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Beethoven along the Rhine - Celebrating Beethoven in his anniversary year, from Amsterdam to Basel
8
days
from
£5,190
Book today with a deposit of
£779
5th - 12th May 2027
Festival highlights
- A celebration of the greatest composer of all time, marking 200 years since his death.
- A rare opportunity to hear Beethoven's complete String Quartet Cycle – all 16 works performed across two immersive days by three outstanding quartets (Doric, Modigliani, Leonkoro) in the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, where the composer was born.
- Larger works are presented by the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and Basel Chamber Orchestra (Violin Concerto with Radulović); more intimate offerings include Steven Osborne performing the Diabelli Variations, the Nash Ensemble with the joyful Septet, and the Archduke Piano Trio on very special period instruments with the Rautio Trio.
- Other venues include the great Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and a series of palaces and villas – in Lembeck, Mannheim, Strasbourg and Basel – each a magnificent setting in its own right.
- Journey through four countries effortlessly on a first-class river cruiser, from Amsterdam to Basel.
- Daily talks by leading Beethoven expert Professor Laura Tunbridge.
‘There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.’ (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Our 2027 Rhine festival focuses on Beethoven in the 200th anniversary year of his death. An eight-day celebration of the greatest composer of all time, it includes eleven concerts that showcase the full range of his musical genius, from his larger masterpieces to his more intimate chamber works.
At the centre of the festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience: the chance to hear all of Beethoven’s string quartets over a two-day period, performed in the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, where in 1770 the composer was born. Three of the finest string quartets in the world – the Doric, Modigliani and Leonkoro – interweave in what will be a unique and profound musical event. The combination of world-class artistry, an incomparable connection between music and place, and the sheer majesty of some of the most sublime musical compositions ever written, provides the heart from which this festival takes its life.
The string quartets are not the only thrilling part of this celebration. We start and finish with some of Beethoven’s most exciting larger works, performed by the superb Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, joined by star soloists such as Nemanja Radulović (Violin Concerto). More intimate works include the monumental Diabelli Variations by renowned pianist Steven Osborne, and the peerless Archduke Piano Trio, presented on very special period instruments by the Rautio Trio. The brilliant Nash Ensemble complete the set with Beethoven’s spirited and joyful Septet. Works by a small collection of other composers provide contrast throughout the programme.
To add to the exceptional line-up, we travel seamlessly through four countries by luxury river cruiser, from Amsterdam to Basel, with concerts in magnificent historic venues such as the Concertgebouw and Schloss Mannheim. Daily talks to deepen our understanding of these powerful works are given by acclaimed Beethoven expert Professor Laura Tunbridge. And, as always, the concerts are arranged exclusively for our audience, which leads to an intimacy that engenders a special intensity of musical communication.
Beethoven gave the world music that will never be surpassed. This is a festival to honour it, unlike any other you might find – we hope you will join us.
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.
We begin in the Rhine delta, and soon move into 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, it is still the largest conurbation in Germany today, the river having once been the heart of Germany’s industrial revolution.
The river’s loveliness reaches a peak in the wine-producing region of the Middle Rhine which starts with a deep gorge, a stretch much evoked in German folklore, poetry and music. On towards the river’s source, we pass through a variety of landscapes and urban scenes. North of Basel, with France on one side, the river is flanked by wooded hills and pasture and is populated by several historic towns.
There is some time to explore a selection of the towns and palaces along its course, to see some great art and architecture, and to watch the countryside drift by as you travel along Germany’s most important river.
Brochure
Musicians
Programme
Join one of our festival flights or trains or make your own way to the ship.
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.
Board the ship, MS Amadeus Riva, from 4.00pm. Afternoon tea is available. An early dinner precedes the concert.
The Concertgebouw, built in the 1880s on what was then the edge of the city, is one of the most famous concert halls in the world. Renowned for its luminous acoustics, it became home to one of Europe’s finest orchestras. While the Grand Hall impresses with scale and gilded splendour, the Small Hall, location of our concert, offers intimacy: an elegant rectangular salon with soft light, restrained decoration, and superb clarity of sound.
Concert, 8.30pm:
Amsterdam, Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Programme to be confirmed.
Sail from Amsterdam to Wesel, departing in the late evening.
Leave the Netherlands and enter Germany shortly after daybreak, sailing along the Lower Rhine throughout the rest of the morning. There is a talk and lunch, but otherwise free time until early afternoon.
Moor at Wesel and drive to Schloss Lembeck near Dorsten, a delightful moated Wasserschloss (‘water castle’) situated in a park. It dates from the 17th century and retains its historic character. Our recital takes place in a small hall hung with ancestral portraits. Due to the size of the hall, the recital is repeated.
Recital, 2.45pm or 4.45pm:
Schloss Lembeck, Festsaal
Diabelli Variations
Steven Osborne piano
From a little waltz, a monument rises. Beethoven’s determination to write as many as thirty-three variations on the melody sent to him by the publisher and composer Anton Diabelli puts it beyond even Bach’s Goldberg Variations. The piece offers a veritable encyclopedia of creative technique and pianistic skill, pushing every tiny aspect of the original melody to extremes. The emotional palette correspondingly ranges from the witty and absurd (suggesting some parody of the original) to the profound and cathartic, making a surprisingly epic experience for the audience.
Return to the ship in the evening and sail overnight from Wesel to Bonn.
Moor in Bonn from Friday morning to Saturday evening.
Over the next two days, we step into the heart of our Beethoven celebration, embarking on an extraordinary journey through the complete cycle of his string quartets. All concerts take place in the Kammermusiksaal, a handsome modern chamber music hall attached to the Beethoven family home within easy walking distance of the mooring.
Beethoven’s quartets could be compared to a set of mountain ranges. The early set of six published together as Opus 18 are already impressive feats of musical ingenuity, showing Beethoven’s mastery of the Haydn model, but also his eagerness to shake it up. They make for energetic but still accessible climbs for performers who want to scale their slopes.
The next works are another matter: bigger, wider-ranging, and considerably more technically challenging, the three Opus 59 quartets (dedicated to Beethoven’s patron Count Razumovsky) left the amateur origins of the form behind and demanded professional interpreters. Similar challenges await in the other middle-period works, Opus 74 (Harp) and Opus 95 (Serioso). Reaching these peaks needs training.
The late quartets, beginning with Opus 127 and finishing with Opus 135, are a set of Everests. Even professionals are pushed to their limits, with dazzling virtuosity and emotional depth required from all four performers. The awesome majesty of the Grosse Fuge makes for particularly intense listening.
It is an extremely rare treat to hear all of these works in the space of just two days, offering a journey that is as much about Beethoven’s creative development as the pieces themselves.
Friday 7 May
String Quartets 1: 9.30am
No. 1 in F major (Op. 18, No. 1)
No. 2 in G major (Op. 18, No. 2)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 9 in C major (‘Razumovsky III’, Op. 59, No. 3)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets II: 2.30pm
No. 4 in C minor (Op. 18, No. 4)
No. 7 in F major (‘Razumovsky I’, Op. 59, No. 1)
Leonkoro Quartet
No. 15 in A minor (Op. 132)
Modigliani Quartet
String Quartets III: 8.15pm
No. 10 in E flat major (‘Harp’, Op. 74)
No. 13 in B flat major (Op. 130)
Doric Quartet
Saturday 8 May
String Quartets IV: 9.30am
No. 3 in D major (Op. 18, No. 3)
No. 8 in E minor (‘Razumovsky II’, Op. 59, No. 2)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 12 in E flat major (Op. 127)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets V: 2.15pm
No. 5 in A major (Op. 18, No. 5)
No. 11 in F minor (‘Serioso’, Op. 95)
Leonkoro Quartet
No. 16 in F major (Op. 135)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets VI: 5.45pm
No. 6 in B flat major (Op. 18, No. 6)
Grosse Fuge in B flat major (Op. 133)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 14 in C sharp minor (Op. 131)
Leonkoro Quartet
The early 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 are talks on the music during sailing, and time to relax after the musical intensity of the previous two days.
