Everyone who enjoys Wagner’s music should hear it at least once in the setting that Wagner devised for it. After a lifetime’s search he found a site on a country hill outside Bayreuth.  Here he built a theatre with a large stage with amphitheatre seating in which he could control the way his operas would be heard.  The very best musicians in Germany are assembled every year to play them.

Wagner’s first priority was to hide the orchestra and conductor from the audience so that they could see and hear the singers without distraction.  His second was to achieve an even balance of sound and not to drown the singers.  His third was to take away social distinctions; no boxes, no room to parade inside the theatre, only outside. And the audience should be in total darkness or, at most, very dim light. The concentration should be on the theatrical spectacle and the music above all is paramount.

This Year
In 2009, four of our small parties enjoyed visits to Bayreuth for the Ring Cycle, Tristan, Parsifal and Die Meistersinger.  They appreciated the opportunity to join the audience in the setting that Wagner designed for his operas and to hear the authentic sound that he intended.  They also found Bayreuth an attractive city to explore, with its gardens, theatre and palaces. To ensure tht we are able to offer you the same opportunity, please contact us as soon as possible.

The Audience
While the audience is predominantly German, there are sizeable contingents from other European countries including French, Italian and English, as well as further afield, like Australia. Many are regular visitors. The atmosphere is serious and purposeful, but not intimidating.  A wide variety of dress styles are acceptable from formal to smart casual.  The formally dressed can be seen queuing like everybody else for ice cream or hotdogs. The formal restaurant serves excellent food in the hour long intervals.

Ring Cycle Programme:

Ring Cycle Price from: £3,750 per person

Hotel: The Hotel Arvena Kongress in Bayreuth (or similar). It is a 4-star hotel located in a residential area, a short distance from the town centre. It is 20 minutes walk to and from the Festspielehaus. There is also a shuttle bus to the opera. It has well appointed rooms, a bar and two restaurants.

Ring Cycle Price Includes:
Flights from London Heathrow to Frankfurt, first class train from Frankfurt to Bayreuth, 7 nights accommodation with breakfast and light lunch at the 4-star Hotel Arvena Kongress in Bayreuth, good tickets for all performances, extensive background notes.

Shorter Visits to other Operas - still with limited availability
This year we can also offer shorter visits to see Die Meistersinger, see dates below.

Price from: £1,250 per person for 3 nights and 1 opera. Single Supp: £125

Price Includes:  Flights from London Heathrow to Frankfurt, first class train from Frankfurt to Bayreuth, 3 nights accommodation with breakfast and light lunch at the 4-star Hotel Arvena Kongress in Bayreuth, good tickets for one performance, extensive background notes..