- Board your flight Relax and enjoy your journey to Budapest, Hungary.
Performing Arts: Budapest, Vienna & Prague
Austria is a largely mountainous and breathtakingly beautiful country with a rich musical past, where the likes of Schubert, Beethoven, Schoenberg, Haydn, and Mozart lived and worked, among countless others. Trace their footsteps, along with those of Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók, as you experience the wonders of the Austro-Hungarian empire. This part of the world is rich in cultural history,…
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Performing Arts: Budapest, Vienna & Prague
Austria is a largely mountainous and breathtakingly beautiful country with a rich musical past, where the likes of Schubert, Beethoven, Schoenberg, Haydn, and Mozart lived and worked, among countless others. Trace their footsteps, along with those of Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók, as you experience the wonders of the Austro-Hungarian empire. This part of the world is rich in cultural history,…
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Highlights
Your Adventure
- Meet your Tour Director Arrive in Budapest and meet your Tour Director, who will accompany you for the duration of your trip.
- Thermal Baths visit Budapest is rich with natural springs that bubble up over 10 million gallons of hot water everyday and so thermal baths have become engrained in Hungarian culture and are believed to provide health and beauty benefits. Experience this ancient Hungarian tradition when you visit one of Budapest’s many thermal baths.
- Budapest guided sightseeing tour Travel with a professional licensed tour guide through the meandering streets of Budapest. Wave to the 90 statues of Hungarian historical heroes that line the outside of the Neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament. Continue through Castle Hill, the historic center of Buda, on your way to Fisherman's Bastion, a lookout tower behind the Matthias Church where residents once gazed upon the thriving fishing settlement. Head to the Royal Palace on Castle Hill, the original site of the castle built in the 13th century. Visit Matthias Church, as riotously painted as an Easter egg. Bet your traveling companions to find an unpainted inch of the church’s interior (a sure win for you). Originally named the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Buda and converted into a mosque when Ottoman armies seized Buda in 1541, the church, with its multi-colored tin roof, is one of the most photographed sights in Budapest. Descend the stairway to the right of the altar for a quick journey into the crypt and treasury.
- Budapest performance Venue options for choirs and orchestras include the imposing St Stephen's Basilica, which has played a central role in the musical life of the area since its consecration in 1905. The Monday organ recitals are a must for anyone with a musical interest. Equally impressive is the Church of Our Lady, commonly known as Matthias Church. The inspiring interior and fine acoustic is the ideal setting for a memorable choral or instrumental performance. Founded in the 11th century it was the coronation church of the Kings of Hungary. Following the invasion of the Ottoman Turks in 1529 it was converted into a Mosque. In 1686 it reverted to its former role as a church and was largely rebuilt by the Hapsburgs. Other options include the Stefania Palota, an elegant former 19th century palace, and Nador Hall.
- Travel to Vienna For 600 years, Vienna was the glittering capital of the Habsburg Empire. Today, it is the capital of Austria. Vienna has an incomparable musical heritage, having at one point or another been the home of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn, Brahms, and Johann Strauss.
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Vienna guided sightseeing tour
Follow in the footsteps of the imperial Habsburgs as a local guide brings you to the Hofburg, the family's 2.600-room palace that is now home to the Vienna Boys Choir.
Schönbrunn Palace visit
Stop just outside the city center for a visit to the 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace, which was designed for the Habsburgs before becoming the imperial summer palace during the 40-year reign of Maria Theresa. It was the scene of great aristocratic events during the Congress of Vienna, including a performance by a 6-year-old Mozart. - St. Stephen’s Cathedral visit Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe. St. Stephen’s is rich in woodcarvings, altars, sculptures, and paintings. One of the paintings shows the scene of the double marriage between the Habsburg, Bohemian, and Hungarian dynasties in 1515 that laid the foundation of the Austrian Empire.
