Arrive in Paris on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), a private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Andy Bromberger and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing and talk at the hotel, followed by dinner.

(D)

Begin the day with a walking tour of the 16th arrondissement. This district encompasses the well-known area of the Trocadéro and the Bois de Boulogne and is known for its ornate nineteenth-and twentieth-century architecture, wide avenues and museums.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

This evening, enjoy a performance by celebrated pianists Martha Argerich and Ivo Pogorelich accompanied by a string quartet of the Staatskapelle Berlin at the Jean Nouvel-designed Philharmonie de Paris.

PROGRAM:
Chopin – Piano Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 (version for piano and string quintet)

(BL)

Following a talk by Andy in the morning, embark on an excursion outside Paris to the charming medieval town of Montfort l’Amaury. Known for its historical heritage, the town is located at the foot of low hills among forests and fields in the Yvelines region. Visit Maurice Ravel’s Museum House, also known as ‘Le Belvédère’. It was here that Ravel composed some of his most famous works, including the Boléro.

Return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon and enjoy some time at leisure before tonight’s performance.

The performance featured this evening at the Philharmonie de Paris is by renowned French baroque music ensemble Les Arts Florissants. Known for reviving interest in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century European music, this orchestra performs using authentic period instruments.

PROGRAM:
Scarlatti – Messa di Santa Cecilia
Vivaldi – Magnificat

(B)

Today, the morning and afternoon are at leisure to explore Paris’s charming neighbourhoods, iconic landmarks and vibrant cafés.

After an early dinner, walk to the Philharmonie de Paris for a performance by the Orchestre de Paris under the baton of Klaus Mäkelä featuring acclaimed Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii.

PROGRAM:
Grieg – Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16
Mahler – Symphony No. 1 in D major, Titan

(BD)

This morning, check out of the hotel and transfer to Gare du Nord for the high-speed train to Amsterdam.

On arrival at Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, transfer to the hotel for check-in followed by some free time.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Begin the day with a talk by Andy before a private, guided tour of the world-famous Rijksmuseum, which offers an excellent overview of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages onwards, and of major aspects of European and Asian art. The remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore the Rijksmuseum or the Museum Quarter at your own pace.

Tonight, enjoy a performance at the Concertgebouw, renowned for its unparalleled acoustics. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann joined by German-American violinist Augustin Hadelich.

PROGRAM:
Tchaikovsky – Violin concerto in D major, op. 35
Brahms – Symphony No. 4 in E minor

(B)

Enjoy a morning visit to the Van Gogh Museum, featuring the world’s largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries. The museum houses more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 of his letters, including masterpieces such as Sunflowers and The Potato Eaters, and several self-portraits.

The remainder of the morning and the afternoon are at leisure to relax or to explore Amsterdam at your own pace.

After an early dinner at a local restaurant, transfer to the Muziekgebouw for a performance of the Orchestra of the 18th Century, one of the most prominent period instrument orchestras in the world. Conducted by Benjamin Wenzelberg and joined by soprano Elisabeth Hetheringon, the ensemble performs works by Martines, Hadyn and Moore, among others.

PROGRAM:
Works by Martines, Haydn and Moore

(BD)

This morning, after a talk by Andy, visit the Stedelijk Museum, a contemporary art museum featuring 90,000 pieces collected since 1874. The collection encompasses nearly every influential art and design movement that shaped the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The afternoon is at leisure before a performance at the Concertgebouw, where the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by German violinist Isabelle Faust.

PROGRAM:
Järventausta – Bacchanale
Dvořák – Violin concerto in A minor, op. 53
Richard Strauss – Don Juan, op. 20
Mahler – Symphony No. 10 in F-sharp major

(B)

Today, the morning is at leisure to relax or to further explore Amsterdam at your own pace.

In the afternoon, return to the Muziekgebouw to hear the Netherlands Bach Society Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Johanna Soller, perform a Bach repertoire.

PROGRAM:
Johann Sebastian Bach – Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43 / Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich BWV 17
Johann Ludwig Bach –  Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen

Afterwards, enjoy an early dinner at a local restaurant before a performance by young Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev at the Concertgebouw.

PROGRAM:
Works by Schubert, Grieg, Sibelius, Scriabin, Lourie and Rachmaninov

(BD)

This morning, transfer to Amsterdam Airport for an early-afternoon flight to Berlin (flight included in tour price).

Arrive in Berlin in the mid-afternoon. After checking in to the hotel, enjoy some time at leisure.

This evening, walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

(BD)

Begin the day with a talk by Andy on the coming days’ performances. Then, enjoy an architecture-focused walking tour of Museum Island. This unique ensemble of five world-famous museum buildings from the time of the Prussian rulers is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the evening, transfer to the Berliner Philharmonie for a performance by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin with Grammy Award-nominated organist Cameron Carpenter.

PROGRAM:
Bernstein – On the Town
Barber – Toccata festiva for organ and orchestra, op. 36
Copland – Symphony No. 3

(B)

This morning, enjoy a guided tour of the Neue Nationalgalerie. The modern art museum was designed by renowned architect Mies van der Rohe and features an impressive collection of artworks by twentieth-century artists such as Otto Dix, Max Ernst, Mark Rothko, Dalí and Miró.

After lunch at a nearby restaurant, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Tonight, hear the Karajan-Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of chief conductor Kirill Petrenko perform at the Berliner Philharmonie.

PROGRAM:
Debussy – String Quartet in G minor
Ibert – Three short pieces for wind quintet
Ravel – Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet
Schubert – Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D 417

(BL)

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax or to further explore Berlin’s vibrant neighbourhoods, renowned historical sites and eclectic cultural scene.

In the early evening, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Andy and fellow travellers at a local restaurant.

Then, return to the Berliner Philharmonie for the final performance of the tour. Under acclaimed conductor Klaus Mäkelä, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performs Stravinsky’s The Firebird.

PROGRAM:
Norman – Play for orchestra (German premiere)
Stravinsky – The Firebird, Ballet music

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

For those returning home today, make your way to Berlin Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private airport transfer, additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)