ITINERARY

DAY 1 | Thursday 24 July 2025

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT LOUIS HOTEL MUNICH

ARRIVE MUNICH (D):

Arrive at our luxurious and centrally-located 5-star hotel, LOUIS Hotel Munich, in the heart of Munich’s Old Town, and next to the bustling Viktualienmarkt, a thriving farmer’s market, which has been held daily since 1807. Hotel check-in is at 3:00pm and we recommend arriving at this time.

In the evening we meet for a delicious dinner of local specialities and for an introduction by our Tour Leader, Guy Noble, who will outline what is to come during the tour.

DAY 2 | Friday 25 July 2025

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT LOUIS HOTEL MUNICH

EXPLORING MUNICH & MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL (B):

This morning our Tour Leader, Guy Noble, adds to our pleasure in the evening’s performance with an informative talk about the music we will hear.

Following our talk, we have a guided walking tour of the architecturally fascinating city of Munich. Our tour takes us to famous city landmarks, such as the Viktualienmarkt, with its stalls of gourmet Bavarian food and the Frauenkirche, Munich’s well-known Cathedral. We are also taken to see Marienplatz, the city’s central square, and the decorative buildings that surround it such as the Neues Rathaus, the neo-gothic New Town Hall, and the Altes Rathaus, the elegant Old Town Hall.

The late afternoon is free, to rest before the evening’s opera, or possibly to explore further some of the places we discovered this morning.

We then attend our first performance at the prestigious Munich Opera Festival, with Richard Wagner’s epic prelude to the Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold performed at the Bavarian State Opera under the baton of Vladimir Jurowski, general music director of the Bayerische Staatsoper since 2021.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL, BAVARIAN STATE OPERA, 7:00pm
Richard Wagner Das Rheingold

Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Tobias Kratzer director
Nicholas Brownlee Wotan
Milan Siljanov Donner
Ian Koziara Froh
Sean Panikkar Loge
Martin Winkler Alberich
Matthias Klink Mime
Matthew Rose Fasolt
Timo Riihonen Fafner
Ekaterina Gubanova Fricka
Mirjam Mesak Freia
Natalie Lewis Erda
Sarah Brady Woglinde
Verity Wingate Wellgunde
Yajie Zhang Floßhilde

DAY 3 | Saturday 26 July 2025

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT LOUIS HOTEL MUNICH

MUNICH, ALTE PINAKOTHEK & MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL (B, L):

This morning begins with our second talk from Guy Noble on the opera we will hear this evening.

We then have a guided tour of the Alte Pinakothek, one of the oldest art galleries in the world, which houses 700 works of European painting from the 14th to the 18th centuries including works by Albrecht Dürer, Peter Paul Rubens and Leonardo da Vinci.

Following our guided tour, time is allowed for further exploration of this fascinating gallery. After our visit, we enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch, before returning to our hotel.

The late afternoon is free to rest before this evening’s performance; however, you may want to use this time to explore Munich further. You can visit the Deutsches Museum with the world’s largest science and technology collection, which is a 25-minute walk from our hotel, and picturesquely situated on an island in the Saar River, or take a wander to the English Garden, also about a 25-minute walk from the hotel.

This evening, we attend our second performance at the Munich Opera Festival, Antonin Dvořák’s Rusalka.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL, BAVARIAN STATE OPERA, 7:00pm
Antonín Dvořák Rusalka

Edward Gardner conductor
Martin Kušej director
Pavol Breslik The Prince
Elena Guseva The Foreign Princess
Asmik Grigorian Rusalka
Christof Fischesser The Water Goblin
Okka von der Damerau The Witch
Kevin Conners The Forester
Ekaterine Buachidze The Kitchen Boy
Mirjam Mesak 1. Forest Nymph
Arnheidur Eiríksdóttir 2. Forest Nymph
Natalie Lewis 3. Forest Nymph
Vitor Bispo Hunter

DAY 4 | SUNDAY 27 July 2025

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT LOUIS HOTEL MUNICH

MUNICH RESIDENZ & MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL (B):

We gather together in the morning for Guy Noble’s talk on Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin, which we will attend this evening.

