Beethoven along the Rhine - Amsterdam to Basel
Deal number 26478195
Martin Randall Travel
5/05/2027
Europe
8-day tour
Departing from Amsterdam
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Exclusive Inclusions
7 night Martin Randall exclusive charter river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel onboard MS Amadeus Riva in a Strauss Front stateroom.
All meals, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last, with wine, and interval drinks.
Daily talks by leading Beethoven expert Professor Laura Tunbridge.
Eleven private concerts in historic and appropriate buildings.
Coach travel between airport and ship, and to concert venues when not reached on foot.
A detailed programme booklet and the assistance of festival staff.
All gratuities, taxes and admission charges.
The service of a dedicated Travel Advisor managing your booking.
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Our 2027 Rhine festival focuses on Beethoven in the 200th anniversary year of his death. An eight-day celebration of the greatest composer of all time, it includes eleven concerts that showcase the full range of his musical genius, from his larger masterpieces to his more intimate chamber works.
At the centre of the festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience: the chance to hear all of Beethovens string quartets over a two-day period, performed in the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, where in 1770 the composer was born. Three of the finest string quartets in the world the Doric, Modigliani and Leonkoro interweave in what will be a unique and profound musical event. The combination of world-class artistry, an incomparable connection between music and place, and the sheer majesty of some of the most sublime musical compositions ever written, provides the heart from which this festival takes its life.
The string quartets are not the only thrilling part of this celebration. We start and finish with some of Beethovens most exciting larger works, performed by the superb Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, joined by star soloists such as Nemanja Radulovi? (Violin Concerto). More intimate works include the monumental Diabelli Variations by renowned pianist Steven Osborne, and the peerless Archduke Piano Trio, presented on very special period instruments by the Rautio Trio. The brilliant Nash Ensemble complete the set with Beethovens spirited and joyful Septet. Works by a small collection of other composers provide contrast throughout the programme.
To add to the exceptional line-up, we travel seamlessly through four countries by luxury river cruiser, from Amsterdam to Basel, with concerts in magnificent historic venues such as the Concertgebouw and Schloss Mannheim. Daily talks to deepen our understanding of these powerful works are given by acclaimed Beethoven expert Professor Laura Tunbridge. And, as always, the concerts are arranged exclusively for our audience, which leads to an intimacy that engenders a special intensity of musical communication.
At the centre of the festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience: the chance to hear all of Beethovens string quartets over a two-day period, performed in the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, where in 1770 the composer was born. Three of the finest string quartets in the world the Doric, Modigliani and Leonkoro interweave in what will be a unique and profound musical event. The combination of world-class artistry, an incomparable connection between music and place, and the sheer majesty of some of the most sublime musical compositions ever written, provides the heart from which this festival takes its life.
The string quartets are not the only thrilling part of this celebration. We start and finish with some of Beethovens most exciting larger works, performed by the superb Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, joined by star soloists such as Nemanja Radulovi? (Violin Concerto). More intimate works include the monumental Diabelli Variations by renowned pianist Steven Osborne, and the peerless Archduke Piano Trio, presented on very special period instruments by the Rautio Trio. The brilliant Nash Ensemble complete the set with Beethovens spirited and joyful Septet. Works by a small collection of other composers provide contrast throughout the programme.
To add to the exceptional line-up, we travel seamlessly through four countries by luxury river cruiser, from Amsterdam to Basel, with concerts in magnificent historic venues such as the Concertgebouw and Schloss Mannheim. Daily talks to deepen our understanding of these powerful works are given by acclaimed Beethoven expert Professor Laura Tunbridge. And, as always, the concerts are arranged exclusively for our audience, which leads to an intimacy that engenders a special intensity of musical communication.
Itinerary
Day 1 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Join one of our festival flights or trains or make your own way to the ship.
