Depart Australia or New Zealand on suggested flights. Renaissance Tours can assist you with your travel arrangements, including flights, a private airport transfer and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

Arrive in Berlin and check in to your hotel. In the late afternoon, join Scott and your fellow tour members for a welcome briefing, followed by dinner.

(D)

After breakfast, join Scott for a pre-performance talk about tonight’s performance. Then, enjoy a guided architectural-focused tour of Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with five world-famous museum buildings from the time of the Prussian rulers.

In the early evening, walk to the Berlin State Opera to attend Das Rheingold, the prelude to Der Ring des Nibelungen. Watch Alberich, sung by Johannes Martin Kränzle, steal the gold from the Rhinemaidens, and hear Michael Volle in the role of Wotan, the father of the gods. Belcanto tenor Rolando Villazon is cast as Loge, after his successful performances of Mozart’s German operas. After the performance, enjoy a light dinner at the hotel.

(BD)

Join Scott for a pre-performance talk after breakfast and spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon at leisure to relax or explore Berlin at your own pace. At 4pm attend a performance of Die Walküre. American tenor Robert Watson and Lithuanian soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė appear as Siegmund and Sieglinde and acclaimed Wagner soprano Anja Kampe makes her first appearance on stage as Brünnhilde. After the performance, enjoy a light dinner at the hotel.

(BD)

This morning, join Scott for an excursion to West Berlin. See the district’s renowned monuments and boulevards, and visit the famous food hall at the KaDeWe department store. Lunch and the remainder of the afternoon are at leisure. In the evening, attend a performance of Richard Strauss’s opera Arabella at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles.

(B)

After a pre-performance talk about this evening’s performance, enjoy a backstage tour at the Berlin State Opera. This building re-opened in 2018 after a mammoth 12-year renovation.

In the evening, transfer by coach to the Berlin Philharmonie concert hall for a performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis by the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Berlin State Opera Choir, conducted by Daniel Barenboim. A stellar cast of soloists join the orchestra and choir, including Elena Stikhina, Saimir Pirgu and René Pape.

After the performance, enjoy dinner in a nearby restaurant before returning to the hotel.

(BD)

After a morning at leisure, join Scott for a pre-performance talk, before heading to the Berlin State Opera once again to attend a performance commencing at 4pm of Siegfried. Heldentenor Andreas Schager will undoubtedly impress as Siegfried when he slays the dragon, steals the ring from giant Fafner and awakens Brünnhilde, again sung by Anja Kampe.

(B)

Depart on a full-day tour to Potsdam, located about 40 kilometres from Berlin. Potsdam is best known for the magnificent palaces and parks dating back to its time as the former royal seat of Prussia, and offers a fascinating panorama of German culture and history.

Begin with a drive through Sanssouci Park followed by a visit to the New Palace. It was built in 1763 after the end of the Seven Years’ War, and is considered to be the last great Prussian baroque palace. It has been renovated recently and the building’s highlights are once again visible in their full glory, including the shimmering Grottensaal (Grotto Hall) and the magnificent Marmorsaal (Marble Hall). After lunch, drive through the Russian Colony, see the Dutch Quarter and finish with a visit to St Nicholas’ Church.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure. There is an opportunity to attend an optional performance at the Komische Oper Berlin of Kurt Weill’s songs, performed by Katherine Mehrling and staged by Barrie Kosky (not included in tour price; tickets available on request, pending availability. An additional cost applies).

(BL)

This morning, attend a final pre-performance talk, before joining Scott and your fellow travellers for a special farewell lunch at a local restaurant.

Later, return to the Berlin State Opera to attend a performance of Götterdämmerüng. Watch the protagonists perform on stage once more, before the monumental Ring Cycle comes to an end. After the performance, enjoy a drinks reception with your fellow tour members at the hotel.

(BL)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your travel arrangements, including extra nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, an airport transfer and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)

IMPORTANT: Travel insurance
It is a condition of travel with Renaissance Tours that you are covered by comprehensive travel insurance, including cancellation insurance. We strongly recommend that you purchase this insurance as soon as you have made your first non-refundable deposit. We are happy to assist you with this – please enquire when you confirm your registration and booking.