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Salzburg Summer Music Festival & Culinary Tour - 2009 - in Austria
The Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama. It is held each summer (for five weeks starting in late July) within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Explore Salzburg in Austria, enjoy great food and wonderful music at the summer festival
with your Tour Host Karin from California, a Salzburg native and Personal Chef.
PLEASE NOTE: Tours are limited to SIX participants only to assure each participant the best possible attention of your tour host. Experience luxury VIP treatment at an affordable price and make your reservations now!
$3,995 per person.
Dates of this 9 day Tour:
Friday, August 14th, to Saturday, August 22nd, 2009.
~~~As of today:
,
this tour has open spaces!~~~
Interested in a similar tour?
Please call our office in California at (760) 366-2414 or email:
Join Karin on a wonderful and unique culinary and music tour in Salzburg, truly one of the most beautiful regions of Austria, Europe and the world - enjoy the classical 2009 Salzburg Summer Festival and a very special cooking class with the worlds best female chef according to the famous French Gault Millau guide.
The motto of this year's summer festival is:
For love is as strong as death
In a city that has preserved its baroque architecture in almost perfect condition and therefore is a breathtaking backdrop in itself, the Salzburg Festival presents performances of opera, plays and concerts of the highest artistic standards. The Salzburg Festival is often described as the greatest and most important festival in the world.
Conductors like Riccardo Muti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, stage-directors, orchestras, singers, actors and virtuoso instrumentalists of world renown can be seen and heard in the town on the river Salzach. Even the most eminent opera stars come together here to rehearse productions intensively for several weeks, thereby fulfilling the creed of the Salzburg Festival as it was originally envisioned by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, one of the Festival's founding fathers: "Dramatic play-acting in the strongest sense is our intention!"
Your tour host Karin is a Personal Chef, who lives and works in Joshua Tree (near Palm Springs), California and she will prepare a special "Salzburg Mozart" dinner for you in a private home!
Your tour will be all about beautiful classical music and wonderful food and wine. Operas, concerts and a cooking class with the world's best female chef -Johanna Maier- will be the very special highlights of this tour.
The Significance of Salzburg:
The city of Salzburg - and especially its historic city center - is in fact one of the loveliest places in Europe, winning international acclaim in 1997 when it was designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The Salzach River, flowing from the Prealps in the south, winds through the city as its historic lifeline and separates it into two halves.
The Old City is picturesquely surrounded by the Moenchsberg, crowned by the Fortress which is visible for miles, and the mighty Capuchin Mountain on the right banks of the river.
The Old City with its variety of building styles is a true architectural delight. A walk through the countless narrow streets features buildings from the Middle Ages, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance periods.
The city's most famous squares include Residence Square with its splendid fountain, the neighboring Old Market, University Square, as well as Mozart Square with the memorial of the city's genius loci.
There are many imposing buildings, the most striking of which include the Cathedral, Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Residenz, St. Peter's Monastery with its impressive cemetery, the Franciscan church and Collegiate church as well as the Large and Small Festival Halls and the Summer Riding School in the Festival District.
On the right banks of the Salzach is the Mirabell Palace with the romantic Mirabell Gardens or St. Sebastian's church with its charming cemetery.
Hellbrunn Palace with its trick fountains and the zoo is situated just outside of the city gates.
Salzburg has an abundance of attractive venues and charming facets.
Text courtesy of: Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, Auerspergstrasse 6, A-5020 Salzburg
Summary of our Tour:
"The Only Air Worth Breathing is the Love of Mankind!" -Juergen Flimm, Artistic Director of the Salzburg Festival .
We have created a very special tour for you - full of cultural, culinary and more fun adventures. In addition to having this tour hosted by Salzburg native and Personal Chef Karin, who will also cook a special "Salzburg Mozart" dinner in a private home for you, and the cooking class with the world's best female chef Johanna Maier, Karin will open your eyes to the beautiful and famous city of Salzburg.
Our Itinerary has lots of more adventures - visiting the fortress, castles and other historically significant places, more dining in beautiful selected restaurants, sightseeing with visiting churches and museums, with some time to relax in the lovely and comfortable 700 year old family owned 4**** hotel, where you will stay. Our tour furthermore includes operas and concerts of the famous Salzburg SUMMER Festival, ample time for shopping and enjoying traditional coffee and pastries in beautiful old coffee houses to take full advantage of the incredible surroundings.
