Overview
The combination of music-making of the highest quality with a pre-Alpine mountain setting is a heady mix. Devotees of the Schubertiade return year after year; addiction is a distinct possibility. Add guided walks and visits in the surrounding area and top up with relaxation among ravishing upland scenery and this begins to sound like the recipe for the perfect holiday for music lovers.
It takes place in the Vorarlberg, the westernmost province of Austria, with all the concerts in the village of Schwarzenberg, described by the philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder as ‘the prettiest village in Europe’. Our tour is based in the neighbouring village of Mellau, seven miles away.
Day 1
Fly in the morning from London Heathrow to Zurich (British Airways). Drive through Switzerland and into Austria, arriving late afternoon at Mellau in the lovely upland landscape of the Bregenzerwald. All seven nights are spent in this very attractive village.
Day 2
Drive down to Feldkirch, a little town built at a narrowing of the valley of the River Ill. Historic buildings, arcaded streets and a network of alleys nestle beneath high limestone cliffs; a tour includes medieval defences, town hall and Gothic cathedral (altarpiece by Wolf Huber). Return to Mellau for a lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon Lieder recital with Andrè Schuen (baritone) and Daniel Heide (piano): Lieder by Strauss, Wagner, Von Zemlinsky. Followed by an evening chamber concert with Pavel Haas Quartet and Boris Giltburg (piano): Schubert, String Quartet in D minor, D810 ‘Der Tod und das Mädchen’; Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op.25.
Day 3
Drive to Schwarzenberg for a morning piano recital with Paul Lewis (piano): Beethoven, Sonata in C minor, Op.10/1; Mozart, Sonata in C, KV330; Brahms, Three Intermezzi, Op.117; Schubert, Sonata in B flat, D960. Return to Mellau for some free time, before driving back to Schwarzenberg for an evening Lieder recital with Konstantin Krimmel (baritone) and Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano): Schubert, ‘Die schöne Müllerin’, Op.25, D795.
Day 4
Optional excursion to the small town of Hohenhems, original location of the Schubertiade. Some free time here before returning to Mellau for an afternoon lecture. Drive to Schwarzenberg for an afternoon chamber concert with the Belcea Quartet: Felix Mendelssohn, Nos. 4 and 3 from ‘Four Pieces for String Quartet’, Op.81; Beethoven, String Quartet in F, Op.135; Mozart, String Quartet in C, KV465 ‘Dissonance’. Followed by an evening Lieder recital with Sophie Rennert (mezzo-soprano), Ludwig Mittelhammer (baritone), Joseph Middleton (piano): Lieder by Schumann and Schubert.
Day 5
Morning excursion to Bregenz, the regional capital located beside Lake Constance. Begin in the upper town, the picturesque older part, and walk down to the lake and visit the local history museum. Return to Mellau in the early afternoon for a lecture before driving to Schwarzenberg. Evening piano recital with Marc-André Hamelin (piano): Beethoven, ‘An die ferne Geliebte’, Lieder cycle Op.98; Schubert, Sonata in A, D959; Medtner, Improvisation in B flat minor, Op.31/1, Danza festiva, Op.38/3; Rachmaninow, Étude-Tableaux, Op.39/5, Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op.36.
Day 6
Optional walk on the Baumgartner Höhe: 4km (max 2½ hours), altitude gain 200m, a moderate walk with inclines and terrific views and starting and ending with a funicular ride. Return to Mellau to refresh before driving to Schwarzenberg for an evening Lieder recital with Konstantin Krimmel (baritone), Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano): Schubert, ‘Winterreise’, Op.89.
Day 7
Homeward journey. Stop at Winterthur to see the Old Master and Impressionist paintings of the Oskar Reinhart Collection, beautifully displayed in the collector’s home in the woods outside the city. Fly from Zurich, arriving at London Heathrow at c. 6.45pm
Richard Wigmore
Music writer, lecturer and broadcaster for BBC Radio 3. He writes for BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone and has taught classes in Lieder history and interpretation at the Guildhall, Trinity College of Music and Birkbeck College. He read French and German at Cambridge and later studied Music at the Guildhall. His publications include Schubert: The Complete Song Texts and Pocket Guide to Haydn. Twitter: @wigmoresworld | Website: wigmoresworld.co.uk
Price, per person
Two sharing: £4,680 or £4,450 without flights. Single occupancy: £4,950 or £4,720 without flights.
Included
Air travel (Euro Traveller) on British Airways flights (Airbus A320); private coach throughout; accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 5 dinners with wine; all admissions; all tips for restaurant staff, drivers, guides; all taxes; the services of the lecturer.
Music
First category tickets to 8 performances are included.
Accommodation
Hotel Sonne, Mellau: 4-star hotel, modern and functional with a pleasant atmosphere and very helpful staff. All rooms are doubles. There is a swimming pool and restaurant. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.
How strenuous?
There is some walking through towns and over uneven ground. The optional walk is rated moderate and participants wishing to take part should bring appropriate walking footwear. Average distance by coach per day: 55 miles.
Are you fit enough to join the tour?
Group size
Between 10 and 24 participants.
Travel advice
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
'The lecturer is blessed with the magical blend of musical knowledge and sociability.'
'The music was of the very highest quality – excellent seats in the concert hall.'
'A truly wonderful holiday… I think it was worth every penny!'
'We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience, which managed to successfully combine significant musical and intellectual stimulation with a relaxing and very pleasurable holiday in a lovely location.'