ITINERARY

DAY 1 | TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2027

1ST OF 6 NIGHTS AT STEIGENBERGER ICON EUROPÄISCHER HOF BADEN-BADEN

OPTIONAL TRANSFER FROM FRANKFURT CENTRAL STATION TO BADEN-BADEN, ARRIVE BADEN-BADEN (D):

There is an optional coach transfer from Frankfurt Central Station at 1:00pm to Baden-Baden, or guests can arrive independently in Baden-Baden.

We arrive and check in at the stylish and luxurious 5-star Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden conveniently located in the heart of picturesque Baden-Baden. Hotel check-in is at 3:00pm and we recommend arriving at this time if guests are not using the optional coach transfer from Frankfurt.

In the early evening we meet our Tour Leader, Professor Julian Johnson, at the hotel’s beautiful rooftop bar for a welcome drinks reception. We then make our way to one of Baden-Baden’s premier dining destinations for our gourmet welcome dinner.

DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2027

2ND OF 6 NIGHTS AT STEIGENBERGER ICON EUROPÄISCHER HOF BADEN-BADEN

WALKING TOUR OF BADEN-BADEN & BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL (B):

This morning, our Tour Leader Julian Johnson delivers his first pre-performance talk about the concert we will attend this evening, our first at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival.

Following our morning talk, we get our bearings with a private guided walking tour of Baden-Baden. Nestled on the edge of the Black Forest, Baden-Baden has been celebrated for its thermal springs since Roman times, when it was known as Aquae Aureliae. During the 19th century, the town flourished as one of Europe’s most fashionable spa resorts, attracting aristocrats, artists and composers including Johannes Brahms, Clara Schumann and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Elegant hotels, grand villas and the famous Kurhaus Baden-Baden transformed the town into a glittering cultural centre. Today, Baden-Baden remains renowned for its refined atmosphere, thermal baths and rich musical and architectural heritage.

This afternoon, time is allowed to continue your exploration of the charming town centre.

In the early evening, we make our way to the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus for our first Festival performance.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 1, 6:00pm
Baden-Baden Festspielhaus

Robert Schumann Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38
Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

DAY 3 | THURSDAY 25 MARCH 2027

3RD OF 6 NIGHTS AT STEIGENBERGER ICON EUROPÄISCHER HOF BADEN-BADEN

DAY TRIP TO GENGENBACH & BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL (B, L):

This morning, we travel to the charming and historic town of Gengenbach, in the heart of the Black Forest. Set amid the rolling vineyards and forested hills of the Black Forest, Gengenbach is one of Germany’s most charming medieval towns. With its half-timbered houses, cobbled streets and beautifully preserved old town, Gengenbach feels like a step back in time. The town’s origins date to the 13th century, and its historic market square, elegant towers and Baroque buildings create a wonderfully picturesque atmosphere.

Following our walking tour, we enjoy a delicious lunch together in one of the town’s wonderful restaurants.

In the afternoon, we return to Baden-Baden.

Before departing for our evening Festival performance, we enjoy the second of our pre-performance talks from Julian Johnson. We then depart for the Festspielhaus for our evening concert.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 2, 6:00pm
Baden-Baden Festspielhaus

Robert Schumann Overture to Manfred, Op. 115
Jean Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

Renaud Capuçon violin
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

DAY 4 | FRIDAY 26 MARCH 2027 (GOOD FRIDAY)

4TH OF 6 NIGHTS AT STEIGENBERGER ICON EUROPÄISCHER HOF BADEN-BADEN

GUIDED TOUR OF SCHLOSS RASTATT & BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL (B):

Following our morning talk on the concerts we will attend today, we depart for the nearby town of Rastatt. Rising gracefully above the town sits Schloss Rastatt, where we will enjoy an exclusive private guided tour. Completed in 1707, Rastatt Castle was commissioned by Margrave Louis William of Baden-Baden, famed as the ‘Turkish Louis’ for his victories against the Ottoman Empire. Inspired by the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles, Schloss Rastatt became the first Baroque residence along the Upper Rhine and a symbol of dynastic power and prestige. Designed by Italian architect Domenico Egidio Rossi, the castle features lavish apartments, ceremonial halls and formal gardens.

