knowledge of the subject matter was superb.'
”
“Superb. Introduced me to some new music and composers. Daily talk by Katy was outstanding – friendly and amusing as well as informative.
”
“This was our first music festival (fifth overall MRT tour) We were delighted and the variety and quality of the music was terrific.
”
“Every aspect of this tour was excellent. I tried very hard to find something to complain about but could not! Some of the music was new to me and very interesting. All venues were remarkable. The tour was once again perfect.
”
Sign up to our e-newsletter
e-newsletter recipients are the first to hear about our future plans and our tours as they come on sale. By signing up you agree to our Privacy policy.
Or join our mailing list for a printed brochure
