The great composer would find a lot the same in the Florence of the Elbe today which is the beauty of the Saxon gem… so, rock me Amadeus in Dresden.
Dresden, as we have come to know despite a British school system that tried to airbrush the WWII firebomb, rebuilt its grandeur.
With its palaces, kirches, friezes and Semperoper retouched in every finest Renaissance detail from 1789 when Mozart visited.
Such was Mozart’s renown that culture and opera lovers of the day would travel far and wide from his Austrian home
To Germany and across the continent to listen to the superstar.
Culture vultures
Much as they do today but whereas opera buffs then would rely on rickety stagecoaches.
Today’s culture vultures can just leave it all to the go-to people in opera holidays to the great music cities of Europe, The Institute for Culture Travel.
IFC is floating a four-night tour to buy for Christmas, in Hof & Dresden from Friday, June 14 to Tuesday, June 18.
Hof and running
15th June: Opera in Hof – Patrick Cassidy’s ‘Dante – From Inferno to Paradise’
You’ll start in Hof in this picturesque Bavarian town where you’ll spend two nights.
The highlight will be the world premiere of Patrick Cassidy‘s opera, ‘Dante – From Inferno to Paradise’ and a meet and greet.
Patrick, Ireland’s most renowned living classical composer, is known for his film scores.
And the aria ‘Vide Cor Meum’ from the film Hannibal.
Pure magic
Before you hit the road for Dresden and the master himself and that Magic Flute ‘Die Zauberflöte’ at the repurposed Semper.
Your price will include:
- Return flight Dublin-Berlin
- Coach transfers as follows:
- 14 June: Berlin airport – Central Hotel in Hof with lunch stop
- 16 June: Central Hotel in Hof to Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe in Dresden
- 18 June: Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe in Dresden To Berlin Airport
- Two-nights in the Central Hotel in Hof with breakfast
- Two-nights in the Steigenberger Hotel in Dresden with breakfast.
- Meals as follows:
- 14 June: Lunch in Leipzig on route to Hof
- 14 June: Drinks reception and welcome dinner in the Central Hotel in Dresden with Patrick Cassidy in attendance
- 15 June: Pre-opera dinner
- 16 June: pre-opera dinner
- Category 1 ticket to Dante – From Inferno to Paradise by Patrick Cassidy in Theatre Hof
- Category 1 ticket to Mozart’s enchanting opera Die Zauberflöte at the world-famous Semper Opera House.
- Walking tour in Leipzig (duration approx. 1-hour)
- Walking tour in Dresden (duration approx. 2-hours)
Price: €1,493pps, Single Supplement: €249