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Join us August 24 through September 8 this year in Austria as we experience the pinnacle of Operatic & Symphony excellence at the renowned Salzburg Summer Festival and Vienna Opera Season Opening Week.
We start in Salzburg, featuring an extraordinary lineup of world-class performances in the Festival’s most renowned venues. Delight in Giordano’s Andrea Chénier, Rameau’s Castor et Pollux, Verdi’s Macbeth, and Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, Plus the Festival’s two major Concerts- The Vienna Philharmonic with Wesler-Möst performing Bruckner’s impressive 9th Symphony & the Berlin Philharmonic with Petrenko performing the massive Mahler’s 9th Symphony .
During our days there, we’ll explore the enchanting Mirabell Gardens & Palace, the “old Town & Festival Town’s important sites, Mozart’s birthplace and residence with private showing of his original Manuscripts in the Autographenkeller with the Mozarteum Curator, & a Private concert on Mozart’s piano, the stunning Schloss Hellbrunn with its whimsical Fountains, and the picturesque Salzkammergut Lake district, paired with luxury accommodations at the 5-Star Sheraton Grand Salzburg, fine dining, and moments of leisure.
We’ll then move to Vienna and make our home at the 5-Star Grand Hotel Wien at the Vienna Ring across from the Vienna State Opera. Amid captivating operatic performances of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Verdi’s Otello, Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, and Bizet’s Carmen, we’ll discover Vienna’s timeless charm by touring the opulent Hapsburg Schönbrunn Palace, marveling at the gothic splendor of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, &explore the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Fine Arts, home to masterpieces by Bruegel, Raphael, and Vermeer. As a bonus, an option for a full day excursion to lovely Lake Chiemsee to tour the Herrenchiemsee Palace modeled after the French Versailles. We’ll Stroll through Vienna’s historic First District and visit Vienna’s House of Music to understand and be imbued with the magic & history of Vienna’s composers and the renowned Vienna Philharmonic, and dine at legendary fine-dining establishments such as the Hotel Sacher, & the Hotel Grand’s Le Ciel Rotunde, creating a perfect harmony of culture, history, and world-class Opera & Symphonies.
Itinerary:
SALZBURG
Sunday, August 24th
Upon arrival at Salzburg Airport, you’ll transfer to our Deluxe 5-Star Hotel Sheraton Grand Salzburg. This evening, our Welcome Dinner at the Sheraton’s lovely Mirabell Dining Room/
Monday, August 25th
After Full Buffet Breakfast at the Sheraton, our Guided Tour with ICC’s favorite Guide- Heide to the lovely Mirabell Gardens and Palace, and important sites at the “Old Town” & Festival Town- including the Cathedral where Mozart was baptized and the Festival Theaters.
This evening, we attend Giordano’s Andrea Chenier with the marvelous Piotr Beczala as Chenier, at the Festival’s Grosses Festspielhaus (in Concert format)..
Tuesday, August 26th
After Breakfast, free day to explore Salzburg ; OR join our Optional “Bavarian Versailles” excursion- enjoying our Boat Cruise on lovely Lake Chiemsee to Herrenchiemsee Island to tour Herrenchiemsee Castle & Gardens built in the French Versailles style, with Luncheon at Herrenchiemsee Schlosswirtschaft. This evening is at leisure.
Wednesday, August 27th
This morning, after breakfast- our specially arranged Mozart Music tour: we walk first to Mozart’s Wohnhaus, where the Mozarts moved, & first have a private showing of Mozart’s original Manuscripts with the Mozarteum curator at the “Autographenkeller”, and then see the Mozart family exhibits and musical instruments of his day. Then, we head to Mozart’s Birth House for a private concert by a Mozarteum Pianist on Mozart’s Piano there. After touring the house and other Mozart exhibits of his life and compositions, we’ll have Luncheon, at the traditional St. Peterskellar.
In the evening, we attend Rameau’s Castor et Pollux (Concert) at the Festival’s Felsenreitschule, built at the site of the former Salzburg Archbishop’s Riding Academy.
Thursday, August 28th
After Breakfast, today is free to walk through the nearby Mirabell Gardens and visit other Salzburg sights on our own.
In the evening, we’ll enter the Grosses Festspielhaus to attend the important Vienna Philharmonic Concert/Welser-Möst, performing Weinberg’s Symphony #2 for String Orchestra & Bruckner’s impressive 9th Symphony.
Friday, August 29th
Today, after Breakfast, we visit Schloss Hellbrunnn, the former Salzburg Archbishop’s Summer Home- seeing the Trick Fountains & Grottos he loved with his sense of humor, walk through the lovely Gardens & visit the Schloss Castle. Lunch will be served at its Gasthaus Hellbrunn.