ITINERARY
Friday, August 14th:
- Recommended departure from your airport of choice to airport Salzburg, Austria.
- You will be in the new "old" world Saturday.
Saturday, August 15th:
- If you fly to our recommended airport Salzburg, Karin will pick you up and transfer you to your nice, quiet, over 700 years old (since 1353) family owned FOUR**** star hotel in the center (Altstadt) of the city of Salzburg.
- If you wish to arrive earlier than Saturday, we will advise you on how to meet up with your tour host at your hotel.
- Freshen up in your room.
- Enjoy a special Salzburg country gourmet dinner basket prepared for you by chef Karin.
-
In the evening at 7:30 enjoy the "Chamber Concert 2" at the "Mozarteum".
Performance:
SERGEY PROKOFIEV ~ Sonata for Cello and Piano in C, op. 119
ALFRED SCHNITTKE ~ Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1
SERGEY RAKHMANINOV ~ Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, op. 19
PERFORMERS:
Gautier Capucon, Cello
Gabriela Montero, Piano
- After the concert transfer to your hotel.
Sunday, August 16th:
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- A t 10 : 0 0 i n t h e m o r n i n g e n j o y t h e Hieronymi Mass b y Michael Haydn a t t h e Cathedral.
- Have a nice lunch on your own and afternoon is free for shopping, relaxing, freshening up at the hotel.
- In the evening transfer to the restaurant "Stiftskeller St. Peter", which is the oldest restaurant in Europe.
There you will enjoy a wonderful dinner.
- After dinner at 7:30 p.m. enjoy the opera "Theodora" by George Frideric Handel at the Festspielhaus.
"Theodora"
PROGRAM
New production in English with German and English surtitles.
LEADING TEAM
Ivor Bolton, Conductor:
Christof Loy, Stage Director:
Annette Kurz, Set Design
Ursula Renzenbrink, Costume Design
Stefan Bolliger, Lighting
Thomas Jonigk, Dramaturgy
Thomas Wilhelm, Choreography
Alois Glassner, Chorus Master
CAST
Christine Schaefer, Theodora
Bejun Mehta, Didymus
Johannes Martin Kraenzle, Valens
Joseph Kaiser, Septimius
Bernarda Fink, Irene
Ryland Davies, Messenger
Freiburger Barockorchester
Salzburger Bachchor
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Antioch, around 305 A.D.: Roman governor Valens orders all citizens to sacrifice to the god Jupiter. Theodora, a Christian who has renounced the world, refuses, and therefore is ordered to be taken to the local brothel, where she is to be raped. The officer Didymus, who desires her, is able to rescue her, but in the end they both choose death: their ultimate refuge, the promise of divine love, inner peace and calm.
Theodora, Handel's penultimate oratorio, premiered on March 16, 1750 and dominated by minor keys, was not to the liking of London's audiences. Handel and his librettist Thomas Morell tell the story of two early Christian martyrs, and thus of the inner conflict of man, for whom there seem to be only two extreme paths in his search for love: otherworldly abnegation or worldly, bodily lust. Between these two extremes, human life takes place with all its confusing forms of love. "That I might rest / For ever blest, / With harmony and love," Theodora hopes in prison, faced with death. In this oratorio, love in its absoluteness becomes indistinguishable from death.
After the opera transfer to the hotel.
Monday, August 17th:
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Transfer to the "old city".
- Enjoy a wonderful free morning in Salzburg.
- Lunch of your choice.
- Transfer the Archbishop's Residence and Gallery. On a tour through the Residence you will experience two centuries of cultural history and discover in the sumptuous state rooms a harmonious architectural unity of Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles. Masterpieces of handicraft, construction - and ceiling paintings, frescoes, stuccos, antique furniture, embroidery, marquetry, marble portals, numerous valuable clocks and paintings permit one a glimpse into the richness of earlier eras.
The Residence Gallery Salzburg, housing the State of Salzburg's painting collection, presents European paintings from the 16th to 19th century. (The magnificent ambiance is the ideal setting for Salzburg's state collection and reflects the city's baroque character.) The collections focus on Dutch paintings from the 17th century, Italian, French and Austrian baroque paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries and Austrian paintings from the 19th century. In addition to its own changing exhibitions, special exhibitions are offered regularly, providing an interesting juxtaposition between historic and contemporary art.