Amsterdam is as distinctive as it is beautiful. It grew rapidly in the 16th and 17th centuries from a small and precarious sea port to become the greatest trading emporium in Europe. With its concentric canals and close-set brick merchant houses, soaring churches and picturesque alleys, the inner city has hardly changed since its heyday.
Board the ship, MS Amadeus Riva, from 4.00pm. Afternoon tea is available. An early dinner precedes the concert.
The Concertgebouw, built in the 1880s on what was then the edge of the city, is one of the most famous concert halls in the world. Renowned for its luminous acoustics, it became home to one of Europes finest orchestras. While the Grand Hall impresses with scale and gilded splendour, the Small Hall, location of our concert, offers intimacy: an elegant rectangular salon with soft light, restrained decoration, and superb clarity of sound.
Concert, 8.30pm:
Amsterdam, Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Programme to be confirmed.
Sail from Amsterdam to Wesel, departing in the late evening.
Amsterdam is as distinctive as it is beautiful. It grew rapidly in the 16th and 17th centuries from a small and precarious sea port to become the greatest trading emporium in Europe. With its concentric canals and close-set brick merchant houses, soaring churches and picturesque alleys, the inner city has hardly changed since its heyday.
Board the ship, MS Amadeus Riva, from 4.00pm. Afternoon tea is available. An early dinner precedes the concert.
The Concertgebouw, built in the 1880s on what was then the edge of the city, is one of the most famous concert halls in the world. Renowned for its luminous acoustics, it became home to one of Europes finest orchestras. While the Grand Hall impresses with scale and gilded splendour, the Small Hall, location of our concert, offers intimacy: an elegant rectangular salon with soft light, restrained decoration, and superb clarity of sound.
Concert, 8.30pm:
Amsterdam, Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Programme to be confirmed.
Sail from Amsterdam to Wesel, departing in the late evening.
Day 2 Schloss Lembeck, Germany
Leave the Netherlands and enter Germany shortly after daybreak, sailing along the Lower Rhine throughout the rest of the morning. There is a talk and lunch, but otherwise free time until early afternoon.
Moor at Wesel and drive to Schloss Lembeck near Dorsten, a delightful moated Wasserschloss (water castle) situated in a park. It dates from the 17th century and retains its historic character. Our recital takes place in a small hall hung with ancestral portraits. Due to the size of the hall, the recital is repeated.
Recital, 2.45pm or 4.45pm:
Schloss Lembeck, Festsaal
Diabelli Variations
Steven Osborne piano
From a little waltz, a monument rises. Beethovens determination to write as many as thirty-three variations on the melody sent to him by the publisher and composer Anton Diabelli puts it beyond even Bachs Goldberg Variations. The piece offers a veritable encyclopedia of creative technique and pianistic skill, pushing every tiny aspect of the original melody to extremes. The emotional palette correspondingly ranges from the witty and absurd (suggesting some parody of the original) to the profound and cathartic, making a surprisingly epic experience for the audience. Return to the ship in the evening and sail overnight from Wesel to Bonn.
Moor at Wesel and drive to Schloss Lembeck near Dorsten, a delightful moated Wasserschloss (water castle) situated in a park. It dates from the 17th century and retains its historic character. Our recital takes place in a small hall hung with ancestral portraits. Due to the size of the hall, the recital is repeated.
Recital, 2.45pm or 4.45pm:
Schloss Lembeck, Festsaal
Diabelli Variations
Steven Osborne piano
From a little waltz, a monument rises. Beethovens determination to write as many as thirty-three variations on the melody sent to him by the publisher and composer Anton Diabelli puts it beyond even Bachs Goldberg Variations. The piece offers a veritable encyclopedia of creative technique and pianistic skill, pushing every tiny aspect of the original melody to extremes. The emotional palette correspondingly ranges from the witty and absurd (suggesting some parody of the original) to the profound and cathartic, making a surprisingly epic experience for the audience. Return to the ship in the evening and sail overnight from Wesel to Bonn.
Day 3 & 4 Bonn, Germany
Moor in Bonn from Friday morning to Saturday evening.