Following our visit, we return to Baden-Baden and attend two festival performances in the afternoon and evening.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 3, 3:00pm
Venue TBC

The program for the Baden-Baden Easter Festival chamber music performances will be announced later in 2026.

Following the afternoon chamber concert, time is allowed for an independent dinner. We then attend the evening performance.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 4, 6:00pm
Baden-Baden Festspielhaus

Ludwig van Beethoven Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem K. 626

Joana Mallwitz conductor
Alice Sara Ott piano
Regula Mühlemann soprano
Marina Viotti mezzo-soprano
Sebastian Kohlhepp tenor
Philharmonia Choir Vienna
Mahler Chamber Orchestra

DAY 5 | SATURDAY 27 MARCH 2027

5TH OF 6 NIGHTS AT STEIGENBERGER ICON EUROPÄISCHER HOF BADEN-BADEN

GUIDED TOUR OF BRAHMS HOUSE & BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL (B, L):

This morning, we enjoy our morning talk on the music we will hear in this evening’s concert.

We then make the short journey to the nearby Brahms House. Tucked away in the small town of nearby Lichtental, the Brahms House offers a fascinating insight into the life and work of Johannes Brahms. The composer spent many summers here between 1865 and 1874, finding inspiration in the tranquillity of the Black Forest surroundings. It was within this modest residence that Brahms composed some of his most celebrated works, including parts of his German Requiem and several chamber masterpieces. This morning, we will explore intimate rooms filled with manuscripts, portraits and period furnishings, gaining a deeper appreciation of one of the 19th century’s greatest musical figures. Please note, that due to the size of the house, we may be split into two groups for this visit.

Following our tour of Brahms House, we return to Baden-Baden for a delicious group lunch at another of the town’s top restaurants.

This evening, we return to the Festspielhaus for our evening performance.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 5, 6:00pm
Baden-Baden Festspielhaus

Jörg Widmann Sonatina Facile for piano
Sergei Prokofiev 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Fantasia in C minor, K. 396 (completed by Maximilian Stadler)
Sergei Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 8 in B major, Op. 84

Seong-Jin Cho piano

DAY 6 | SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2027 (EASTER SUNDAY)

6TH OF 6 NIGHTS AT STEIGENBERGER ICON EUROPÄISCHER HOF BADEN-BADEN

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL (B):

As today is Easter Sunday, our morning is free for anyone who might like to attend the Easter service at the Stiftskirche Baden-Baden. We will notify guests as soon as we have the Easter service schedule from the church. Or you might like to take this final opportunity to stroll around Baden-Baden.

This afternoon, following our pre-performance talk, we enjoy our final two performances at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 6, 3:00pm
Venue TBC

The program for the Baden-Baden Easter Festival chamber music performances will be announced later in 2026.

Following the afternoon chamber concert, time is allowed for an independent dinner. We then return to the Festspielhaus for our final evening performance, an opera performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio.

BADEN-BADEN EASTER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 7, 6:00pm
Baden-Baden Festspielhaus

Ludwig van Beethoven Fidelio

Joana Mallwitz musical direction
Krzysztof Warlikowski director
Małgorzata Szczęśniak stage design and costumes
Felice Ross lighting
Claude Bardouil choreography
Christian Longchamp dramaturgy
Vera-Lotte Boecker Leonore
Sean Panikkar Florestan
Manuel Winckhler Don Fernando
Johannes Martin Kränzle Don Pizarro
Franz-Josef Selig Rocco
Chelsea Zurflüh Marcelline
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Philharmonia Choir Vienna

DAY 7 | MONDAY 29 MARCH 2027 (EASTER MONDAY)

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL MUNICH

BADEN-BADEN TO MUNICH VIA ULM & ULM MINSTER (B, D):

This morning, we depart Baden-Baden for our journey to Munich. On our way, we break our journey with a stop in the historic town of Ulm. Situated on the banks of the Danube, the historic city of Ulm is celebrated for its medieval streets, half-timbered houses and rich cultural heritage. Dominating the skyline is the magnificent Ulm Minster, home to the second tallest church steeple in the world, soaring an extraordinary 161 metres above the city. Begun in the 14th century, this Gothic masterpiece is renowned for its intricate stone carvings, beautiful stained glass and breathtaking panoramic views from the tower summit, for anyone brave enough to scale the 768 steps to the summit. On arrival, we enjoy a fascinating guided tour of this incredible church.