- Vienna Central Cemetery visit Spend some meditative time at the Central Cemetery where we will find the tombs of Beethoven, Brahms, Schoenberg, and Schubert, as well as Mozart's Monument. Other notable musicians buried here are Antonio Salieri, Hugo Wolf, Karl Goldmark, and the singer Lotte Lehmann.
- Haus der Musik visit Visit the Haus der Musik (House of Music), an interactive discovery museum where visitors can conduct the Vienna Philharmonic from a virtual conductor's podium. The musicians will even rate you! Journey back in time to see the great classical composers. Compose a waltz and have it played. a total of 5,000 square meters have been set aside exclusively for areas dedicated to a wide array of approaches to music.
- Mozarthaus visit Today, visit the Mozarthaus Vienna. This is the only residence of Mozart that has survived to the modern age and is where he lived during his post popular and productive period. It was here where Mozart wrote The Marriage of Figaro, as well as several other of his well-known compositions.
- Beethoven Pasqualati House visit Beethoven lived here during the majority of his heroic period, between 1804 and 1815. He composed many of his greatest works here, including Symphonies 4, 5, 7 and 8; the opera Fidelio, the 4th Piano Concerto and several string quartets.
- Vienna performance Venue options for choral and instrumental groups includes the historic St. Stephens Cathedral. Consecrated in 1147, this vast cathedral was the Imperial Church of the Habsburg Empire. The grand setting for Royal weddings and funerals, the Cathedral was also closely associated with the musical life of Vienna. The funeral of the Italian composer Vivaldi took place here in 1741, and in 1782 Mozart married Constanze Weber here. Nine years later Mozart's funeral took place in the Cathedral's Chapel of the Holy Cross. Suitably qualified organists are also permitted to give a recital as part of their groups performance. Choral and instrumental groups also perform at the baroque Peterskirche. This church has hosted numerous performances for us and all music directors have praised the excellent acoustic of this church, arguably the most beautiful baroque church in Vienna. For those groups seeking an alternative to a sacred venue perform at the Haus der Musik, Vienna's famous Museum of Music. The performing space is also noted for its excellent acoustics.
- Travel to Prague
- Vltava River cruise You will have the chance to see Prague from a different perspective while taking breathtaking pictures! Enjoy a comfortable trip while you learn more about the history of the city. See among other locations the Vltava River’s most famous sight, the 14th-century Charles Bridge, lined with looming statues, buskers, and souvenir sellers.
- Sternberg Palace visit Housing the National Gallery’s collection of European art. We will explore the gallery, which includes works by such masters as El Greco, Brueghel, Durer, Rembrandt, Tintoretto, Goya, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso.
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Prague guided sightseeing tour
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, built on seven hills astride the Vltava River. The beauty of Prague is legendary; Goethe described the city as “the most precious stone in the crown of this world.” While its most well-known composer remains Dvorák, the current Czech Republic also produced Mahler, Smetana, Martinu, and Janácek, among other greats!
Charles Bridge Stroll across the stunning Charles Bridge which spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures.
Golden Lane Stroll along the Golden Lane which is an ancient street within the Prague Castle complex. Dating back to the fifteenth century it has beautiful and quaint architecture that make up eleven historic houses that were home to artisans.
Visit Hradcany (Prague Castle)Explore the immense castle that was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague Castle represents virtually all of the architectural designs of the last millennium and contains several churches, a monastery, gardens as well as multiple museums. - Antonín Dvorák Museum visit Visit the museum dedicated to the life and works of Antonín Dvorák.
- Prague performance Potential venues include (but not limited to): Church of St. Simon and Jude, St. Salvator Church, Church of St. Wenceslas, Hall of The Cultural Center Novodvorska, English International School, Hlahol Concert Hall, Evangelic Chapel Korunni, St. Martin in the Wall, The Hall of the House of Culture Krakov, or a lunchtime performance at St. Vitus.
- Depart Prague Bid farewell to Prague and begin your journey home.
- Optional extension If you are not ready to leave Europe just yet, speak to our specialists about extending your trip.