Arrive at Mannheim in the late afternoon, where the ship remains until dinner.
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.
Concert, 5.00pm:
Schloss Mannheim, Rittersaal
Piano Trios: Archduke, Mozart
Rautio Piano Trio
In the Archduke Beethoven expands the piano trio into something symphonic in breadth, yet intimate in utterance. Its emotional range moves from serene assurance to inward contemplation, with moments of radiant warmth throughout. The result is a work of noble scale and quiet grandeur. Other piano trios, including at least one by Mozart, make up the first half. All are performed on period instruments, including a very special Graf piano from the same decade as the Archduke was written.
Sail overnight from Mannheim to Strasbourg.
Moor in Strasbourg mid morning. The ship remains there until the early afternoon.
From the Middle Ages onwards Strasbourg has been one of the most important intellectual and artistic centres in Europe. The city has oscillated politically between Germany and France, while culturally it belonged to both; it is now seat of the European parliament. The streets, canals and architecture of the old centre make it one of the most attractive cities in France, and the cathedral is one of the great Gothic buildings of Europe.
Concert, 11.00am:
Villa Quai Sturm
The Septet & Others
Nash Ensemble
The Septet Op.20 shows Beethoven at the peak of his early period. The six movements in a serenade format (usually background music for parties) draw on the structures of his classical predecessors, as do the balanced, charming melodies and the interplay between instruments. However there are also hints of the Beethoven to come, with the emotional depth, a striving for symphonic grandeur even in small-scale contexts, and more challenging parts for all instruments equally. It’s no surprise that this was his most popular work during his lifetime. Short works by Bach, Crusell and others will also be performed.
Sail during the afternoon and overnight from Strasbourg to Basel.
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, 5.00pm:
Basel, Martinskirche
Violin Concerto
Basel Chamber Orchestra
Krzysztof Urbański conductor
Nemanja Radulović violin
This is a programme of night and day. Beethoven’s Violin Concerto may have grandeur and drama in the mix, but the overall feeling is abundant freshness. From the playful dialogues in the first movement, where the whole orchestra responds to the surprise opening timpani solo, to the rollicking finale, the listening experience is one of delight. In contrast, Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony marked a dark departure from his previous cheer. Depicting the political struggles of his homeland, it is a stormy and thrilling journey towards a final moment of triumph.
Coach transfers depart between 8.00am and 12.00 noon. See the transport section for the flight and train options available for returning to London.
Expert speaker
Professor Laura Tunbridge
The Heather Professor of Music at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Wadham College. Her books include Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces (2020), which was named ‘Best Composer Biography’ by PrestoMusic, and Chamber Music: A Very Short Introduction (2026). Laura grew up in Salford and studied music at Oxford, Nottingham and Princeton, before teaching at the Universities of Reading, Manchester and Oxford. She regularly gives pre-concert talks (for the Oxford International Song Festival and the Proms), writes programme notes (for Wigmore Hall and the Salzburg Festival) and appears on BBC Radio 3 and 4.
More tours led by Professor Laura Tunbridge
Practicalities
The price includes:
— Eleven private concerts in historic and appropriate buildings.
— Talks on the music by Professor Laura Tunbridge.
— Exclusive charter of a first-class river cruiser which sails from Amsterdam to Basel.
— 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.
Optional extras:
— Air or rail travel between London and Amsterdam/Basel.
— A choice of pre- or post-festival tours: Art in The Netherlands (29 April–5 May); Art in Switzerland (12–16 May).
Haydn Front – lowest deck
Single occupancy: £5,240
Strauss Back – middle deck
Two sharing: £4,710 per person
Single occupancy: £6,590
Strauss Front – middle deck
Two sharing: £5,190 per person
Single occupancy: £7,270
Mozart – top deck
Two sharing: £5,860 per person
Single occupancy: £8,480
Mozart Suites – top deck
Two sharing: £6,740 per person
Not available for single occupancy.