In the evening, we attend Verdi’s Macbeth featuring Asmit Grigorian as Lady Macbeth, at the Festival’s Grosses Festspielhaus.
Saturday, August 30th
Today is free to shop or explore other Salzburg sights, perhaps visit the Fortress above the town.
This evening we’ll attend Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda., featuring Kate Lindsey and Lisette Osreposa, at the Festival’s Grosses Festspielhaus.
Sunday, August 31st
The day is free once again to explore the city or pre-pack for our journey to Vienna.
In the evening, we’ll drive to the traditional Goldener Hirsch for our Pre-Concert Dinner before strolling to the Grosses Festspielhaus ti attend the Festival Finale:
The Berlin Philharmonic Concert/Petrenko performing the massive Mahler 9th Symphony.
Monday, September 1st
After Breakfast, a full day in the Salzkammergut, the Lake country surrounding Salzburg.
–To Hallein to visit the famous Salt Mines. We then continue to the charming St. Gilgen Village, seeing Mozart’s Mother’s house, before our Boat Cruise on beautiful Lake Wolfgangsee to St. Wolfgang Village. There we tour the Pilgrimage Church with its impressive altars. Time to shop there, or have a light bite at the popular White Horse Inn, subject of a Viennese Operetta.
Then, to the charming Mondsee Village around its Lake, to see the Church where the wedding from “The Sound of Music” film took place.
Our Salzkammergut Excursion ends at the elegant 5-Star Deluxe Schloss Fuschl for our Farewell Salzburg Dinner at the Fuschl Terrace with a beautiful view of Lake Fuschl.
VIENNA
Tuesday, September 2nd
After Breakfast, we drive to Vienna, arriving at our Deluxe 5-Star Grand Hotel Wien.
Welcome Dinner is at the Grand’s Le Ciel Rotunde Restaurant at its top floor Terrace.
Wednesday, September 3rd
After Buffet Breakfast at the Grand, we meet Kathi Trost, our Viennese Guide for a stroll through the important sights on the Ring –before arriving at the Kunthistoriche Museum of Fine Arts to tour their impressive collections of Masterworks Paintings and other collections.
This evening, we stroll to the Vienna Staatsoper to attend the new acclaimed “Magic” production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
Thursday, September 4th
After Breakfast, we’ll visit the magnificent Hapsburg’ Schönbrunn Palace & Carriage Museum; and stroll through its magnificent Gardens, before returning to the Grand.
Our Traditional Viennese Luncheon with Beer is at the popular Gasthaus Zur Oper Restaurant.
This evening, we attend Verdi’s Otello (Byström; Sogomonyan Tézier) at the Vienna Staatsoper.
Friday, September 5th
Free day OR, An Optional Burgenland Excursion: Driving past Luxembourg Palace for a photo to Eisenstadt. We’ll stroll through the lovely park to visit Esterhazy Palace where Haydn performed for the Prince. We’ll also visit Haydn’s Museum where he composed several masterpieces.
We leave Esterhazy for the charming Rust Village for our Seaside Lunch at the Katamaran at Lake Neusiiedl, & then visit Rust’s Old Town Center seeing the numerous storks nests there.
This evening is free to enjoy Vienna at night
Saturday, September 6th
After Breakfast, our interesting history walking tour through Vienna’s 1st District, seeing Private Palaces & Courtyards, Mozart Figaro House, and Vienna’s Landmark- St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Next – Vienna’s House of Music seeing the history of its composers & the Vienna Philharmonic, with the opportunity to conduct the Philharmonic via an inter-active video.
This evening, Dinner is at the traditional Hotel Sacher ‘s Private Marble Hall. After Dinner, we attend a New Production of Tchaikovsky’ s Iolanta (Yoncheva; Popov) at the Vienna Staatsoper.
Sunday, September 7th
Our last day is free to explore other Vienna sites in Vienna; OR arrange attendance to either the Lippizaner’s Professional Spanish Horse Riding Performance with full dress and music; or
Attend Mass at Hofburg Chapel with the Vienna Choir Boys singing.
On our last evening, we drive to the Vienna Volksoper to attend our Finale Performance– Bizet’s Carmen.
Monday, September 8th
After Breakfast, we’ll each arrange Transfers to the Vienna Airport for our flights home.
[Note- Upon request, International Curtain Call can arrange: your transfer from the Salzburg Airport to our Hotel; and on departure from our Vienna Hotel to the Airport, at its cost.]
TO SECURE YOUR SPACE, please download the Tour Application in the “Reservations section” and return to us by mail, email or fax along with your check deposit of $2,000/pp plus the Single Supplement if applicable, payable to INTERNATIONAL CURTAIN CALL.
PRICE: $10,850; SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $2,180. AIR is additional, arranged Independently.
