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2008/2009
New Year's Eve in Vienna

December 26, 2008 to January 3, 2009
Hosted by Maestro Alan Heatherington

Join Alan Heatherington for a glorious music lovers' week in Vienna
Your trip will include:

• Famous Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert at the Musikverein
• The Imperial New Year's Eve Ball at the Hofburg Palace
• Die Fledermaus at the Vienna Volksoper (a New Year's tradition)
• Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet at the Vienna Staatsoper
• Beethoven's 9th Symphony by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Vienna Singverein at the Konzerthaus
• Guided Tour of Schönbrunn Palace

• The Vienna Boys Choir singing mass at the Hofburg Palace Chapel
• Tours of the Beethoven and Mozart houses
• Tour of the Musical Instruments Museum
• Visit to the fascinating Hundertwasser House
• Musical commentary by Maestro Heatherington
• Daily breakfasts, three dinners and a brunch at the Art History Museum

Daily itinerary

Friday December 26, 2008

Depart Chicago, destination Vienna, Austria. Airfare is not included, but we will provide reservation assistance to any who may wish it.

Saturday December 27, 2008

• Arrive Vienna, check-in at the luxurious 5-star Vienna Marriott Hotel on the Schubertring, a segment of the Ringstrasse that circles Vienna’s romantic core. Directly across the street is the Staatpark with one of Vienna’s most famous landmarks, a gleaming statue of Johann Strauss, Jr. playing the violin.
• 5:00 Welcome dinner at the hotel with a brief orientation to Vienna and an overview of the week’s events.  The evening is free to begin exploring the magical sights of Vienna. Take an easy stroll into the heart of town along festively decorated streets lined with shops, cafes and restaurants.

Sunday December 28, 2008

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• 8:45 Motorcoach transfer to the Hofburg Palace
• 9:15 The internationally acclaimed Vienna Choir Boys will sing mass at the Hofburg Palace chapel, as they have done for the past 500 years.
• 11:00 Enjoy an “Art Brunch” at the Vienna Art History Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum), where you may intersperse a delectable brunch catered by the famed Viennese Café Gerstner with viewing the exhibitions in one of the most spectacular art galleries of the world. Brunch is served continuously until 3 p.m.
• The remainder of this day is free to be used as you wish. Some might consider an optional performance of Götterdämmerung, the final opera in Wagner’s Ring of the Niebelungs, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst at the Vienna Staatsoper (tickets must be requested well in advance).

Monday December 29, 2008

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• 9:00 Hear Alan Heatherington’s favorite lecture, Beethoven and his Ninth Symphony, in preparation for visiting the Pasqualati House and hearing this monumental masterpiece tomorrow evening
• 10:00 This morning you will be treated to a guided tour of Musical Vienna, including the Mozart Figaro House, the Beethoven Pasqualati House and the priceless Musical Instrument Collection at the Hofburg palace.
• The remainder of the afternoon and evening to are free for you to enjoy shopping, sightseeing and fine dining at your own pace and according to your own interests.
• Lists of options will be provided, including a concert of music, song and dance in the authentic atmosphere of the Kursalon (directly across from our hotel), where Johann Strauss, Jr. gave many performances with his own orchestra.

Tuesday December 30, 2008

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• 9:00 a.m. Learn from Alan Heatherington about the music of Johann Strauss and other composers in preparation for today’s memorable concert.
• 10:30 a.m. Motorcoach transfer to the Musikverein for this morning’s performance of the world famous New Year's Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
• You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to indulge in your own preferences.
• Consider visiting one or more of the extraordinary art galleries with which Vienna is replete, such as the remarkable Upper Belvedere Palace with its comprehensive collection of works by Gustav Klimt (including his most famous work, The Kiss).
• 7:30 Depart for the Vienna Konzerthaus to hear an unforgettable performance of the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 by the Vienna Symphony and the Wiener Singverein

Wednesday December 31, 2008

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• 9:00 a.m. Enjoy learning more about Johann Strauss and his most famous operetta, Die Fledermaus, as Alan Heatherington prepares you for tomorrow’s Volksoper performance. The remainder of this day is free to use as you wish in preparation for the evening’s festivities. Consider attending the New Year’s Eve mass with soloists, chorus and orchestra at the Augustinerkirche in the wall of the Hofburg Palace, where many historic events have taken place over the centuries.
• Motorcoach transfer to the Hofburg Palace
• For many, this evening's New Year's Eve Gala Ball (the Imperial Ball, or Kaiserball) will be the pièce de résistance of the trip. Immerse yourself in the elegance and splendor of the Hofburg Palace as you enjoy dinner, dancing and the irresistible music of the waltz king, Johann Strauss, Jr., in the grand ballroom! Bringing in the New Year are stunning performances by some of Vienna’s finest singers, musicians and dancers from the Staatsoper and Volksoper. This evening will linger in your memory for every New Year's Eve to come.

Thursday January 1, 2009

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• Morning and afternoon at leisure to “recover” from New Year’s Eve. Consider attending a sung mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral or another of Vienna’s beautiful churches.
• 6:45 Motorcoach transfer to the glorious Vienna Volksoper for an unforgettable experience of Viennese operetta at its best: a festive holiday performance of the most popular operetta of them all, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr.

Friday January 2, 2009

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• 9:30 a.m. Enjoy a guided tour of the sumptuous Schönbrunn Palace, followed by a stop at the fascinating Hundertwasser Haus and a return to the Marriott.
• 5:30 p.m. Farewell dinner at the Marriott, with an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary experiences we have shared throughout the week
• 7:00 p.m. Motorcoach transfer to the Vienna Staatsoper for a holiday favorite, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet, performed by the brilliant dancers of the Staatsoper ballet with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Saturday January 3, 2009

• American full buffet breakfast at the Vienna Marriott
• Return flight to Chicago (reservation assistance provided on request)

 

The trip of a lifetime!

$6,495 per person*

Compare our trip (and price) to any others! You will not find a better bargain.

Includes hotel, breakfasts, three group dinners, one brunch, tours, all concert tickets and the New Year's Ball. (excludes airfare)

Accommodations at the 5-star deluxe Vienna Marriott located opposite the Stadtpark, within walking distance of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Staatsoper and the Hofburg Palace.

Commentary on musical events by
Alan Heatherington

* price based on double occupancy.