BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL IN LEIPZIG 2027

10–24 MAY 2027 (15 DAYS) | 18 INCREDIBLE CONCERTS AS PART OF THE GEWANDHAUS ORCHESTRA’S BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL, DAY TRIPS TO DRESDEN & WEIMAR, FASCINATING GUIDED TOURS & INSIGHTFUL TALKS ABOUT BEETHOVEN

Join us in 2027 for an unforgettable musical journey to Leipzig, the city where music lives in every street, church spire and concert hall, as we celebrate the Beethoven Festival at the magnificent Gewandhaus Leipzig. Marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, the festival promises an extraordinary gathering of world-class artists, orchestral performances, chamber music and special events dedicated to one of history’s most revolutionary composers.

AUD$14,250 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

LOYALTY CLUB PRICE: AUD$$13,537.50

Single supplement: AUD$2,650
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 11 January 2027)
Final payment due: 8 March 2027

PLACES AVAILABLE

OVERVIEW

• Premium seats to seven performances at the prestigious Baden-Baden Easter Festival 2027, featuring:

  • The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and their Chief Conductor designate Klaus Mäkelä;

  • The Mahler Chamber Orchestra with conductor Joana Mallwitz;

  • Soloists including Renaud Capuçon, Alice Sara Ott, Vera-Lotte Boecker and Seong-Jin Cho.

• Premium seats to a performance of Tchaikovsky’s opera Mazeppa at Munich’s National Theatre, starring Ekaterina Gubanova and Vladislav Sulimsky.

• Tour leadership and exclusive private talks by Professor Julian Johnson about each of the performances we attend.

• A private guided walking tour of historic Baden-Baden, taking in such sights as the Trinkhalle, Kurhaus, the statue of Otto Fürst von Bismarck and the Stiftskirche Baden-Baden.

• A private guided walking tour of the charming town of Gengenbach in the heart of the Black Forest.

• A guided tour of Schloss Rastatt, a magnificent Baroque residence offering a glimpse into the grandeur of Germany’s aristocratic past.

• A guided tour of the charming Brahms House near Baden-Baden, where the composer lived for 9 years.

• A guided tour of Ulm Minster, the second tallest church in the world, on our way from Baden-Baden to Munich.

• A private guided walking tour of historic Munich, taking in such sights as the Viktualienmarkt, Frauenkirche, Marienplatz and the Altes and Neues Rathaus.

• A private guided tour of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, one of the oldest art galleries in the world.

• A guided walking tour of the Munich Residenz, which served as the residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918.

• Six nights staying at the stylish 5-star Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden Baden, located in the heart of beautiful Baden-Baden.

• Three nights staying at the luxurious 5-star Mandarin Oriental in Munich.

• A welcome dinner and other delicious meals as listed in the itinerary, at restaurants carefully selected by Hayllar Music Tours.

• Travel in a small group (maximum 20 people) giving you the opportunity to get to know your fellow guests and to enjoy one-on-one time with your expert Tour Leader.

TOUR LEADER

Graham Abbott

Sydney-born Graham Abbott is a Music Education graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium and later studied conducting with Myer Fredman. His 40-year conducting career saw him work with all the major Australian orchestras, opera companies and choirs. He was Conductor-in-Residence at the University of Adelaide (1986-88), Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1993-97), and Musical Director of Melbourne Chorale (now MSO Chorus) (1994-97). In 1997, Graham was acting Chorus Master of the Chorus of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, during which time he conducted concerts with the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Ulster Orchestra.

Graham’s opera repertoire included The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Fidelio, The Barber of Seville, La traviata, Il trovatore, Un ballo in maschera, Aida, L'Elisir d'amore, Don Pasquale, The Pearl Fishers, and Pelléas et Mélisande. He was also Assistant Conductor for the Australian premiere season of John Adams’ Nixon in China at the 1992 Adelaide Festival. A lifelong passion for the life and work of Handel saw Graham conduct Messiah more than 80 times in Australia, the UK and New Zealand. His repertoire also included many of the composer’s oratorios and operas, and much of his orchestral and church music. Graham Abbott retired from conducting at the end of 2024.

Graham is also one of Australia's most highly-respected music educators. He produced and presented Keys to Music on ABC Classic from 2003 to 2017 and has worked as a speaker, teacher and examiner around Australia. He also established Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Unwrap the Music series and continued to present and conduct that series until 2022. He has worked as a tour leader for Hayllar Music Tours since 2018 and now regularly leads tours for the company within Australia and internationally. Graham received a Special Conductor’s Award in the 1995 Melbourne Green Room Awards marking his debut with Opera Australia conducting Handel’s Julius Caesar for the company. And in 2007 he was awarded the Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award by the University of Melbourne in recognition of his services to Australian music as both conductor and educator.

Hotel

STEIGENBERGER GRANDHOTEL HANDELSHOF, LEIPZIG

Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof is a modern luxury hotel behind the historical facade of the former exhibition building. It is perfectly located in Leipzig’s city centre, a short walk from St Thomas Church, St Nicholas Church, the Old Town Hall and historic Naschmarkt. The hotel’s restaurant, Brasserie Le Grand, offers cuisine considered to be the jewel in the crown of Leipzig’s culinary landscape. In the Vinotek you can enjoy a wine tasting in a very special atmosphere. There is also a bar offering drinks, cocktails and a selection of snacks. The hotel has a Spa & Wellness Centre, which includes a sauna, steam bath and a fitness gym.

The tour cost includes a Superior Room.

If you would like hotel upgrade options please contact us on 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181.

10–24 MAY 2027 (15 DAYS)

AUD$14,250 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$2,650

PLACES AVAILABLE