YOUR ITINERARY
Day 1: Munich
Fly at 12.40pm from London Heathrow to Munich (British Airways). After an introductory lecture and discussion, there’s a chance for everyone to meet over a dinner in the hotel restaurant. Day 2: Munich
The day begins with a walking tour of key city sights: the glittering Baroque interior of the Asamkirche, the soaring nave of the Frauenkirche, and the Ohel Jakob Synagogue. The afternoon is devoted to the spectacular palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty – the Residenz. Here, the Cuvilliés Theatre houses one of the most wonderful Rococo interiors in Europe – its carvings were removed for safe keeping during World War II. Day 3: Munich, Oberammergau Free morning in Munich. En route to Oberammergau, we visit the loveliest of Ludwig II’S palaces, the Linderhof, before arriving at our Oberammergau hotel in time for a group dinner.
Day 4: Oberammergau
The day of the Passion Play begins with our second lecture, and some free time – a chance perhaps to visit the museum documenting the play’s history. The play is the product of ten months of rehearsal and the work of 2,000 people: each half lasts two and a half hours, with a three-hour dinner interval.
Day 5: Wies
On the way back to Munich Airport, we’ll stop at the beautiful 18th-century pilgrimage church of Wies, whose success, like the Passion Play, derives from its integration of high art and local, peasant tradition. Arrive at Heathrow at 5.25pm.
Plus: Each of the five-day tours is attended by BBC Music Magazine’s editor or deputy editor