The Schubertiade - Music and mountains in the Vorarlberg

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.

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.

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.

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.

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; Rachmaninoff, Étude-Tableaux, Op.39/5, Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op.36.

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.

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.