A Musical Christmas:
Prague & Vienna

OVERVIEW

The festive season in Europe is a delight: Christmas markets, picture-postcard towns surrounded by snow-covered peaks, and, of course, performances appropriate to the season. This 12-day tour brings you the best of Prague and Vienna at this special time of year, with a carefully-curated program of performances complemented by special Christmas and New Year’s Eve events, and a long-stay touring program that focuses on the region’s rich musical legacy.

The tour begins in Prague, a beautifully situated historic city with multiple towers and spires and the famous Charles Bridge spanning the fast-flowing Moldau (Vltava) river. In addition to three performances in historic venues, there is the opportunity to enjoy world-class art collections, the city’s Art Nouveau architecture, and magical snowy landscapes on a day trip into the countryside.

We then continue to Vienna, to enjoy four excellent musical performances that include bringing in the New Year with Beethoven’s Ninth, champagne and panoramic views of Vienna’s amazing city-wide firework displays. The program is rounded out by an atmospheric New Year’s Day concert at the Stadtheater, time to explore Vienna’s superlative museum collections, and excursions to Heiligenstadt and the Vienna Woods for sites associated with Beethoven and Schuber.

Your tour leader is well-known music lecturer and tour leader Robert Gay.

TOUR LEADER

Robert Gay has significant expertise as a music history educator and tour leader, having designed and led more than 100 tours to the great musical cities of Western and Central Europe and North America.

Known for his popular music history courses, which have been offered at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education for more than 30 years, Robert’s musical expertise extends from the Baroque period through to the great composers of the modern era.

Robert trained as a lyric baritone in London and Munich, and he was also President of the Sydney Schubert Society for many years. He has been a guest lecturer for the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS), and is regularly invited to present talks on opera and music history to organisations such as the Wagner Society NSW.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delight in seven performances of opera and orchestral music in fine historic venues in Prague and Vienna

• Unpack your bags for long-style touring, at only two comfortable hotel bases

• Enjoy the festive atmosphere of central Europe in winter, with Christmas markets, fireworks and Champagne suppers

• Discover sites associated with musical greats in Vienna, including Heiligenstadt and the Schubert House Museum

• Enhance your understanding with pre-performance talks by music educator and tour leader Robert Gay