Cabins towards the front of the ship are quieter than those further back.
Flights: if you choose to take one of the offered flight/train options, there is an additional cost of £220 per person. For train travel both way the additional cost is £400 per person.
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 have not yet been published for May 2027 so these times are indicative and subject to change.
Option 1 – flights both ways (LCY)
5 May: London City to Amsterdam (BA 8489) departing at 10.50 and arriving at 12.55. This is followed by free time for independent exploration before dinner and the evening concert.
12 May: Zurich to London City (BA 8766) departing at 14.55 and arriving at 15.30. There is time for some independent exploration of Zurich before departing for London.
Option 2 – flights both ways (LHR)
5 May: London Heathrow to Amsterdam (BA 432) departing at 11.50 and arriving at 14.10. This is followed by free time for independent exploration before dinner and the evening concert.
12 May: Basel to London Heathrow (BA 761) departing at 12.10 and arriving at 13.00.
Option 3 – train out, flight back (LCY)
5 May: London St Pancras to Amsterdam (Eurostar) departing at 11.04 and arriving at 16.20.
12 May: Zurich to London City (BA 8766) departing at 14.55 and arriving at 15.30. There is time for some independent exploration of Zurich before departing for London.
Option 4 – train out, flight back (LHR)
5 May: London St Pancras to Amsterdam (Eurostar) departing at 11.04 and arriving at 16.20.
12 May: Basel to London Heathrow (BA 761) departing at 12.10 and arriving at 13.00.
Option 5 – rail only
5 May: London St Pancras to Amsterdam (Eurostar) departing at 11.04 and arriving at 16.15.
12 May: Basel to London St Pancras, via Paris (one change), departing at 8.25 and arriving at 17.30.
There is a supplement for Option 5 (train both ways).
Please note that the train from Basel arrives at Paris Gare de Lyon, but the Eurostar leaves from Paris Gare du Nord. A coach will take you to Gare du Nord from Gare de Lyon, though we recommend that you are able to carry luggage from the train platform to the coach independently.
Connecting flights
It may be possible to arrange connecting flights with British Airways from Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Belfast.
Making own arrangements
If you are not joining our flight/rail options, you are welcome to join our coach transfers if your travel arrangements coincide with any of the options above.
Pre- and post-festival tours
If you are opting to include your travel, pre-festival tour participants return to the UK on travel Option 1 (returning to London Heathrow); post-festival tour participants fly out to Amsterdam on Option 1 (from London Heathrow).
We charge for travel, if you are opting for it, as part of your pre- or post-festival tour booking. You therefore pay the ‘no flights’ price for the festival.
The ship
Launched in 2023, the MS 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 slide 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.
Quite a lot of walking is necessary to reach some of the concert venues and to get around the towns we visit. You will sometimes need to walk for up to 20 minutes/1 kilometre each way in order to attend the concerts, with no additional transportation possible. Even in big cities taxis are not readily available or cannot get close enough to the ship or the concert venue to justify their use.
Many 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 are very happy to talk you through each day’s manoeuvres, as these differ festival to festival, to identify if it may be necessary to opt out at any point.
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 Martin Randall Travel, and the audience consists exclusively of those who have taken the festival package.
Seating. Specific seats are not reserved. You sit where you want.
Audience size. There will be up to 125 participants on the festival. One of our venues cannot hold this number, so at these, the performance will be repeated.
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 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:
5th - 12th May 2027
Speaker:
Professor Laura Tunbridge
Price:
from £5,190
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“Every aspect was 5 stars – the organisation, the perfectly planned, beautiful concerts, the very comfortable ship and excellent staff.
”
“Excellent quality of performances and performers in high quality, historic venues.
”
“We were delighted with our first MRT festival, and the variety and quality of the music was terrific.
”
Combine with
We are happy to advise on combining this itinerary with another tour or event. Please contact us for information about linking accommodation and transport.
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