The Dresden Music Festival is an opportunity to visit Dresden, take a short cruise on the River Elbe, and visit some of the countryside.  There is a fine music in many venues and a sampling of the local wine.  As well as the notable art collections in Dresden, the Fine Arts Museum and the Porcelain Collection in the magnificent Zwinger Palace, the Green Vaults have reopened in their original setting in the Royal Palace. The reconstruction of the Frauenkirche has been completed, an important landmark and symbol of reconciliation. For the first time since the war, Dresden can be seen as it was in the old paintings.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly to Dresden.  On arrival there will be a short coach tour of Dresden.

Day 2 – In the morning we travel a little way out of Dresden along the Elbe River to the Albrechtsberg Castle, which is set in a park and has fine views over the River and the Elbe valley.  Here we have a piano concert of Debussy and Schumann by Stefan Vladar.  Afterwards we travel to the wine growing region outside Dresden and visit Proschwitz Castle, which belongs to Prinz zur Lippe.  The castle has been extensively restored and is surrounded by gardens.  In the elegant reception rooms there is a recital by the Leipzig Quartet of Haydn, Ives and Mendelssohn.  We return to Dresden and in the evening there is a concert in the Japanese Palace, conducted by the Dresden Music Festival Director, of Sibelius, Kodály and Richard Strauss.

Day 3 – All day can be spent in Dresden exploring the city and visiting the Zwinger Palace for the Porcelain Collection and the Old Masters, as well as the newly reconstructed Frauenkirche and the Green Vaults, the collection of Augustus the Strong,  which has been returned to its original setting in the Royal Palace. In the evening there is a cello concert given by Heinrich Schiff and Stefan Vladar in the Semper Opera House with works by Brahms, Schumann and Sibelius.  

Day 4 - We have a day with the Director of the Dresden Music Festival, visiting two old Saxon Churches outside Dresden and the Landhaus in Dresden.  We take the Paddle Steamer down the Elbe to Pillnitz Castle, the Chinese baroque Summer Palace of Augustus. In the church there is a concert entitled The English Landscape, with works by Handel, Locke and Purcell.  We continue to Loschwitz, where there is a concert given by the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, with works by Haydn and Sibelius.  We return to Dresden for an evening concert in the Landhaus given by the Dragon Ensemble.

Day 5 – Transfer to the airport for the return flight to London.

Dresden Music Festival
Price: £895 per person
Single Supplement: £175
Deposit: £200 per person

Price Includes:  4 nights half board accommodation at the 5-star Westin Bellevue Hotel in Dresden, a full itinerary of visits accompanied by a local guide, performance tickets..

Travel: Travel to Dresden is not included.  We can book your flights for you and will search for the best price available at that time. All flights booked by us must be paid for at the time of booking.

Suggested BMI scheduled flight timings (operated by Lufthansa).