Following our guided tour, time is allowed to stroll the streets of Ulm and to pick up an independent lunch.

We then continue our journey to Munich, where, on arrival, we check in to our stylish 5-star hotel and our home for the next leg of our tour, the Mandarin Oriental Munich. The late afternoon is free to settle in and acquaint ourselves with Munich.

We come together in the evening for a gourmet introduction to Munich.

DAY 8 | TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2027

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL MUNICH

EXPLORING MUNICH & MUNICH RESIDENZ (B):

This morning, 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.

Time is allowed for lunch, and in the afternoon, 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.

The evening is free.

DAY 9 | WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2027

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL MUNICH

ALTE PINAKOTHEK & OPERA AT MUNICH NATIONAL THEATRE (B, L):

This morning begins with our final talk from Julian Johnson 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.

Following our visit, we enjoy a farewell lunch together, to say goodbye to our fellow guests and mark the end of our time together in Germany.

This evening, we journey to the impressive Munich National Theatre, home to the Bavarian State Opera, where we will attend the final performance of the tour. Along with Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, Mazeppa is the second of Tchaikovsky’s three operas based on texts by Alexander Pushkin – and the least well-known, outside the Russian-speaking world at any rate. Its story, based on historical events some 300 years ago, recounts an explosive conflict between numerous nationalities (Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, Swedes, Turks and Tatars) with a charismatic leader at its core – Mazeppa, the Cossack Hetman, hailed as a national hero in today’s Ukraine.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - MUNICH NATIONAL THEATRE, 7:00pm
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Mazeppa

Timur Zangiev conductor
Dmitri Tcherniakov director
Elena Zaytseva costume designer
Gleb Filshtinsky lighting
Christoph Heil chorusmaster
Tatiana Werestchagina, Malte Krasting dramaturg
Vladislav Sulimsky Mazeppa
Alexander Tsymbalyuk Kotschubej
Ekaterina Gubanova Ljubow
Olga Kulchynska Maria
Bekhzod Davronov Andrej
Alexei Botnarciuc Orlik
Anton Rositskii Iskra
Alexey Dolgov A drunken Kosak
Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Chorus of the Bayerische Staatsoper

DAY 10 | THURSDAY 1 APRIL 2027

TOUR ENDS (B):

Following our final breakfast at the hotel, the tour concludes.

INCLUSIONS

23 MARCH–1 April 2027 (10 DAYS)

AUD$14,950 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$2,770
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$2,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$2,500 per person (due on 23 November 2026)
Final payment due: 18 January 2027

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium tickets to seven performances at the prestigious Baden-Baden Easter Festival 2027 and one opera performance at Munich’s National Theatre.

• Tour Leader and Talks: Tour Leadership and exclusive background talks by Professor Julian Johnson.

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

• Hotel: 9 nights' accommodation in 5-star hotels including:

  • Six nights at the elegant and centrally located Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden in a Deluxe Room;

  • Three nights at the stylish 5-star Mandarin Oriental, Munich in a Deluxe King Room;

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach. An optional coach transfer from Frankfurt Central Station at the start of the tour.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee. A welcome drinks reception in Baden-Baden.

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

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and 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 tours. These 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.

• Entry into Europe: ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026. No action is required from travellers at this point. The European Union will confirm the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.

• 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.

LEVEL TWO

For the benefit of the tour group, all members of the tour must have the ability to:

• negotiate airports and railway stations without wheelchair assistance;

• use a combined shower/bath (please note that we cannot guarantee walk-in shower facilities at all hotels);

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

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

• embark / disembark coaches, trains, boats 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.

BADEN-BADEN & THE BLACK FOREST