The Esterhazy Schloss

Saturday, August 1  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 14 days in store for you in historic Austria!

Sunday, August 2  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. 

Monday, August 3  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. Immediately after we return from lunch, we will  learn about the Esterhazy Family from Director Walter Burian of the Haydn Conservatory. Rehearsals will continue in the afternoon in preparation for the first concert on Thursday. 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

Tuesday, August 4  Continue with morning and afternoon rehearsals for The Seven Last Words  and  an informative  lecture on "The Ten Points of Classical Music", delivered by Founding Director, Don V Moses.  A city reception hosted by the Mayor of Eisenstadt will be held following the rehearsals. The entire evening is free for relaxing and enjoying Eisenstadt or you may want to take an optional candlelight tour through Eisenstadt ending at Eva Wagner's Weinhaus for a taste of some Austrian wine.  

Wednesday, August 5   Morning and afternoon rehearsals are scheduled. Before breaking for lunch, there will be a lecture about Haydn's Seven Last Words, offering insights into the work we will be performing. Following the afternoon rehearsal,  there will be a style show at the Trackten Tack shop on the Hauptstrasse with festival participants as models. 

Thursday, August 6   Following a morning brush-up rehearsal in Eisenstadt, participants will depart in the early afternoon for a verständigungsprobe and concert of Haydn's Seven Last Words  in Oberpullendorf. A light supper will be served in Oberpullendorf before the concert.

The Classical Music Festival orchestra and chorus in the Haydnsaal, Schloss Esterházy before the Gala Concert.

Saturday, August 8   Following a morning rehearsal of the Theresienmesse, participants can enjoy a guided tour of the historic Bergkirche. That evening we will present the Haydn Theresienmesse 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 9  Buses take us to Vienna's historic  St. Stephen's Cathedral for a performance of Haydn's Theresienmesse as a part of the Sunday morning liturgical mass. The afternoon is free in Vienna for sightseeing on your own or as part of a tour. Late afternoon buses return to Eisenstadt. After dinner, enjoy an evening  concert at the Bergkirche featuring Festival musicians performing  chamber music and  choral selections.

Monday, August 10   After morning rehearsals for the orchestra version of The Seven Last Words and piano rehearsal for the chorus, there will be a late morning matinee chamber concert in the Empiresaal featuring Festival musicians. Following the afternoon rehearsal, we will enjoy dinner at the Ackerl, a charming family run heurige in Eisenstadt, as guests of Josef and Ella Pratl.  

Tuesday, August 11  This is the optional excursion day. Trip destinations include Salzburg, Budapest, or a boat trip on the Danube which also includes a stop at the Monastery in Melk and ancient castle ruins in Durnstein. 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 12  Castle day! Enjoy a short trip to  Forchtenstein Castle in the morning or simply relax and take some time to explore museums and sights in Eisenstadt. After lunch, there will be brush up rehearsals for both the oratorio version (orchestra, chorus and soloists) and orchestra version of The Seven Last Words. The evening is free to do as you like.

Thursday, August 13  Chorus members and those not performing in either the orchestra version or string quartet version of The Seven Last Words, will have the entire day free to relax, shop, visit museums, or tour the Esterhazy Palace.   Orchestra rehearsal for The Seven Last Words of Christ is scheduled for the morning in preparation for the evening performance  in the Haydnsaal at the Esterhazy Palace. Haydn's string quartet version of The Seven Last Words of Christ will be performed in the late afternoon at the Bergkirche. Prior to the evening orchestra performance, there will be a pre-concert lecture given by Dr. Michael Ruhling, President of the Haydn Society of North America.

Friday, 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 Saturday is a holiday and all stores are closed. In the late afternoon, there will be a performance of the piano version of The Seven Last Words of Christ.  In the evening we will present the oratorio version of The Seven Last Words of Christ at a Gala Concert in the Haydnsaal of the Esterházy Palace. Following the concert, enjoy the Directors' Reception in the Gartensaal.

Saturday, August 15   In the morning we will perform the Haydn Theresienmesse 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!

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