The Schubertiade - Music and mountains in the Vorarlberg
7
days
from
£4,450
22nd August 2025
- Amid the superb mountain scenery of the Vorarlberg, the Schubertiade is one of the most prestigious and enjoyable festivals in Europe.
- Musicians of the highest calibre perform including the Pavel Haas Quartet, Konstantin Krimmel, Marc-André Hamelin, Sophie Rennert.
- Excursions to historic towns in the vicinity and an optional hill walk, but time also to relax among ravishing upland scenery.
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.
Itinerary
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.
Expert speaker
Mr 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
Practicalities
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.
First category tickets to 8 performances are included.
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.
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.
Between 10 and 24 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
2025
Date
Speaker
Price
15
Date:
22nd - 28th August 2025
Speaker:
Mr Richard Wigmore
Price:
£4,450 ex flights
£4,680 inc flights
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“The music was memorable. A never-to-be-forgotten experience. Would I go again? Absolutely!
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“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.
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“A wonderful lecturer – we often have heard of him and he never disappoints. His talks enhanced the concerts a great deal.
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“Wonderful. I cannot think of any way it could be improved.
”
