RING CYCLE IN VIENNA. Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava - 14 days. Opera Performances

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1 RING CYCLE IN VIENNA Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava - 14 days Departure: April 28, 2017 Return: May 11, 2017 Wagner s Ring of the Nibelungen is regarded as the most important milestone in the history of music. Vienna Staatsoper has put together a brilliant cast of singers in 2017 to perform the Ring Cycle. During the stretch of five days between Die Walküre and Siegfried, we are offering you a superb opportunity to visit Budapest, Hungary and Bratislava, Slovakia and to see two more operas on this tour. Opera Performances In Vienna: April 30 Das Rheingold - all four performances will be at the Vienna State Opera May 01 Die Walküre May 07 Siegfried May 10 Gotterdammerung In Budapest: May 2 Massenet by Werther at the Hungarian State Opera In Bratislava: May 6 - Cosi Fan Tutte by Mozart at the Slovak National Theater

2 CAST: WOTAN - Bryn Terfel SIEGMUND - Robert Dean Smith SIEGRIED - Stefan Vinke ALBERICH - Jochen Schmeckenbecher BRUNNHILDE - Petra Lang MIME - Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperehacke FRICA - Mihoko Fujimura ERDA - Okka Von der Damerau Friday, April 28. (D)* DEPART FOR VIENNA Depart this evening aboard any airline of your choice to Vienna, Austria. Dinner and light breakfast on the plane. Saturday, April 29. (B,D). VIENNA Independent arrival at the Vienna International airport. Take a taxi to the centrally located deluxe GRAND HOTEL where we stay three nights. Cocktail and Gala Welcome dinner at the hotel. Sunday, April 30. (B,). VIENNA Morning sightseeing of this cultural capital of Europe. Among the sights will be the Hofburg, the former Imperial Palace, and St. Stephen s Cathedral, walk through the charming courtyards and see some of the homes of famous composers such as Beethoven and Mozart. This evening we will see the opera Das Rheingold by Wagner at the Vienna Staatsoper VIENNA: From the time the Romans selected the site of a Celtic settlement for the location of one of its most important Central European forts, Vindobona, the city which grew up in the Vienna Basin of the Danube, has played a vital role in European history. Austria grew up around the city and developed into a mighty empire, but the Viennese character formed during the long history of the country can only be said to be a rich amalgam of the blending of cultures

3 that have made Vienna what it still is today: a city whose people devote themselves to the enjoyment of the good life - music, art, literature, theatre, architecture, education, food and drink - all are part of the gemütlichkeit of Vienna. Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, the Strausses (all of them), Gluck, Mahler, Brahms, Liszt, Haydn, Weber, Schonberg - in the music world alone these are some of the outstanding names which are a part of the soul of Vienna. Monday, May 1. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to visit any of the fine museums within a short walk of our hotel, such as the Albertina or the Museum of Fine Arts. This evening we will see the opera Die Walküre by Wagner at the Vienna Staatsoper. Tuesday, May 2. (B, D). VIENNA - BUDAPEST This morning we drive west to cross the border into Hungary and reach Budapest where we stay three nights at the deluxe HOTEL MARRIOTT located next to the Danube River. This evening we will enjoy a superb dinner entertained by musicians at the famous GUNDEL restaurant. Wednesday, May 3. (B). BUDAPEST Morning sightseeing in this famous twin city will start in Buda with a visit to the 13th century Matthias Church and the Fisherman Bastion. In Pest, the commercial center, we will see St. Stephen s Basilica, the Hungarian Parliament, Hero Square and the newly restored Synagogue. Afternoon at leisure. BUDAPEST is that paradox among Eastern European capitals, a city where the pleasure of the table has lost none of its zing. Happily for visitors enticed by monuments to an opulent past, Hungary s former imperial city is filled with architectural treasures that have been handsomely preserved. Divided by the wide stately bends of the Danube River, Budapest is two cities in one. The halves present a startling contrast. On the east bank modern, bustling, industrial Pest spreads across the low-lying Hungarian piedmont. On the west, 2000-year old Buda the historic heart of the city and a pedestrian s delight wanders into a bastion of secluded hills. Thursday, May 4. (B). BUDAPEST Today is free to take a boat ride on the Danube River right next to our hotel or take one of hot baths in Buda or visit any of the fine museums. This evening we will see the opera Werther by Massenet at the Hungarian State opera.

4 Friday, May 5. (B,D). BUDAPEST - BRATISLAVA This morning we drive west and cross the border into Slovakia, to arrive in Bratislava where we stay two nights at the deluxe, centrally located RADISSON HOTEL. Dinner at the hotel. BRATISLAVA: The Poles, Hungarians, Austrians, Germans and Russians occupied Bratislava, straddling both banks of the Danube River for centuries. It became the capital of the Slovak Republic only on January 1st, 1993, by electing to separate from the former country of Czechoslovakia. Both the Austrian and Hungarian borders are just a stone s throw away from the city center. Saturday, May 6. (B). BRATISLAVA Morning sightseeing of this prosperous city. Among the rights are the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Old City Hall and the Trinity Church. This evening we will see the opera Cosi Fan Tutte by Mozart, at the Slovak National Theatre. Sunday, May 7. (B). BRATISLAVA - VIENNA This morning we head west, back to Vienna where we spend four nights again at the deluxe GRAND HOTEL. This afternoon we will see the opera Siegfried by Wagner at the Vienna Staatsoper. Monday, May 8. (B). VIENNA Today is free to visit some of the other artistic treasures of this city, such as taking a bus ride from near our hotel to the Belvedere Palace built by Prince Eugen of Savoy, and Schönbrunn s Palace built by Empress Maria Theresa. Tuesday, May 9. (B,D). VIENNA Today is free to watch the show of the Lipizzaner Horses at the Spanish Riding school, or visit any of the fine arts museums of the Museum Quarter within a short walk of our hotel. This evening we will have our Gala Farewell dinner at the famous SACHER restaurant.

5 Wednesday, May 10. (B). VIENNA Morning is free to visit the Secession Building housing the Beethoven Frieze created by Gustav Klint, painter of the Woman in Gold, or the Hundertwasserhaus to see the fairytale like house with 50 apartments designed by the flamboyant Austrian artist, one of Vienna s most frequented landmarks. This afternoon we will see the opera Götterdämmerung by R. Wagner at the Vienna Staatsoper. Thursday, May 11. (B). VIENNA - BACK HOME Morning departure aboard your flight back home arriving the same afternoon. Auf wiedersehn. See you on another H.A.T. Tours. * B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine)

6 LAND COST DOUBLE: $7,950 PER PERSON SINGLE: $8,950 IN DOUBLE ROOM TOUR INCLUDES Transfers between airports and hotels on published arrival and departure days only Six operas Orchestra level seats in theaters Deluxe centrally located hotels Buffet breakfast daily and four dinners with wine in gourmet restaurants Welcome reception with cocktails Private sightseeing in each city Experienced English speaking guides Entrance fees to museums Deluxe intercity coach services Transportation to and from theaters Baggage handling Guide, driver and bellboys gratuities Complete package with details of all operas listed H.A.T. Tours Address: PO Box 46876, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33741, USA Phone: (727) Fax: (727) Toll free: (800) Website: