Dessau can look back on over a 150-year Wagner tradition. On March 20, 1857, Wagner’s Tannhäuser was the first of Wagner’s works to be performed in Dessau at the Herzogliches Hoftheater (Royal Court Theatre). Dessau's first performance of Die Meistersinger took place in January 1869, only seven months after the world premiere in Munich and nine days after the first performance in Dresden.
"After Bayreuth, Dessau is where Wagner's art is best cultivated, both stylistically and true to detail” - Cosima Wagner
We have managed to secure 1st category tickets (3rd & 4th row of Parkett or 1st & 2nd row of the Circle) for the complete Ring cycle at the Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau which takes place in May next year. We are also able to offer our guests a 'Premium package' which includes drinks and refreshments before each performance and light meals during the intervals.
The Dessau Ring has a modern setting (see photo's opposite) but (as with Weimar in 2009 and Riga in 2013) it is a tribute to regional European opera that a company of this size can stage a complete Ring with critical success using their own orchestra and singers.
During World War II Dessau was virtually destroyed and the architecture of the era of communism from the 1950's onwards have left their scar on the city. However, just 35 minutes away, is the historic city of Wittenberg, officially now Lutherstadt Wittenberg after it's most famous son.
Wittenberg's historic importance ensured that it was a 'protected city' during the war and so much of the historic heart of the city was saved. This makes a perfect base for us and we will stay seven nights at the 3* Superior Luther Hotel Wittenberg on a bed and buffet breakfast basis. For those of you that have travelled with us before to the Albrechtshof in Berlin - the Luther is under the same ownership. The city is situated midway between Berlin and Leipzig (about an hour's drive from each).
Easyjet have just released their flying programme for May 2015 so we will be flying from Liverpool to Berlin with the following flight times:
Monday 11th May depart Liverpool 1245 arrive Berlin 1550
Monday 18th May depart Berlin 1615 arrive Liverpool 1730
Departures from other cities are also possible.
An outline of the itiinerary:
11th May - We transfer by private coach to Wittenberg where we stay for the next seven nights. Welcome dinner on the first evening.
12th May - morning walking orientation of Wittenberg. Afternoon visit to the city of Halle, birthplace of Handel and home to an excellent museum celebrating his life. Early dinner in Halle and return to Wittenberg.
13th May - free day in Wittenberg until we depart late afternoon to Dessau for our first evening of the Ring - Das Rheingold
14th May - local daytime activity in Wittenberg and depart mid afternoon for our second evening of the Ring - Die Walkure
15th May - This morning we visit the Botantical Gardens of the University. Mid afternoon depart Wittenberg for Siegfried
16th May - late morning depart for Leipzig where we spend the remainder of our day and have dinner this evening before we returing to Wittenberg.
17th May - free morning in Wittenberg before we leave mid afternoon for our final performance of the Ring - Götterdämmerung
18th May - depart from Wittenberg back to Berlin for our flights back to the UK.
If you would like to add a three night stay at the Leonardo Hotel, Berlin (just around the corner from the Deutsche Oper) then you can do this for just £150 per person (twin or double share) or £200 (double for sole use).
