The Esterhazy Schloss

Wednesday, July 30  Depart North America from the gateway city nearest your home, flying with the carrier of your choice, to Vienna. In-flight service includes dinner, breakfast, free beverage service, movies, and plenty of time to anticipate the exciting 16 days in store for you in historic Austria!

Thursday, July 31  Arrive in Vienna, capital of the Habsburg Empire and center of Classical Music. A Festival representative will meet flight arrivals for your transfer in air-conditioned buses to your hotel in Eisenstadt. Take time to unpack, enjoy a brief walk around this beautiful, small city.  Before dinner there will be a two hour chorus rehearsal for the Lord Nelson Mass.

Friday, August 1  Begin with breakfast at your hotel. Festival Orientation begins at the Esterházy Palace with rehearsals immediately afterward and continuing until noon in the stunningly beautiful Haydnsaal of the palace.  Observers will have an opportunity to explore the city of Eisenstadt on a walking tour, led by a palace guide. Before breaking for lunch there will be an informative lecture by Dr. Don V Moses , CMF Founder and Conductor Emeritus, on the Lord Nelson Mass followed by afternoon rehearsals in preparation for the first church concert on Saturday. That evening we return to the palace for the Opening Convocation of the Festival with participants as guests of the Governor of Burgenland at a reception following the convocation

Saturday, August 2  Rehearsals are scheduled during the day. That evening we will present the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass at the Mattersburg parish church as a part of the Saturday evening mass. Following the mass we will be guests for dinner at a country inn in the quaint village of Pöttelsdorf.

Sunday, August 3   Choirs-in-residence will provide sacred music as part of the Sunday morning mass at the Domkirche and  Franziskaner in Eisenstadt. Following the morning mass, you will have free time until afternoon rehearsals for Missa Solemnis. Following rehearsal, the rest of the evening is open for relaxing and enjoying Eisenstadt.

Monday, August 4   Continue with rehearsals for the Missa Solemnis for performances in the coming days. Participants will also be able to attend a  lecture given by Dr. Don V Moses on the Missa Solemnis.  Enjoy the rest of the beautiful summer evening  in Burgenland at a favorite heurige (Ackerl).

Wednesday, August 6   There will be a morning  rehearsal for our first Missa Solemnis performance on Thursday.  Then it's . . . Castle Day!  Enjoy a trip to Forchtenstein Castle in the afternoon or simply relax and take some time to explore museums and sights in Eisenstadt. Later in the afternoon there will be a style show at the Trackten Tack shop on the Hauptstrasse with festival participants as models.  The rest of the evening is yours.

Thursday, August 7   Following a morning brush-up rehearsal in Eisenstadt, participants will depart in the early afternoon for a verständigungsprobe and concert of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in Oberpullendorf.

Friday, August 8   Vienna Day! We will board buses at our hotels for a full day of sightseeing. Our first stop will be in the village of Rohrau to visit Haydn's family house where he was born 276 years ago. From there we will travel to the Central Cemetery in Vienna where the musicians of the city are buried before proceeding to the city center to visit the Vienna State Opera House and continue on a tour of downtown focusing on important musical sites, all led by Vienna certified guides

Saturday, August 9   Following a morning rehearsal of the Lord Nelson Mass, Joseph Bauer,  Music Director and church organist for the Bergkirche will take participants on a guided tour of this historic church. The festival will present two chamber music concerts, afternoon and evening, featuring the Kismarton String Quartet, the CMF Woodwind Quintet, the USF Student Brass Quintet and vocal soloists.  You will also have free time for museum visitation or shopping.

Sunday, August 10   Buses take us to Vienna's historic  St. Stephen's Cathedral for a performance of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass as a part of the Sunday morning liturgical mass. The afternoon is free in Vienna for sightseeing. Late afternoon buses return to Eisenstadt. After dinner, enjoy an evening concert at the Bergkirche featuring the Western Michigan University Choir.

Monday, August 11   Enjoy the morning off!  We will board buses at noon for travel to Jennersdorf in southern Burgenland for an evening concert at the Parish Church. A picnic/supper on the church grounds will be provided. Return to Eisenstadt late following the concert.

Tuesday, August 12  This is the optional excursion day for travel to Fertöd, Hungary to visit the palace Esterháza or Bratislava, Slovakia or Budapest, Hungary. These trips require additional payment. A bus will pick you up at your hotel, and Festival personnel will accompany you for an enjoyable day of new experiences. Return to Eisenstadt in the evening. Those not on these trips may have a free day for visiting museums, sightseeing, and shopping in Eisenstadt.

Wednesday, August 13  Following a relaxing morning in Eisenstadt,  we will have an afternoon brush up rehearsal for Friday’s performance of the Lord Nelson Mass. The entire evening is free for relaxing and preparing for our final two concerts.  

Thursday, August 14   In the morning is a rehearsal at the palace with the afternoon free for resting, visiting museums or doing some sightseeing or shopping. This is the last day available for museum visits and shopping since Friday is a holiday and all stores are closed. In the evening we will present Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at a Gala Concert in the Haydnsaal of the Esterházy Palace. Following the concert, enjoy the Directors' Reception in the Gartensaal.

Friday, August 15   In the morning we will perform the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass in the Bergkirche, the Esterhazy’s church where Haydn's last six masses were first performed and where Haydn is now buried. This mass celebrates the holy day of Maria Himmelfahrt Festgottesdienst (Ascension of Mary). Following the service we will be guests of the church at a reception in the building where Haydn and the other Esterházy musicians lived. The afternoon is free for packing followed by our Farewell Party in the evening!

Saturday, August 16   Begin Festival bus transfers to Schwechat Airport, Vienna, for return flights to the U.S.