University of Minnesota Morris Concert Choir Bradley Miller, Director Performance Tour of the Czech Republic and Austria May 16 25, 2017 Proposed Itinerary 10 Day Tour Day One Tuesday, May 16, 2017 Depart Minneapolis Departure Depart from Minneapolis today for your performance tour of the Czech Republic and Austria. Day Two Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Arrive Arrival Arrive in, Czech Republic, clear customs and claim your luggage. Meet your Gateway Tour Manager and your European tour leader, who will be with you for your entire tour to handle travel and performance arrangements., the city of one hundred spires, boasts stunning physical and architectural beauty at every turn. Once seat of the Holy Roman Empire and later the citadel of Europe s ruling Habsburg family, is a jewel set in the center of Europe. It is also home to more than ten major museums and its historic center is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner
Day Three Thursday, May 18, 2017 City Tour Impromptu Performance Moldau River Cruise Your guided city tour of begins in the Castle complex on a hillside above the city, which includes the Golden Lane and majestic Gothic-style St. Vitus Cathedral. Cross historic Charles Bridge, lined with thirty Baroque statues and filled with Czech artists, musicians and souvenir vendors. An impromptu performance may be possible at St. Vitus Cathedral. Impromptu performances occur spontaneously in aesthetically inspiring spaces such as cathedrals, historic landmarks, monuments and memorial sites. Gateway does not obtain advance authorization and does not secure a performance time. Audiences are ambient, comprised of people visiting the site. This afternoon take a cruise down the scenic river, Moldau. Take in some unique and beautiful views of and the surrounding countryside that inspired composer Bedrich Smetana to write Die Moldau, one of six symphonic poems he wrote about the Czech Republic. Czech Folklore Dinner Gather this evening for an unforgettable experience of a Czech Folklore show. Performers will entertain you with traditional Czech songs and dances as you enjoy your dinner. Day Four Friday, May 19, 2017 Free Time Enjoy a free day in for shopping and individual sightseeing. You may choose to relax and people-watch in Wenceslaus Square and Old Town Square. Popular attractions include the National Museum, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn and the Jewish Quarter. Each is accessible by public transportation (entrance fees and transportation costs not included). Perform a promoted concert in St. Nicholas Church or similar. Promoted concert venues may include school or community auditoriums, concert halls, churches or outdoor stages. Concerts may be independent, comprise part of a concert series, benefit a local charity or include a local ensemble. Typical lengths range from 45-90 minutes. Audiences are attracted through promotion. Promotion varies by location and may include posters and flyers, event listings, invitations and press releases to radio stations and newspapers.
Day Five Saturday, May 20, 2017 Transfer Depart for today and travel through the delightful countryside of Southern Moravia. If there is time, you ll make a stop in a quaint Czech town in Southern Moravia, where you ll get a taste of regional flavor, a contrast to the bustling cities on your tour. Mauthausen Concentration Camp Visit the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Designated a category three, the camp opened in 1938 and claimed an estimated 150,000 victims before liberation in 1945. Free Afternoon, where W.A. Mozart was born and raised, holds to its musical traditions even today, as witnessed by the Mozart tunes that ring from the Glockenspiel. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore. You may choose to visit Hohensalzburg Castle, situated atop the Festungsberg mountain overlooking. With a length of 820 feet and a width of 490 feet, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. Day Six Sunday, May 21, 2017 City Tour Church Recital Your guided tour of Old Town includes entrance to Mozart s Birthplace on Getreidegasse. Walk along the cobblestone streets to the Town Square, dominated by the Cathedral. See the Residenz, the Mozarteum, and Mirabell gardens where, in The Sound of Music, Maria and the children danced around the statue Pegasus while singing Do-re-mi Perform a church recital in the Cathedral or similar. Church recitals occur in historically or acoustically inspiring churches or cathedrals, usually during the day on weekdays or Saturdays. Gateway obtains advance authorization and secures a performance time. Typical lengths range from 15-45 minutes. Audiences are ambient, comprised of people visiting the church. Perform a promoted concert in of the surrounding area.
Day Seven Monday, May 22, 2017 Transfer Melk Abbey Impromptu Performance Travel from to today via the scenic Wachau Valley. Visit Melk Abbey, a historic Benedictine abbey and one of the world's most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river Danube. It has the rare distinction of surviving as an active Benedictine monastery continuously since its foundation. Particularly noteworthy sites are the Baroque Church with ornate sculptures and frescos and the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts. An impromptu performance may be possible at Melk Abbey. Danube River Cruise Travel through the Danube River Valley on a boat cruise. Relax on-board, each gentle bend in the river reveals another picture-perfect snapshot of hillside villages, vineyards and castles. is the capital of Austria. Schubert, Beethoven and Strauss are among the many composers who found inspiration in this beautiful city on the Danube. In 2001, the entire city center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Day Eight Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Schönbrunn Palace Free Time Visit Schönbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the royal Habsburg family. Lavishly furnished rooms have been beautifully preserved, and the expansive gardens are breathtaking. Enjoy free time in for shopping and individual sightseeing. Popular attractions include guided tours of the State Opera House, the Museum of Art History, the House of Music Museum, the Boy Choir (Sunday morning masses and select evening concerts), and the Lipizzaner Stallions (entrance fees not included). Each is accessible by public transportation (transportation costs not included). Stop at an old coffee house to enjoy the Viennese ambience and an unforgettable pastry. Perform a promoted concert in or the surrounding area.
Day Nine Wednesday, May 24, 2017 St. Stephen s Cathedral Church Recital Walking Tour Heurigen Dinner Visit St. Stephen s Cathedral this morning. The seat of a Roman Catholic Archbishop and a beloved symbol of, this is the site of many important events in Austria s national history. Perform a church recital in St. Stephen s Cathedral or similar. This morning, travel to the pedestrian part of the city center where you will take a guided walking tour and see the exteriors of such sites as the Royal Palace and Mozart s Figarohaus, his residence from 1784-1787 and the Staatsoper (States Opera House), first opened in 1869, destroyed by bombs during World War I, and reopened in 1955. Tonight s festive dinner will be at a heurigen, a traditional Viennese wine tavern with strolling musicians. Day Ten Thursday, May 25, 2017 Depart Arrive Minneapolis Departure Transfer to the airport for your return journey. You will arrive in the United States later today. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. Performance venues may be subject to availability and/or acceptance.