Over the next two days, we step into the heart of our Beethoven celebration, embarking on an extraordinary journey through the complete cycle of his string quartets. All concerts take place in the Kammermusiksaal, a handsome modern chamber music hall attached to the Beethoven family home within easy walking distance of the mooring.
Beethovens quartets could be compared to a set of mountain ranges. The early set of six published together as Opus 18 are already impressive feats of musical ingenuity, showing Beethovens mastery of the Haydn model, but also his eagerness to shake it up. They make for energetic but still accessible climbs for performers who want to scale their slopes.
The next works are another matter: bigger, wider-ranging, and considerably more technically challenging, the three Opus 59 quartets (dedicated to Beethovens patron Count Razumovsky) left the amateur origins of the form behind and demanded professional interpreters. Similar challenges await in the other middle-period works, Opus 74 (Harp) and Opus 95 (Serioso). Reaching these peaks needs training.
The late quartets, beginning with Opus 127 and finishing with Opus 135, are a set of Everests. Even professionals are pushed to their limits, with dazzling virtuosity and emotional depth required from all four performers. The awesome majesty of the Grosse Fuge makes for particularly intense listening.
It is an extremely rare treat to hear all of these works in the space of just two days, offering a journey that is as much about Beethovens creative development as the pieces themselves.
Friday 7 May
String Quartets 1: 9.30am
No. 1 in F major (Op. 18, No. 1)
No. 2 in G major (Op. 18, No. 2)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 9 in C major (Razumovsky III, Op. 59, No. 3)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets II: 2.30pm
No. 4 in C minor (Op. 18, No. 4)
No. 7 in F major (Razumovsky I, Op. 59, No. 1)
Leonkoro Quartet
No. 15 in A minor (Op. 132)
Modigliani Quartet
String Quartets III: 8.15pm
No. 10 in E flat major (Harp, Op. 74)
No. 13 in B flat major (Op. 130)
Doric Quartet
Saturday 8 May
String Quartets IV: 9.30am
No. 3 in D major (Op. 18, No. 3)
No. 8 in E minor (Razumovsky II, Op. 59, No. 2)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 12 in E flat major (Op. 127)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets V: 2.15pm
No. 5 in A major (Op. 18, No. 5)
No. 11 in F minor (Serioso, Op. 95)
Leonkoro Quartet
No. 16 in F major (Op. 135)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets VI: 5.45pm
No. 6 in B flat major (Op. 18, No. 6)
Grosse Fuge in B flat major (Op. 133)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 14 in C sharp minor (Op. 131)
Leonkoro Quartet
Over the next two days, we step into the heart of our Beethoven celebration, embarking on an extraordinary journey through the complete cycle of his string quartets. All concerts take place in the Kammermusiksaal, a handsome modern chamber music hall attached to the Beethoven family home within easy walking distance of the mooring.
Beethovens quartets could be compared to a set of mountain ranges. The early set of six published together as Opus 18 are already impressive feats of musical ingenuity, showing Beethovens mastery of the Haydn model, but also his eagerness to shake it up. They make for energetic but still accessible climbs for performers who want to scale their slopes.
The next works are another matter: bigger, wider-ranging, and considerably more technically challenging, the three Opus 59 quartets (dedicated to Beethovens patron Count Razumovsky) left the amateur origins of the form behind and demanded professional interpreters. Similar challenges await in the other middle-period works, Opus 74 (Harp) and Opus 95 (Serioso). Reaching these peaks needs training.
The late quartets, beginning with Opus 127 and finishing with Opus 135, are a set of Everests. Even professionals are pushed to their limits, with dazzling virtuosity and emotional depth required from all four performers. The awesome majesty of the Grosse Fuge makes for particularly intense listening.
It is an extremely rare treat to hear all of these works in the space of just two days, offering a journey that is as much about Beethovens creative development as the pieces themselves.
