The Ring in Leipzig
Wagner’s epic opera cycle in the city of his birth
Wagner’s epic opera cycle in the city of his birth
Rosamund Gilmore’s Leipzig Ring Cycle was highly acclaimed in 2016 and is now firmly established in the repertoire. Ulf Schirmer conducts the Leipzig Opera and Gewandhaus Orchestra. Leipzig is the city of Wagner’s birth and was the first city to perform The Ring after its premiere at Bayreuth. It is also the city of Bach, Mendelssohn and the Schumanns. We will visit the museums and places which celebrate their remarkable creative output.
This tour begins at the hotel allowing guests to plan their journey flexibly. Meals will be taken at the hotel, the opera house or at historic restaurants nearby.
Gilmore’s production is very inventive and brings dance to The Ring to enhance its mythic elements and provide extra dynamic energy on stage. This is a very fresh production, the staging throughout is highly effective and not without humour. It combines mysticism with colourful characterisation, highlighting the eclectic nature of the tetralogy whilst preserving its unity. Sets are impressive and distinct for each of the operas.
Day 1
This tour begins at the hotel.
We meet at Victors Residenz a splendid institution in central Leipzig just a short walk from the station and close to the historic centre. A welcome reception will be followed by a traditional German dinner in the Auerbachs Keller – a place immortalised by Goethe in Faust.
Day 2 Das Rheingold
After breakfast we take a tour of the historic centre and visit the Alte Rathaus museum of the history of Leipzig. After time for lunch we move on to the Thomaskirche and the Bach Museum.
We stroll to the opera house in the late afternoon for the performance of the preparatory music drama in the cycle, Das Rheingold. Dinner follows in a local restaurant close to the Nicholaikirche.
This tour begins at the hotel allowing guests to plan their journey flexibly. Meals will be taken at the hotel, the opera house or at historic restaurants nearby.
Gilmore’s production is very inventive and brings dance to The Ring to enhance its mythic elements and provide extra dynamic energy on stage. This is a very fresh production, the staging throughout is highly effective and not without humour. It combines mysticism with colourful characterisation, highlighting the eclectic nature of the tetralogy whilst preserving its unity. Sets are impressive and distinct for each of the operas.
Day 1
This tour begins at the hotel.
We meet at Victors Residenz a splendid institution in central Leipzig just a short walk from the station and close to the historic centre. A welcome reception will be followed by a traditional German dinner in the Auerbachs Keller – a place immortalised by Goethe in Faust.
Day 2 Das Rheingold
After breakfast we take a tour of the historic centre and visit the Alte Rathaus museum of the history of Leipzig. After time for lunch we move on to the Thomaskirche and the Bach Museum.
We stroll to the opera house in the late afternoon for the performance of the preparatory music drama in the cycle, Das Rheingold. Dinner follows in a local restaurant close to the Nicholaikirche.
Conductor Ulf Schirmer
Director Rosalind Gillmore
Cast for the cycle includes Meagan Miller, Allison Oakes, Karin Lovelius, Robert Dean Smith, Simon Neal, Magdelena Hinterdobbler, Dan Karlstrom, Thomas Mohr,
Toumas Pursio, Stefan Vinke (Siegfried), and Elisabet Strid.
Day 3 Die Walküre
After breakfast we visit the Grassi Museum and the fine collection of over 5000 musical instruments including Cristofori pianos and Russian horns (to be heard in Götterdämmerung.
A backstage tour of the opera house follows lunch.
After free time we will meet for an early evening performance of Die Walküre.
A light meal is served during the first interval.
Day 4
Today is a free day for exploration. There will be an optional trip to nearby Halle to see the excellent Händelhaus museum and spend time in the city. Back in Leipzig, the renowned Thomaschor usually sing at 6 pm on Fridays in the Thomaskirche. (Subject to confirmation).
All travellers are welcome to join the tour leader for dinner in the evening at a recommended restaurant.
Day 5 Siegfried
During the morning we visit the Nicholaikirche and the house where Clara and Robert Schumann lived shortly after their marriage. Coffee follows at the Arabian Kaffeé Baum – Europe’s oldest coffee house and haunt of the Davidsbundler.
There is free time for lunch and browsing before the next stage of the cycle.
Tonight's performance of Siegfried begins at 17h00 and there will be an opera supper served during the first interval.
