A new cruise for music lovers

If you have a passion for orchestral music and would like to experience one of the world’s premier orchestras in some of the most stunning settings in Europe, then look no further.

German specialist tour operator, Dertour has launched a new ‘Sea & Music’ cruise of the Baltic Sea for 2010 featuring the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

The cruise will take place between the 7th and 17th of July 2010 and its itinerary includes Kiel, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Kaliningrad. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s conductors will be Valery Gergiev and Christian Thielemann, and will feature soloist performances by pianist Rudolf Buchbinder and soprano Ildiko Raimondi.

Highlights will include three concerts – one in St Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre; the second in Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall and the final one in Kaliningrad, which was the birthplace of the German composer and conductor, Otto Nicolai, who founded the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Classical music’s rising star, Christian Thieleman will be conducting works by Nicolai and Beethoven to mark this occasion.

Prices start from £2,679 per person to include onboard accommodation on the four-star ‘Mein Schiff’ (onboard facilities include swimming pool, luxury spa and fitness centre, shops, casino etc). The price includes return flights with British Airways from Heathrow to Hamburg, transfer to/from ship, ten nights full board accommodation, all gratuities, port taxes and visas for onshore visits to concerts, or as part of an organised excursion. Based on two people sharing.

Included musical highlights are as follows: three onshore gala concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in St Petersburg, Helsinki and Kaliningrad; two additional onshore concerts in Tallinn and Stockholm; four chamber music concerts by ensembles of the VPO on board; autograph session; onboard lecture by Prof. Dr Clemens Hellsberg and transport to and from all onshore concerts plus access to occasional rehearsals of the full Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra onboard.

For more information or to book go to dertour.co.uk .