Later in the morning, we visit the Munich Residenz for a private guided tour of this sprawling palace. The Munich Residence served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918. What began in 1385 as a castle in the north-eastern corner of the city (the Neuveste, or new citadel), was transformed by the rulers over the centuries into a magnificent palace, its buildings and gardens extending further and further into the town. Much of the Residence was destroyed during the Second World War, and from 1945 it was gradually reconstructed.

This evening we attend our third performance as part of the annual Munich Opera Festival, Wagner’s epic Lohengrin.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - MUNICH OPERA FESTIVAL, BAVARIAN STATE OPERA, 5:00pm
Richard Wagner Lohengrin

Sebastian Weigle conductor
Kornél Mundruczó director
René Pape Heinrich der Vogler
Piotr Beczała Lohengrin
Rachel Willis-Sørensen Elsa von Brabant
Wolfgang Koch Friedrich von Telramund
Anja Kampe Ortrud
Kostas Smoriginas The King's Herald
Granit Musliu, Samuel Stopford, Yosif Slavov, Bruno Khouri Four Noblemen of Brabant

DAY 5 | MONDAY 28 July 2025

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT MGALLERY GRAND HOTEL BREGENZ

MUNICH TO BREGENZ VIA OTTOBEUREN (B, D):

This morning is free to enjoy the nearby sites of Munich for one last time, before we set off through the impressive countryside to the Alpine city of Bregenz. You might like to pick up lunch at the Viktualienmarkt before we depart.

On arrival in Bregenz, we check in to our comfortable 4-star hotel, MGallery Grand Hotel Bregenz, situated on the shore of Lake Constance, and overlooking the site of the Bregenz Festival and its lake stage, home to the performances of this year’s opera, Der Freischütz.

Guests might like to attend an optional performance at the Bregenz Festival this evening, George Enescu’s opera Œdipe, performed in the Großer Saal of the Festspielhaus.

OPTIONAL OPERA PERFORMANCE - BREGENZ FESTIVAL, GROẞER SAAL, FESTSPIELHAUS, 7:30pm
George Enescu Œdipe

Hannu Lintu conductor
Andreas Kriegenburg director
Johan Reuter Œdipe
Ante Jerkunica Tirésias
Tuomas Pursio Créon
Mihails Čuļpajevs Le Berger
Nika Guliashvili Le Grand Prêtre
Vazgen Gazaryan Phorbas / Le Veilleur
Nikita Ivasechko Thésée
Michael Heim Laïos
Marina Prudenskaya Jocaste
Anna Danik La Sphinge
Iris Candelaria Antigone
Tone Kummervold Mérope
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Wiener Symphoniker

DAY 6 | TUESDAY 29 July 2025

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT MGALLERY GRAND HOTEL BREGENZ

EXPLORING BREGENZ (B):

This morning we have a guided walking tour that includes the historic Old Town, where many streets and buildings have preserved their charm and old-world character, and there are remnants of the 13th-century town walls. Following the tour, we enjoy a delicious group lunch at one of Bregenz’s finest dining establishments. After lunch, you might like to take an independent trip up the Bregenz Pfänderbahn for spectacular views of the lakeside town and Bodensee, or return to the hotel.

Later this afternoon, we explore behind-the-scenes of the Bregenz Festival with an exclusive backstage tour. The tour includes the chance to see close-up the world’s largest floating stage, and to see what it takes to stage an opera on one of the world’s most ambitious settings.

Following our guided tour of the Lake Stage, the evening is free.

DAY 7 | WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2025

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT MGALLERY GRAND HOTEL BREGENZ

BREGENZ, LINDAU & BREGENZ FESTIVAL (B):

Today we take a ferry trip on spectacular Lake Constance, which, fed by the Rhine River, borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We alight at the picturesque German island-town of Lindau. Here we enjoy a private guided tour which leads us along narrow cobblestone streets to Medieval merchant houses, and which explains a little of the fascinating history of the town, pointing out such features as the 12th-century Mangenturm, the former watchtower near the harbour front, and the Gothic Altes Rathaus, the Old Town Hall, with its beautiful painted façade. Following the tour, time is allowed to explore Lindau and to have lunch. We then return by ferry to Bregenz.