In the evening have dinner at the famous Hotel Sacher Restaurant "Salzachgrill".
At 6:30 p.m. enjoy the opera Cosi fan tutte by Wolfgang A. Mozart, ossia La scuola degli amanti, Dramma giocoso in two acts K. 588. Text by Lorenzo Da Ponte. At the "House for Mozart".
"Wolfgang A. Mozart ~ Cosi fan tutte
ossia La scuola degli amanti"
LEADING TEAM
Adam Fischer, Conductor
Claus Guth, Stage Director
Christian Schmidt, Set Design
Anna Sofie Tuma, Costume Design
Olaf Winter, Lighting
Andri Hardmeier, Dramaturgy
Thomas Lang, Chorus Master
CAST
Miah Persson, Fiordiligi
Isabel Leonard, Dorabella
Topi Lehtipuu, Ferrando
Johannes Weisser, Guglielmo
Bo Skovhus, Don Alfonso
Patricia Petibon, Despina
Vienna Philharmonic
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
"Cosi fan tutte le belle! Non c'e alcuna novita" - "Thus act all the beauties! No news there," as the line from Le nozze di Figaro, the first work written together by Mozart and Da Ponte, goes. Four years later, this allegation is put to the test: in their third and last collaboration, Cosi fan tutte, an experiment is designed to reveal the truth about women's supposed lack of faithfulness. An ambiguous game begins, exposing deeper and deeper layers of feeling. The clear-eyed view of the confusion of human relations opens up an abyss that seems to go far beyond the framework of a Dramma giocoso. This stage work - in some ways Mozart's most radical - is not so much a "School for Lovers" as a continuous dissection of hearts. In the tension between love and passion, security and selfnegation, faithfulness and betrayal, the couples get lost in emotional chaos. Mozart's music traces the inner contradictions of his figures without ever betraying them, and suddenly makes us doubt our confident belief that we can separate playfulness from earnestness, dream from reality.
After the opera transfer to the hotel.
Tuesday, August 18th:
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- We will take a trip to the outskirts, to the Castle and Watergarden Hellbrunn. Markus Sittikus (1574-1619) - Archbishop of Salzburg - spent the greater part of his youth in Italy. His palace of Hellbrunn was a monument in stone to his great passion for renaissance art. From the magnificent gardens and tree - lined avenues to the silent ponds - from the austere stone theater to the aromatic shrubs and flowers in the light-filled orangery: Hellbrunn Park deserves its reputations a masterpiece of landscape gardening.
Hellbrunn, the summer residence of Salzburg's prince archbishops, is an example of the close link between culture and nature in the area around the city of Salzburg. The trick fountains, probably unique in the whole world, reflect the lifestyle of the Baroque age and the wealth acquired from salt-mining.
- After the trip to Hellbrunn we come back to the old town and visit the beautiful coffee houses and pastry shops, especially the "Fuerst", where you will be able to taste and purchase original "Salzburger Mozartkugeln".
- In the evening at 6:30 enjoy the Opera in four acts "Moise et Pharaon" by Gioachino Rossini, ou Le Passage de la Mer Rouge. Text by Luigi Balocchi and Etienne de Jouy after Andrea Leone Tottola's libretto to Rossini's azione tragico-sacra Mose in Egitto. At the "Grosses Festspielhaus". New production in French with German and English surtitles.
LEADING TEAM
Riccardo Muti, Conductor
Juergen Flimm, Stage Director
Ferdinand Woegerbauer, Set Design
Birgit Hutter, Costume Design
Friedrich Rom, Lighting
Maren Hofmeister, Dramaturgy
Catharina Luehr, Choreography
Thomas Lang, Chorus Master
CAST
Ildar Abdrazakov, Moise
Juan Francisco Gatell, Eliezer, his brother
Nicola Alaimo, Pharaon
Sonia Ganassi, Sinaide, his wife
Eric Cutler, Amenophis, their son
Marina Rebeka, Anai
Barbara Di Castri, Marie, her mother, Moise's sister
Alexey Tikhomirov, Osiride, High Priest of Isis
Vienna Philharmonic
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
"Let my people go," the black slaves sang in the cotton fields. They wanted to free themselves from the merciless slavery of their white masters. Moses was to go to the Pharaoh, they sang: "Go down, Moses, go down to Egyptland, tell old Pharaoh, let my people go." But the Pharaoh was just as unwilling as the plantation owners to let the suppressed people of Israel go. An angry god Jahveh forced him with a series of terrible plagues to change his relentless attitude. These plagues, and ultimately a spell of darkness, demonstrated Jahveh's implacable power.
