LEIPZIG WAGNER FEST 22
Oper Leipzig, July 6-15, 2022
The city of Richard Wagner’s birth is the very appropriate location for the staging of the master composer’s tetralogy and, in July 2022 our party of Wagner aficionados will travel to Leipzig to attend the revival of the acclaimed Rosamund Gilmore Ring Cycle production during four performance evenings at the Oper Leipzig, led by Maestro Ulf Schirmer helming the superb Gewandhausorchester.
The cast is promising to be superb, with world-class Wagner artists such as René Pape, Michael Volle, Evelyn Herlitzius, Andreas Schager, Lise Lindstrom, Iain Paterson and Simon O’Neill all scheduled to be present on stage. No celebration of Wagner would be complete without his final work, Parsifal, and we are delighted to extend our time in Leipzig to round out our program in memorable fashion. With an operatic history of more than 300 years, Leipzig, formerly part of East Germany and playing a pivotal role in the 1989 protest movement, is also renowned for its history as a commercial center and its multifaceted music and cultural scene.
Owing to its unique system of passageways, the city exudes a distinctive flair. Stylish boutiques and top department stores invite visitors to shop and stroll. The innovative Leipzig Music Trail connects twenty-three of the most significant music sites in the city center and the new G2 Art Space opposite St. Thomas Church presents over 50 artworks from the private Hildebrand Collection. Emerging, as well as renowned artists from the so-called New Leipzig School are on display, including Tilo Baumgärtel, Neo Rauch, David Schnell and Matthias Weischer.
We have selected the perfectly situated Steigenberger Grand Hotel Handelshof for the nine night stay and breakfast is included each day. Our exceptional and musically knowledgeable Leipzig guide Dipl. Dolm. Hiltrud Wiesner will take us on an exploratory tour of the city center, with visits to the Mendelssohn House and the University of Music. A tour of the wonderful Gewandhaus will also be arranged during our stay.
On one of the non-performance days the party will head for the equally intriguing city of Dresden for a guided visit of its impressively restored historic section.
Leipzig Halle airport (LPH) may be reached with convenient German internal air connections from the international hubs at Frankfurt and Munich. Another convenient option is the rail service directly from Frankfurt airport, taking approximately four hours.
Hotel:
Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof
“Am Naschmarkt” Satzgässchen 6, 04109, Leipzig
T. +49 341 350581 0 www.leipzig.steigenberger.de
Superior rooms for single occupancy, deluxe rooms for double occupancy. Suites upon request.
ITINERARY
Independent arrivals:
Optional car service: Act 1 will assist with transfers from Berlin Brandenburg Airport or Leipzig/Halle Airport or Leipzig main rail station.
Wednesday, July 6
Independent check in.
Welcome reception in the hotel.
Thursday, July 7
Breakfast is included daily to be taken at leisure. Morning relaxed walking tour of the inner city including the Bach Museum and Thomaskirche. A coffee break will be included.
Independent lunch.
5:00pm Das Rheingold
Dinner at location to be decided.
Friday, July 8
Mid-morning meet and transfer by coach to the Mendelssohn-Haus. (www.mendelssohn-stiftung.de) Private tour and possibly a short piano recital.
Transfer to the Gewandhaus for a short tour and talk (subject to confirmation).
Independent lunch.
5:00pm Die Walküre
Intermissions 30 – 40 minutes (estimate)
Dinner will be served during intermissions in the exclusive festival event dining area.
Saturday, July 9
Daytime at leisure.
Lunch with invited guest(s) to be confirmed or on an alternative date.
5:00pm Siegfried
First intermission refreshments in dining event area.
Post-performance light supper party with artists and Oper Leipzig guests (subject to confirmation and may take place on another date).
Sunday, July 10
Optional: Join other festival attendees for a guided tour of The Young Richard Wagner permanent exhibition at the Old St. Nicholas School followed by a short concert and typical Wagner menu lunch at the restaurant.
5:00pm Götterdämmerung
First intermission dinner followed by second intermission desserts.
Monday, July 11
Exclusive visit to Oper Leipzig Wagner Festival 22 lead sponsor Porsche at their Leipzig Centre. Following a warm welcome, a behind the scenes tour of this innovative plant will appeal to both high performance car enthusiasts as well those more generally interested in future of the motor industry. An exciting test drive on the factory circuit may be added for the thrill seekers.
A stylish lunch at the centre’s dining room rounds out the visit.
Note: Late afternoon alternative date for the Gewandhaus tour.
Tuesday, July 12
Full day excursion by private coach to Dresden and Graupa. Starting in Graupa, view rare photographs and manuscripts at the world’s olderst Wagner Museum. This is the location that inspired the composition of Lohengrin. Refreshment break before the short transfer to Dresden and a tour of highlights of the Old Town followed by lunch. A tour of the Semperoper Dresden and/or the Green Vault Treasury collection at the Royal Palace will be included. Should a Semperoper performance be scheduled closer to date, the day may be reconfigured to attend.
Wednesday, July 13
Enjoy a full day at leisure, with optional activities under development.
Thursday, July 14
Morning is open.
4:00pm Parsifal
Dinner to be served during the intermissions.
Back at the hotel: Celebratory post-festival toast to the time spent together in Leipzig.
Friday, July 15
Independent departures with car service assistance.
Pricing guideline to not confirmed until itinerary is completely finalized
- $9,750 per person double occupancy
- $10,950 single
Tentative Cast Information (all to be confirmed):
All Ring operas:
Conductor: Ulf Schirmer
Director: Rosamund Gilmore
Das Rheingold:
Fricka Kathrin Göring
Freia Gabriela Scherer
Erda Karin Lovelius
Wotan Michael Volle
Donner Anooshah Golesorkhi
Froh Matthias Stier
Loge Thomas Mohr
Fasolt Sebastian Pilgrim
Alberich Markus Brück
Mime Dan Karlström
Die Walküre:
Sieglinde Elisabet Strid
Brünnhilde Allison Oakes
Siegrune Sandra Maxheimer
Siegmund Simon O´Neill
Hunding Tobias Kehrer
Wotan Iain Paterson
Grane Ziv Frenkel
Siegfried:
Siegfried Andreas Schager
Mime Dan Karlström
Der Wanderer Iain Paterson
Erda Karin Lovelius
Alberich Tuomas Pursio
Götterdämmerung:
Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom
Gutrune Gal James
Waltraute Kathrin Göring
Siegfried Stefan Vinke
Gunther Tuomas Pursio
Hagen Sebastian Pilgrim
Parsifal:
Conductor: Ulf Schirmer
Kundry Evelyn Herlitzius
Amfortas Tuomas Pursio
Titurel, 2. Gralsritter Randall Jakobsh
Gurnemanz René Pape
Parsifal Andreas Schager
Klingsor Kay Stiefermann
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