In the early evening, Guy Noble gives a talk on the opera we will hear in the evening’s performance, Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz. We then attend a performance at the Bregenz Festival on the stunning Lake Stage.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - BREGENZ FESTIVAL, LAKE STAGE, 9:15pm
Carl Maria von Weber Der Freischütz

Patrik Ringborg, Christoph Altstaedt conductor
Philipp Stölzl Stage director
Johannes Kammler Ottokar
Franz Hawlata, Raimund Nolte Kuno
Mandy Fredrich, Elissa Huber Agathe
Hanna Herfurtner, Gloria Rehm, Katharina Ruckgaber Ännchen
David Steffens, Oliver Zwarg Kaspar
Thomas Blondelle, Attilio Glaser, Mauro Peter Max
Moritz von Treuenfels, Niklas Wetzel Samiel
Frederic Jost, Andreas Wolf A Hermit
Maximilian Krummen, Philippe Spiegel Kilian
Bregenzer Festspiele Choir
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Wiener Symphoniker

DAY 8 | THURSDAY 31 July 2025

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

BREGENZ TO VERBIER VIA BERN (B, D):

Following breakfast at the hotel, we check out of our hotel and depart for the Swiss capital city of Bern. On arrival, time is allowed for an independent visit and for guests to get lunch. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, Bern’s medieval centre has 6km of covered arcades and cellar shops and bars descending from the streets. After a devastating fire in 1405, the wooden city was rebuilt in today’s familiar sandstone. Bern’s clock tower, Zytglogge, is a focal point; with crowds congregating to watch its revolving figures twirl at four minutes before the hour, after which the actual chimes begin. We then continue our journey through the Swiss countryside and up into the Alps to Verbier.

Following our arrival into the centre of Verbier, and checking in at our comfortable Swiss hotel, we depart for the first of our performances at the Verbier Festival, an incredible opportunity to hear superstar conductor Teodor Currentzis and legendary pianist Mikhaïl Pletnev in concert. Launched in 1994, and now globally renowned, the Verbier Festival welcomes audiences from around the globe who come to experience music-making at the highest level in a setting that brings them closer to star performers and rising talent.

SYMPHONIC CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, SALLES DES COMBINS, 6:30pm

Verbier Festival Orchestra
Teodor Currentzis conductor
Mikhaïl Pletnev piano

Tchaikovsky The Voyevoda Op. 78
Tchaikovsky Concert Fantasia for piano and orchestra in G major Op. 56
Interval
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

DAY 9 | Friday 1 August 2025

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

EXPLORING VERBIER & VERBIER FESTIVAL (B):

This morning begins with a talk on the music for the performances we will attend today at the Verbier Festival. Following our morning talk, we make the short walk to the Église de Verbier for this morning’s Festival performance, featuring the outstanding French string quartet, Quatuor Ébène, and the brilliant clarinettist Martin Fröst.

CHAMBER CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, ÉGLISE DE VERBIER, 11:00am

Quatuor Ébène
Martin Fröst clarinet

Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A major K. 581
Interval
Tchaikovsky String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat minor, Op. 30

Following this morning’s performance, we gather for a delicious group lunch to mark our arrival into this beautiful Swiss Alpine village.

Time is then allowed for an independent exploration of the beautiful village of Verbier. For those adventurous sorts in the group, you might like to take the gondola from the nearby Verbier / Médran station up to Les Ruinettes Verbier hiking area, for spectacular mountain views of the surrounding peaks and lush green valleys.

This evening, there is an optional performance as part of the Verbier Festival, a chamber music concert back at the Église de Verbier showcasing upcoming names in classical music, performing two great chamber works written by pioneers in the musical development of their respective countries, Glinka and Elgar.

For guests not attending the optional performance, the evening is free.