Day 6 Götterdämmerung
After a talk about the final opera in the cycle there will be a visit to the Mendelssohn Haus for a morning chamber concert in the Mendelssohn salon. There is an excellent display on Mendelssohn’s life and a particularly good exhibition on the life of his sister, Fanny, and her music.
There will be a little free time before the final performance where the cycle reaches its culmination - Götterdämmerung. An opera supper will be served in the first interval.
Day 7
Check out will be available after breakfast.
We will be happy to help with travel arrangements. There is a good range of inexpensive flights from the UK to Berlin and Leipzig/Halle airports and the journey from Berlin takes around seventy-five minutes by the hourly comfortable express train. Arrival at the Leipzig station is an experience in itself, as this is one of the largest stations in Europe and was built to impress. Travel within Leipzig is on foot and by tram.
The hotel, which serves an abundant breakfast, is opposite the station and within a few minutes of the centre. The walk to the opera house takes around seven minutes through a small park which includes a statue of Wagner.
Testimonials from our Leipzig Ring Tour 2018
“Your tour was exactly what I needed. The playing by the orchestra bowled me over. I was looked after with great kindness by everyone in the team, with just the right balance between time we spent together and time spent alone.”
Mr P, Buckinghamshire
“Thank you so much for organising such a fabulous tour. The Ring Cycle was fabulous, as expected, but you also managed to book a great hotel and interesting visits during the day.” Mrs D, London
Toumas Pursio, Stefan Vinke (Siegfried), and Elisabet Strid.
Day 3 Die Walküre
After breakfast we visit the Grassi Museum and the fine collection of over 5000 musical instruments including Cristofori pianos and Russian horns (to be heard in Götterdämmerung.
A backstage tour of the opera house follows lunch.
After free time we will meet for an early evening performance of Die Walküre.
A light meal is served during the first interval.
Day 4
Today is a free day for exploration. There will be an optional trip to nearby Halle to see the excellent Händelhaus museum and spend time in the city. Back in Leipzig, the renowned Thomaschor usually sing at 6 pm on Fridays in the Thomaskirche. (Subject to confirmation).
All travellers are welcome to join the tour leader for dinner in the evening at a recommended restaurant.
Day 5 Siegfried
During the morning we visit the Nicholaikirche and the house where Clara and Robert Schumann lived shortly after their marriage. Coffee follows at the Arabian Kaffeé Baum – Europe’s oldest coffee house and haunt of the Davidsbundler.
There is free time for lunch and browsing before the next stage of the cycle.
Tonight's performance of Siegfried begins at 17h00 and there will be an opera supper served during the first interval.
Day 6 Götterdämmerung
After a talk about the final opera in the cycle there will be a visit to the Mendelssohn Haus for a morning chamber concert in the Mendelssohn salon. There is an excellent display on Mendelssohn’s life and a particularly good exhibition on the life of his sister, Fanny, and her music.
There will be a little free time before the final performance where the cycle reaches its culmination - Götterdämmerung. An opera supper will be served in the first interval.
Day 7
Check out will be available after breakfast.
We will be happy to help with travel arrangements. There is a good range of inexpensive flights from the UK to Berlin and Leipzig/Halle airports and the journey from Berlin takes around seventy-five minutes by the hourly comfortable express train. Arrival at the Leipzig station is an experience in itself, as this is one of the largest stations in Europe and was built to impress. Travel within Leipzig is on foot and by tram.
The hotel, which serves an abundant breakfast, is opposite the station and within a few minutes of the centre. The walk to the opera house takes around seven minutes through a small park which includes a statue of Wagner.
Testimonials from our Leipzig Ring Tour 2018
“Your tour was exactly what I needed. The playing by the orchestra bowled me over. I was looked after with great kindness by everyone in the team, with just the right balance between time we spent together and time spent alone.”
Mr P, Buckinghamshire
“Thank you so much for organising such a fabulous tour. The Ring Cycle was fabulous, as expected, but you also managed to book a great hotel and interesting visits during the day.” Mrs D, London
Dates & Prices
6-11 July
6-11 July
£2395 per person
No Single Supplement
Deposit £500
Deposit £500
Reserve now for your place on our waiting list
Accommodation
Victors Residenz (4*) in Central Leipzig
Including bed & breakfast
Group Size
Between 8 and 12 people
What’s included
Tickets to all four operas in the cycle.
Seats in the stalls.
Entry to:
Bach Museum
Mendelssohn-Haus
Grassi Museum
Backstage Tour of the Opera House
Matinee Concert
Dinner or opera supper with wine on five nights
