Overview
Described as one of the enduring pinnacles of Western civilisation, to be spoken of in the same breath as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Chartres Cathedral and Hamlet, Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung is a masterpiece that should be savoured at least once in a lifetime. Whether you are a Ring virgin or witness to dozens of performances, you are unlikely to be disappointed by the Deutsche Oper Berlin production that brings together a stellar cast, a vastly experienced conductor and one of the most innovative directors on the scene today.
When the production was first seen in 2021, the American tenor Clay Hilley, singing the role of Siegfried, was acclaimed as “the real thing”: tireless, clarion-toned, yet always musical. He returns for this cycle alongside such distinguished names as Ricarda Merbeth and Elisabeth Teige, sharing the role of Brünnhilde, and Iain Paterson and Derek Welton as Wotan/Wanderer. The Deutsche Oper’s General Music Director, Sir Donald Runnicles, brings the expertise acquired over the course of his illustrious career to bear on Wagner’s stupendous score.
The production by Stefan Herheim was eagerly awaited (with false starts caused by the Covid pandemic) and triumphantly fulfilled expectations. As with other of his stagings it is characterised both by Herheim’s engagement with the composer as progenitor of the music and by his unrivalled flair for exploiting theatre’s capacity for illusion and visual effect. Herheim’s unparalleled stagecraft is deployed to elicit the ever-astonishing riches of both text and music, gripping the viewer with the potency of Wagner’s drama.
There will be lectures on each instalment of the Ring by Barry Millington, the Wagner specialist and editor of The Wagner Journal, and walks or excursions on most days with a Berlin-based guide. However, plenty of time is allowed to rest and to prepare for experiencing the greatest achievement of music drama.
Day 1
Fly at c. 11.00am from London Heathrow to Berlin (British Airways).
Day 2
A morning lecture on the music before an introductory morning walk, finishing at the ‘Museums Island’, a group of major museum buildings. Explore the Alte Nationalgalerie, which superbly displays European painting of the 19th century and German Romantics. Evening performance at the Deutsche Oper: Das Rheingold: Sir Donald Runnicles (conductor), Stefan Herheim (director), Iain Paterson (Wotan), Thomas Lehman (Donner), Attilio Glaser (Froh), Albert Pesendorfer (Fasolt), Tobias Kehrer (Fafner), Thomas Blondelle (Loge), Jordan Shanahan (Alberich), Ya-Chung Huang (Mime), Annika Schlicht (Fricka), Flurina Stucki (Freia), Lauren Decker (Erda), Sua Jo (Woglinde), Irene Roberts (Wellgunde), Karis Tucker (Flosshilde).
Day 3
Morning lecture, before departing for a walk that takes in Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße and the Brandenburg Gate. Finish at the Reichstag dome; lunch at the roofgarden restaurant, Käfer. Afternoon performance at the Deutsche Oper: Die Walküre: Derek Welton (Wotan), Tobias Kehrer (Hunding), Michael König (Siegmund), Annika Schlicht (Fricka), Ricarda Merbeth (Brünnhilde), Elisabeth Teige (Sieglinde), Felicia Moore (Gerhilde), Flurina Stucki (Helmwige), Elissa Pfaender (Waltraute), Lauren Decker (Schwertleite), Maria Motolygina (Ortlinde), Arianna Manganello (Siegrune), Nicole Piccolomini (Grimgerde), Karis Tucker (Rossweisse).
Day 4
Visit Schloss Charlottenburg, the earliest major building in Berlin, an outstanding Baroque and Rococo summer palace with fine interiors, paintings (Watteau especially) and extensive gardens. Optional visit to the Berggruen Collection of Picasso and classic modern art. Free evening, or Optional Concert at the Philharmonie Berlin: Works by Jörg Widmann and Anton Bruckner: Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Stefan Dohr (horn), Berliner Philharmoniker.
Day 5
Morning lecture. See Potsdamer Platz, Europe’s greatest building project in the 1990s, with several buildings by star architects. Continue to the nearby ‘Kulturforum’, home to the Gemäldegalerie, one of Europe’s major collections of Old Masters, and the Museum of Musical Instruments. Afternoon performance at the Deutsche Oper: Siegfried: Clay Hilley (Siegfried), Ya-Chung Huang (Mime), Iain Paterson (the Wanderer), Tobias Kehrer (Fafner), Lindsay Ammann (Erda), Elisabeth Teige (Brünnhilde), Jordan Shanahan (Alberich).
Day 6
Morning walk focusing on 20th century Berlin, followed by a visit to Libeskind’s extraordinary Jewish Museum. Free evening.
Day 7
Morning lecture. Drive to Hans Scharoun’s original and organic Philharmonie (concert hall) for a guided tour. The rest of the day is left free for independent exploration or relaxation. Final performance at the Deutsche Oper: Götterdämmerung: Clay Hilley (Siegfried), Thomas Lehman (Gunther), Jordan Shanahan (Alberich), Albert Pesendorfer (Hagen), Ricarda Merbeth (Brünnhilde), Felicia Moore (Gutrune), Lindsay Ammann (Flosshilde), Annika Schlicht (Waltraute), Sua Jo (Woglinde), Karis Tucker (Wellgunde).
Day 8
Fly to London Heathrow from Berlin, arriving at c. 1.45pm.
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.
Price, per person
Two sharing: £5,540 or £5,210 without flights. Single occupancy: £6,420 or £6,090 without flights.
Included
Flights (economy) with British Airways; travel by private coach; hotel accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners, with wine, as well as interval fingerfood and drinks at 3 of the performances; all admissions; tips for restaurant staff, drivers and guides; state and airport taxes; the services of the lecturer and local Berlin guides.
Music
Tickets (first category) for 4 performances are included. Tickets for the optional concert are subject to availability, on request.
Accommodation
The Regent Berlin: an elegant hotel decorated in Regency style. Rooms are of a good size and excellent standard. Located within walking distance of the major museums and a 15-minute drive from the opera house.
How strenuous?
There is quite a lot of walking and standing around in art galleries and museums. Average distance by coach per day: 15 miles.
Are you fit enough to join the tour?
Group size
The tour will operate with between 10 and 22 participants.
Travel advice
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Combine with
Classical Greece, 11–20 May 2024
Gastronomic Le Marche, 13–20 May 2024
The Western Balkans, 13–26 May 2024
Yorkshire Houses, 16–22 May 2024
Medieval Heart of Portugal, 19–26 May 2024
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 20–25 May 2024
Great Swedish Houses, 20–26 May 2024
Gastronomic Veneto, 5–12 June 2024
Gastronomic Asturias & Cantabria, 7–14 June 2024
Medieval Burgundy, 8–15 June 2024
'This was my first time with Martin Randall and I am most impressed. The organisation throughout was superb and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.'
'I love Wagner and the orchestra and singing were superb. So glad I went.'
'The choice of itinerary was good – plenty to do but not too packed in so there was enough time to relax.'