OPTIONAL CHAMBER CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, ÉGLISE DE VERBIER, 7:30pm

Randall Goosby violin
Paloma So violin
Máté Szücs viola
Anastasia Kobekina cello
Edgar Moreau cello
Brendan Kane double bass
Isata Kanneh-Mason piano
Alexander Malofeev piano

Glinka Grand Sextet in E-flat major
Interval
Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84

DAY 10 | SATURDAY 2 August 2025

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

VERBIER FESTIVAL (B):

We begin this morning with another talk on the music for the performances we will attend today. Following this presentation, we make the short walk to the Église de Verbier for this morning’s Festival performance. After more than two weeks of intensive rehearsals and concerts, the pianists, violinists, violists, and cellists of the Verbier Festival Academy’s Soloists Programme come together for a chamber music recital. This concert celebrates the passion and talent of these young artists, marking the beginning of the Festival’s final weekend.

CHAMBER CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, ÉGLISE DE VERBIER, 11:00am

VF Academy Soloists
Program To be Announced

Time is then allowed to continue your exploration of beautiful Verbier.

This evening, we attend the second of our evening concerts at Salles des Combins.

SYMPHONIC CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, SALLES DES COMBINS, 6:30pm

Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra
Teodor Currentzis conductor
Marc Bouchkov violin

Richard Strauss Metamorphosen
Pēteris Vasks Distant Light, Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra
Interval
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major Op. 90, Italian

DAY 11 | SUNDAY 3 August 2025

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT HÔTEL LE VANESSA, VERBIER

VERBIER FESTIVAL (B, L):

This morning, we enjoy our final presentation on the music from our Tour Leader Guy Noble. We then depart for one of Verbier’s top dining destinations to enjoy our farewell tour lunch together.

In the evening, we head back to the Salles des Combins for the final gala Festival performance, guaranteed to play us out with a bang.

SYMPHONIC CONCERT - VERBIER FESTIVAL, SALLES DES COMBINS, 6:30pm

Verbier Festival Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor
Khatia Buniatishvili piano

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor Op. 23
Interval
Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D major, Titan

Following this final festival performance, we return to our hotel.

DAY 12 | MONDAY 4 August 2025

TOUR ENDS (B):

Following our final breakfast at the hotel, the tour concludes. There will be an optional coach transfer to Geneva Airport and Geneva Central Train Station following breakfast.

Please note: There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on the final confirmation of performances.

INCLUSIONS

24 JULY–4 AUgust 2025 (12 DAYS)

AUD$14,550 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$3,900
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 24 March 2025)
Final payment due: 21 May 2025

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium tickets for three performances at the Munich Opera Festival; premium tickets to an opera performance at the Bregenz Festival; premium tickets to five performances at the Verbier Festival.
  Please note: The venues and festivals will announce their 2025 seasons later in 2024. There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on final confirmation of evening performances.

• Tour Leaders and Talks: Tour leadership and six exclusive private talks by Guy Noble.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Hotels: 11 nights' accommodation in 4-star and 5-star hotels including:

  • Four nights at the 5-star LOUIS Hotel Munich in a Market View Deluxe room;

  • Three nights at the 4-star MGallery Grand Hotel Bregenz in an Executive Room with Terrace;

  • Four nights at the 4-star Hôtel Le Vanessa in a Junior Suite;

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour. There will be an optional coach transfer to Geneva Airport and Geneva Central Train Station following breakfast on the final day of the tour.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc. as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides will be used at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.

• Special Taxes: Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will endeavour to advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart.

• Visas: Costs associated with obtaining visas for countries visited on your tour. From mid-2025, travellers entering European countries will be required to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation. For further information on ETIAS applications visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

• Travel Insurance: Please note that you are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for the duration of your tour. If you live in Australia, Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 2

All members of the tour must have the ability to:

• undertake walking tours of two-three hours duration, including using stairs and walking on uneven ground;

• stand for long periods in museum, art galleries etc;

• climb staircases of 100 or more steps;

• embark / disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

Munich, Bregenz & Verbier Festivals

SOLD OUT | WAITLIST ONLY

This tour is now sold out. To register your place on the waitlist, please fill out the form below, or contact us on 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or contact@hayllarmusictours.com