Friday 7 May
String Quartets 1: 9.30am
No. 1 in F major (Op. 18, No. 1)
No. 2 in G major (Op. 18, No. 2)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 9 in C major (Razumovsky III, Op. 59, No. 3)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets II: 2.30pm
No. 4 in C minor (Op. 18, No. 4)
No. 7 in F major (Razumovsky I, Op. 59, No. 1)
Leonkoro Quartet
No. 15 in A minor (Op. 132)
Modigliani Quartet
String Quartets III: 8.15pm
No. 10 in E flat major (Harp, Op. 74)
No. 13 in B flat major (Op. 130)
Doric Quartet
Saturday 8 May
String Quartets IV: 9.30am
No. 3 in D major (Op. 18, No. 3)
No. 8 in E minor (Razumovsky II, Op. 59, No. 2)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 12 in E flat major (Op. 127)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets V: 2.15pm
No. 5 in A major (Op. 18, No. 5)
No. 11 in F minor (Serioso, Op. 95)
Leonkoro Quartet
No. 16 in F major (Op. 135)
Doric Quartet
String Quartets VI: 5.45pm
No. 6 in B flat major (Op. 18, No. 6)
Grosse Fuge in B flat major (Op. 133)
Modigliani Quartet
No. 14 in C sharp minor (Op. 131)
Leonkoro Quartet
Day 5 Mannheim, Germany
The early morning is spent sailing through the Middle Rhine, the most dramatically picturesque stretch of the river. See vine-clad hills with castles on many of the peaks, and charming little towns and villages at the waters edge. There are talks on the music during sailing, and time to relax after the musical intensity of the previous two days.
Arrive at Mannheim in the late afternoon, where the ship remains until dinner.
Mannheim succeeded Heidelberg as the capital of the Palatinate, one of the richest and most culturally accomplished of the smaller states of Germany. In the mid-18th century the court orchestra was famous throughout Europe; Mozart called it an army of generals. The great Baroque Schloss, within walking distance of the ship and venue for our concert, is one of the largest in Europe.
Concert, 5.00pm:
Schloss Mannheim, Rittersaal
Piano Trios: Archduke, Mozart
Rautio Piano Trio
In the Archduke Beethoven expands the piano trio into something symphonic in breadth, yet intimate in utterance. Its emotional range moves from serene assurance to inward contemplation, with moments of radiant warmth throughout. The result is a work of noble scale and quiet grandeur. Other piano trios, including at least one by Mozart, make up the first half. All are performed on period instruments, including a very special Graf piano from the same decade as the Archduke was written.
Sail overnight from Mannheim to Strasbourg.
Arrive at Mannheim in the late afternoon, where the ship remains until dinner.
Mannheim succeeded Heidelberg as the capital of the Palatinate, one of the richest and most culturally accomplished of the smaller states of Germany. In the mid-18th century the court orchestra was famous throughout Europe; Mozart called it an army of generals. The great Baroque Schloss, within walking distance of the ship and venue for our concert, is one of the largest in Europe.
Concert, 5.00pm:
Schloss Mannheim, Rittersaal
Piano Trios: Archduke, Mozart
Rautio Piano Trio
In the Archduke Beethoven expands the piano trio into something symphonic in breadth, yet intimate in utterance. Its emotional range moves from serene assurance to inward contemplation, with moments of radiant warmth throughout. The result is a work of noble scale and quiet grandeur. Other piano trios, including at least one by Mozart, make up the first half. All are performed on period instruments, including a very special Graf piano from the same decade as the Archduke was written.
Sail overnight from Mannheim to Strasbourg.
Day 6 Strasbourg, France
Moor in Strasbourg mid morning. The ship remains there until the early afternoon.
From the Middle Ages onwards Strasbourg has been one of the most important intellectual and artistic centres in Europe. The city has oscillated politically between Germany and France, while culturally it belonged to both; it is now seat of the European parliament. The streets, canals and architecture of the old centre make it one of the most attractive cities in France, and the cathedral is one of the great Gothic buildings of Europe.