Rossini describes this story from the Old Testament in a Grand Opera. Its focus, however, is the touching love story between Anais, Moses' niece, and Amenophis, the Pharaoh's son, who try to find their small happiness among these great troubles. Anais ultimately decides in favor of her faith and her people. The Israelites begin their wearisome trek through the desert to the promised land Canaan, pursued by armored cavalry. When they arrive at the Red Sea, Moses parts the waters and the people of Israel reach the other side safely. The Pharaoh's troops, however, drown in the floods of the sea.
- After the opera transfer to the hotel.
Wednesday, August 19th:
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Visit the Cajetan church, Erhard church and Nonnberg convent.
- Then walk through small romantic streets like the Bierjodlgasse (beer jodl street) to the Stieglkeller, a traditional brewery-restaurant where you will be able to enjoy a traditional Austrian lunch of your choice.
- In the afternoon visit to the famous St. Peter's cemetery and church.
- At 2PM take a tour through the Salzburg Festival Halls.
- After the tour visit of Cathedral place with some free time to visit a coffee house and to shop.
- In the later afternoon transfer to the river Salzach to the boat "Amadeus".
- Take a boat trip on the river Salzach with the "Amadeus".
 ... ...
- At 6:00 p.m. enjoy the opera Le nozze di Figaro by Wolfgang A. Mozart,Opera buffa in four acts K. 492. Text by Lorenzo Da Ponte after Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais' play La Folle Journee, ou Le Mariage de Figaro. At the "House for Mozart".
"Wolfgang A. Mozart ~ Le nozze di Figaro"
LEADING TEAM
Daniel Harding, Conductor
Claus Guth, Stage Director
Christian Schmidt, Set and Costume Design
Olaf Winter, Lighting
Ronny Dietrich, Dramaturgy
Ramses Sigl, Choreography
Thomas Lang, Chorus Master
CAST
Gerald Finley, Il Conte Almaviva
Dorothea Roeschmann, La Contessa Almaviva
Marlis Petersen, Susanna
Luca Pisaroni, Figaro
Martina Jankova, Cherubino
Franz-Josef Selig, Bartolo
Marie McLaughlin, Marcellina
Patrick Henckens, Basilio
Oliver Ringelhahn, Don Curzio
Adam Plachetka, Antonio
Eva Liebau, Barbarina
Uli Kirsch, Cherubim
Vienna Philharmonic
Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
"Cosi fan tutte le belle! Non c'e alcuna novita" - "Thus act all the beauties! No news there," as the line from Le nozze di Figaro, the first work written together by Mozart and Da Ponte, goes. Four years later, this allegation is put to the test: in their third and last collaboration, Cosi fan tutte, an experiment is designed to reveal the truth about women's supposed lack of faithfulness. An ambiguous game begins, exposing deeper and deeper layers of feeling. The clear-eyed view of the confusion of human relations opens up an abyss that seems to go far beyond the framework of a Dramma giocoso. This stage work - in some ways Mozart's most radical - is not so much a "School for Lovers" as a continuous dissection of hearts. In the tension between love and passion, security and selfnegation, faithfulness and betrayal, the couples get lost in emotional chaos. Mozart's music traces the inner contradictions of his figures without ever betraying them, and suddenly makes us doubt our confident belief that we can separate playfulness from earnestness, dream from reality.
After the opera transfer to the hotel.
Thursday, August 20th:
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Morning is free for shopping, relaxing, freshening up at the hotel.
- In the later afternoon Karin will transfer with you to a lovely private home near the castle Klessheim. There you will enjoy a festive "Salzburg Mozart" dinner prepared by personal chef Karin from the freshest ingredients she will be able to get at the Farmers Market. Be delighted by the beautifully decorated dining table with candles and fruits and ornaments. A lovely surprise gift will await you there!
- These events in Salzburg are truly unforgettable!
- After dinner transfer to the hotel.
Friday, August 21st:
Transfer to the hotel.
Saturday, August 22nd:
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- If you fly from our recommended airport Salzburg that day, Karin will transfer you to the airport.
