SCHUBERT IN SCHWARZENBERG
Schwarzenberg, where the annual Schubertiade takes place, is a charming Austrian village with panoramic views over lush meadows to the Alps. Here, amidst the tranquil mountain scenery of the Bregenz Forest, musicians of international repute gather each year to perform a selection of Schubert’s music alongside work by other illustrious composers.
Amongst the major names gracing the late summer Schubertiade will be Christoph Prégardien, one of the foremost lyric tenors of his generation, and the German pianist Lars Vogt, hailed as “extraordinary” by Sir Simon Rattle. We will also attend two recitals by the astonishing – there is no other word – Thomas Quasthoff, who will sing Die Schöne Müllerin and Die Winterreise (Winter Journey). There will be music by Mozart, Elgar, Dvorak and Haydn and we will fête the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann with performances of his Dichterliebe (The Poet’s Love) and Fantasie Op 17, one of the finest examples of Romantic piano music.
The venue for the Schubertiade is the Angelika Kauffmann Hall, named after the distinguished 18th century Swiss painter and co-founder of the Royal Academy in London. Kauffmann spent her early years in Schwarzenberg, where, aged 16, she composed medallions of the apostles in the village church – returning 44 years later to paint the picture above the high altar.
Our itinerary includes excursions to Birnau, amongst the finest of all German Rococo pilgrimage churches, and the great Baroque monastery and superb library at St Gallen in Switzerland.
The village of Bezau, in the heart of the beautiful Bregenzerwald, makes an attractive base for local walks into the neighbouring countryside. We stay at the three-star Im Kloster guest-house, a delightfully restored former monastery near the centre of Bezau.
This tour will be led by Denis Moriarty MA (Oxon) a lecturer and former television producer with the BBC, where he specialised in producing documentaries on art, architecture and cultural history.
Itinerary
Day 1Depart Heathrow 1345 on Swiss for Zurich, arriving 1635. Transfer to Im Kloster, Bezau, for seven nights.
Day 2Morning: Schwarzenberg village church, Heimatmuseum (paintings by Kauffmann). Afternoon free. Evening concert with Thomas Quasthoff (baritone) and Justus Zeyen (piano): Die Schöne Müllerin.
Day 3Whole-day excursion to Lindau (on Lake Constance), picturesque Swabian towns of Birnau (famous Rococo pilgrimage church with sculpture by Peter Thumb) and Meersburg then by ferry to Bregenz (capital of Vorarlberg). Evening concert with Lars Vogt (piano): Schubert Piano Sonata D 894 , Schumann Fantasie Op 17.
Day 4Morning concert with Wiener Klaviertrio: Haydn Piano Trio No 30, Schumann Piano Trio Op 110, Schubert Piano Trio D 898 followed by lunch at Gasthof Alpenrose (mountain restaurant). Afternoon concert with Christoph Prégardien (tenor) and Michael Gees (piano): Schumann Dichterliebe (The Poet’s Love).
Day 5Morning concert with Lars Vogt (piano): Elgar Piano Quintet, Dvorak Piano Quintet Op 81 followed by Alpine walk. Evening concert with Thomas Quasthoff (baritone) and Justus Zeyen (piano): Winterreise.
Day 6Morning seminar followed by free time. Afternoon concert with Tokyo String Quartet: Schubert String Quartet D87, Mozart Prussian Quartet KV 575, Schumann String Quartet Op 41/3.
Day 7Whole-day excursion to St Gallen (Baroque monastery and library). Evening concert with Artemis Quartet: Beethoven String Quartets.
Day 8Depart for Zurich via Winterthur (Oskar Reinhart Collections) for return flight leaving 1700, arriving Heathrow 1745.
Cost includes: Cost of £1965 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, all performances, breakfast, dinner & one lunch, excursions & admissions.
Not included: Not Included: travel insurance. There is no single room supplement.