Concert, 11.00am:
Villa Quai Sturm
The Septet & Others
Nash Ensemble
The Septet Op.20 shows Beethoven at the peak of his early period. The six movements in a serenade format (usually background music for parties) draw on the structures of his classical predecessors, as do the balanced, charming melodies and the interplay between instruments. However there are also hints of the Beethoven to come, with the emotional depth, a striving for symphonic grandeur even in small-scale contexts, and more challenging parts for all instruments equally. Its no surprise that this was his most popular work during his lifetime. Short works by Bach, Crusell and others will also be performed.
Sail during the afternoon and overnight from Strasbourg to Basel.
From the Middle Ages onwards Strasbourg has been one of the most important intellectual and artistic centres in Europe. The city has oscillated politically between Germany and France, while culturally it belonged to both; it is now seat of the European parliament. The streets, canals and architecture of the old centre make it one of the most attractive cities in France, and the cathedral is one of the great Gothic buildings of Europe.
Concert, 11.00am:
Villa Quai Sturm
The Septet & Others
Nash Ensemble
The Septet Op.20 shows Beethoven at the peak of his early period. The six movements in a serenade format (usually background music for parties) draw on the structures of his classical predecessors, as do the balanced, charming melodies and the interplay between instruments. However there are also hints of the Beethoven to come, with the emotional depth, a striving for symphonic grandeur even in small-scale contexts, and more challenging parts for all instruments equally. Its no surprise that this was his most popular work during his lifetime. Short works by Bach, Crusell and others will also be performed.
Sail during the afternoon and overnight from Strasbourg to Basel.
Day 7 Basel, Switzerland
Straddling the Rhine at the uppermost point for shipping, the Swiss city of Basel (Bale) abuts the borders of France and Germany. In part due to its nodal location, Basel has always been an important centre of music, with many of the great performers, teachers and composers passing through. It retains much of its centuries-old streetscape and architecture, including a cathedral and four fine churches dating to the Middle Ages.
The Martinskirche in Basel dates to the 12th century, and in 1529 Basels first German-language Reformation sermon was delivered here. By 1798 it fell into disuse, but a thorough restoration in the 1850s introduced a semi-circular stage for choral concerts, marking its transformation into Basels oldest concert venue.
Concert, 5.00pm:
Basel, Martinskirche
Violin Concerto
Basel Chamber Orchestra Krzysztof Urbanski conductor
Nemanja Radulovic violin
This is a programme of night and day. Beethovens Violin Concerto may have grandeur and drama in the mix, but the overall feeling is abundant freshness. From the playful dialogues in the first movement, where the whole orchestra responds to the surprise opening timpani solo, to the rollicking finale, the listening experience is one of delight. In contrast, Dvoraks Seventh Symphony marked a dark departure from his previous cheer. Depicting the political struggles of his homeland, it is a stormy and thrilling journey towards a final moment of triumph.
The Martinskirche in Basel dates to the 12th century, and in 1529 Basels first German-language Reformation sermon was delivered here. By 1798 it fell into disuse, but a thorough restoration in the 1850s introduced a semi-circular stage for choral concerts, marking its transformation into Basels oldest concert venue.
Concert, 5.00pm:
Basel, Martinskirche
Violin Concerto
Basel Chamber Orchestra Krzysztof Urbanski conductor
Nemanja Radulovic violin
This is a programme of night and day. Beethovens Violin Concerto may have grandeur and drama in the mix, but the overall feeling is abundant freshness. From the playful dialogues in the first movement, where the whole orchestra responds to the surprise opening timpani solo, to the rollicking finale, the listening experience is one of delight. In contrast, Dvoraks Seventh Symphony marked a dark departure from his previous cheer. Depicting the political struggles of his homeland, it is a stormy and thrilling journey towards a final moment of triumph.
Day 8 Basel, Switzerland
Coach transfers depart between 8.00am and 12.00 noon.
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