- Recommended departure from airport Salzburg to the airport of your choice. Y o u w i l l a r r i v e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t h e s a m e d a y w i t h f u l l o f m e m o r i e s o f a n u n f o r g e t t a b l e e x p e r i e n c e . . .
- If you choose to leave later than Saturday we can advise you as to prolong your stay to make your extended visit enjoyable.
NOTE:
If you would like to have a similar tour customized for you and a companion, your family, friends, employees, etc. (a minimum of two participants is needed), please contact us and we can organize this tour to your needs.
Salzburg Summer Music Festival & Culinary Tour - 2009:
$ 3,995 per person. A minimum of 2 tour participants is required.
This price does NOT include:
- Airfare from the United States to Austria and back.
- All personal arrangements and expenses.
This price INCLUDES:
- Personal tour assistance and escort of your tour by your Tour Host Karin.
- All transfers as scheduled.
- Seven nights in a historical FOUR star hotel in the city of Salzburg.
- Seven breakfasts at the hotel.
- Gourmet Basket , prepared by chef Karin.
- Four operas and one classic concert at the Salzburg Summer Festival, as scheduled.
- Mass at the Cathedral.
- Dinner at the oldest restaurant in Europe, the Stiftskeller St. Peter.
- Dinner at the Hotel Sacher Restaurant "Salzachgrill".
- Tour of the Archbishop's residence.
- Tour of the Salzburg Festival Halls.
- Visit of the Hellbrunn castle in the outskirts of the city.
- Boat trip on the river Salzach.
- One five course "Salzburg Mozart" dinner in a private home prepared by Personal Chef Karin (wine and soft drinks included).
- Lovely surprise gift.
- Trip to the country village Filzmoos in a comfortable coach.
- Cooking class and lunch (drinks included) with the world's best female chef, Johanna Maier.
- All private guided tours and admissions to points of interest as scheduled.
- All service charges & taxes (gratuities not included).
This itinerary is subject of change at any time and/or the sites included, should it be deemed necessary due to local conditions, time restrictions, or other circumstances.
The History of Salzburg
Salzburg has a proud heritage as the capital and residential city of an ecclesiastical principality. Prehistoric findings have revealed that it is situated on ancient settlement soil whose civilization dates from the New Stone Age. The Romans founded a town they called Juvavum as the seat of a major administrative district located along an important military road which crossed the Salzach River. Foundations, mosaics and numerous artifacts were found throughout the old city districts.
After the chaotic mass migrations, a bishop named St. Rupert came to the area at the end of the seventh century and revived a monastic order, founded a convent on Nonnberg and became the founder of today's Salzburg. Under Charlemagne Salzburg became an archbishopric, sovereign over all of the Bavarian dioceses. The first cathedral erected by St. Virgil was one of the largest in the mighty Franconian Empire. The archbishops used their privileged positions as papal legates and primas germaniae to expand the archiepiscopal territory, ending in the 13th century, and had a decisive influence on the history of the Empire. The extension of the Cathedral, revealed by recent excavations, was a sign of their religious and secular power.
Many of the townspeople became quite wealthy as a result of the flourishing trade between Italy and Germany, the town, however, remained under the archbishop's rule. Whereas the archbishops of the Middle Ages were primarily involved in politics, their successors during the 17th and 18th centuries were mainly preoccupied with beautifying their residence. Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron gave Salzburg the appearance it has today. Through Paris Lodron's clever diplomacy, the city was able to escape most of the hardships of the Thirty Years' War.
The city was further perfected through buildings designed by Fisher von Erlach. The turmoils of the Napoleonic Wars abruptly ended the long line of prince archbishops and Salzburg was secularized. After being passed back and forth, the city was finally given over to Austria in 1816. This not only resulted in complete political irrelevance but also in the loss of the most valuable objects of art. After emerging from a lengthy Rip van Winkle sleep, Romantic painters discovered the beauty of the city and its environs and made the city known throughout the world through their works. On a political basis Salzburg succeeded in regaining a certain independence in 1850 as a province of the monarchy with its own government and administration. This independence was to continue through the First and Second Republics. The establishment of the Salzburg Festival in 1920 was a decisive step towards the burgeoning of the city.
Above text courtesy of: Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, Auerspergstrasse 6, A-5020 Salzburg
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