Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Germany
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Europe
)
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Northern Germany
[parent] => Array
(
[name] => Germany
)
)
)
Elphi, Hamburg
Hamburg: Opera & 'Elphi' - Music, art & architecture in Germany’s second city
5
days
from
US$3,790
ex flights
26th April 2026
- The Hamburg Philharmonic performs Mendelssohn and Mahler at the spectacular Elbphilharmonie.
- Also included are Der Freischütz (Weber) and Madama Butterfly (Puccini) at the Staatsoper Hamburg.
- Based at a historic hotel, beautifully situated on the Außenalster lake.
Hamburg is a city of industry, of exchange, a Hanseatic powerhouse. Yet its position as a gateway between Germany and the rest of the world, alongside its financial success and prestige throughout much of German history, has made it a creative city, home to a rich musical and artistic heritage.
The first public opera house in Germany, the Oper am Gänsemarkt, was established in Hamburg in 1678. While the current theatre of the Staatsoper Hamburg reopened in 1955 after its destruction in 1943, the sense of continuing a long-standing tradition still remains.
Enter, then, the Elbphilharmonie – or ‘Elphi’ – an architectural, cultural and civic masterpiece by Herzog & de Meuron that dominates, and lifts, the city’s harbour and its image. Yes, it ran over budget and over schedule, but the fact remains that Hamburg believed in it and built it. The acoustic is almost ‘digital’ in its clarity and tickets are hard to come by.
Two great titles from competing operatic traditions — the German and Italian — feature at Hamburg’s Staatsoper during our visit there. But though Der Freischütz enjoys instant name recognition, Carl Maria von Weber’s seminal work is seldom heard today and this is a good opportunity to enjoy it alongside Giacomo Puccini’s popular Madama Butterfly. The one-time music director of this theatre was Gustav Mahler himself, whose First Symphony — composed shortly before the composer moved to Hamburg — we hear in the city’s much talked-about new hall, the Elbphilharmonie. This famously musical city was also the birthplace of Felix Mendelssohn, whose Violin Concerto (with its second movement now reflected through the mirror of the French composer Richard Dubugnon in a world premiere performance) completes our programme.
Our tour also includes a daily session of talks and discussions about the evening’s performance. There are guided walks and visits to a further selection of Hamburg’s architecture and sites of musical heritage, but also plenty of free time for rest and preparation for the next event.
Itinerary
Fly at c. 10.30am from London Heathrow to Hamburg (British Airways). Arrive at the hotel in time to settle in before dinner.
The morning talk is followed by a walk through the Speicherstadt, the old warehouse district and centre of Hamburg’s industrial past. Continue to HafenCity, the commercial and cultural development surrounding the harbour by the river Elbe. Lunch, then some free time. Concert at the Elbphilharmonie with Julian Rachlin (conductor, violin) and the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra: Mendelssohn, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 64; Mahler, Symphony No. 1 in D major, ‘Titan’.
Visit the Komponistenquartier, a charming row of small museums commemorating composers including Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Mahler. There is some free time before a late-afternoon talk and early dinner. Opera at the Staatsoper: Der Freischütz (Weber): Yoel Gamzou (conductor), Andrew Hamilton (Ottokar), Jane Archibald (Agathe), Narea Son (Ännchen), Alexander Roslavets (Caspar), Dovlet Nurgeldiyev (Max), Clemes Sienknecht (Samiel), Hubert Kowalczyk (Hermit), William Desbiens (Kilian). Performed in German with German and English surtitles.
Visit the Kunsthalle, Hamburg’s largest art museum, established in 1869 with an excellent collection of Old Masters and 19th-century paintings. The afternoon is free for independent exploration; a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts is recommended. Afternoon talk and early dinner. Opera at the Staatsoper: Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Alexander Joel (conductor), Vincent Boussard (director), Barno Ismatullaeva (Cio-Cio San), Ida Aldrian (Suzuki), Aebh Kelly (Kate Pinkerton), Atalla Ayan (Pinkerton), Kartal Karagedik (Sharpless), Daniel Kluge (Goro), William Desbiens (Il Principe Yamadori), Tigran Martirossian (Lo zio Bonzo). Performed in Italian with German and English surtitles.
The final morning is free before the journey to the airport. The flight to Heathrow arrives in the afternoon.
Expert speaker
Dr John Allison
Editor of Opera magazine and music critic. He was born in South Africa and completed his PhD degree while playing the piano and working as assistant organist at Cape Town cathedral. Since moving to London in 1989 he has written for publications around the world, authored two books and served on the juries of many international competitions. He co-founded the International Opera Awards in 2013. He reviews for the Daily Telegraph and has previously held positions as music critic on The Sunday Telegraph and The Times.
More tours led by Dr John Allison
Practicalities
Travel by private coach throughout; breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners with wine; all admissions to museums and sites visited with the group; all gratuities for restaurant staff, drivers, guides; all airport and state taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
First category tickets for 2 performances (Elbphilharmonie, Staatsoper) and second category tickets for 1 performance.
Hotel Atlantic Hamburg: 5-star hotel in a beautiful location on the Außenalster lake. Traditionally furnished and decorated, with a long nautical history. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.
There is quite a lot of walking on this tour, and a reasonable amount of standing around in museums. Average distance by coach per day: 5 miles.
Between 10 and 22 participants.
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:
26th - 30th April 2026
Speaker:
Dr John Allison
Price:
US$3,790 ex flights
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“Loved our scheduled activities, the lecturer and the tour guide.
”
“John was an excellent speaker and his lectures were fascinating.
”
Related tours and events
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
