Dresden – a City as a Stage Anne-Sophie Mutter Live & The Magic Flute
Discover the music and culture city of Dresden at its finest. In the famous Semperoper, you will enjoy «The Magic Flute», while at the Kulturpalast an outstanding concert awaits you with star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Danish National Orchestra under Fabio Luisi. Further highlights include the Old Masters Picture Gallery, the Frauenkirche and an excursion to Meissen, including a visit to the world-famous porcelain manufactory.
Dates and prices
- 2027
| 22.05. - 26.05.2027 | Sa. - Mi. | from CHF 2'350.- |
Day 1: Switzerland – Dresden
Journey by luxury Car Rouge coach to Dresden. Check-in and dinner at the Steigenberger Hotel by the Frauenkirche.
Day 2: Dresden & Opera
Along the charming Elbe Valley you will see elegant villa districts, the Elbe castles and the famous «Blue Wonder» bridge. You will then explore the Old Town with the Frauenkirche, Zwinger, Semperoper and Residenzschloss. The afternoon is at your leisure. Before the performance, you will enjoy a fine opera aperitif at the hotel. In the evening, you will attend the performance at the Semperoper.
Day 3: Old Masters & Boat Trip
Visit to the Old Masters Picture Gallery in the Dresden Zwinger. Discover masterpieces of European painting, including Raphael's world-famous «Sistine Madonna» as well as major works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. The magnificent rooms of the Zwinger provide the perfect setting for this art collection. Afterwards, you will enjoy an atmospheric boat trip on the Elbe, accompanied by coffee and cake.
Day 4: Excursion to Meissen
The excursion takes you to Meissen, world-famous for its porcelain. At the MEISSEN porcelain manufactory, you will see the production of «white gold» in the demonstration workshop and gain insights into traditional craftsmanship. You will then enjoy a light lunch before returning to Dresden. In the evening, you will attend the concert at the Kulturpalast.
Day 5: Dresden - Switzerland
Return journey to Switzerland.
CarRouge
The Premium vehicles are state of the art and offer generous space: 3 luxury seats per row, individually adjustable headrests and an interior height of 2.10 m create a unique sense of space.
- 30 wide, luxurious Premium armchairs in a 2+1 seating layout
- Generous seat pitch of 90 cm
- Seat belts at every seat
- Height-adjustable footrest, adjustable backrests and armrests
- A unique sense of space thanks to an interior height of 2.10 metres
- Multichannel sound system at every seat, lane assist and adaptive cruise control
- Free Wi-Fi/internet in Europe
INCLUDED
- Travel by Car Rouge, 2+1 seating
- Music tour manager from/to Switzerland
- Accommodation in a carefully selected 4* hotel
- 4 x B&B (room/breakfast buffet)
- 2 x dinner incl. drinks
- 1 x aperitif with wine and canapés
- 1 x plated main course incl. drinks
- Opera ticket, 1st category
- Concert ticket, 1st category
- Boat trip on the Elbe
- Admissions as per programme
- Car Rouge audio system
Hotels
You will stay at the elegant 4* Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe by the Frauenkirche, right in the heart of the city.
About the opera
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: “The Magic Flute”
Tamino: “This portrait is enchantingly beautiful”
The libretto was written by the actor (who played Hamlet) and director Emanuel Schikaneder. The Egyptian settings were taken from the novel “Sethos” by Jean Terrasson in the translation by Matthias Claudius. Mozart's last opera was composed between spring and September 1791. He conducted the premiere on 30 September at the Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna. One year later, theatre director Schikaneder was already able to schedule the 100th performance.
Prince Tamino, in hunting dress, is terrified of a serpent. Three ladies of the Queen of the Night slay the monster with their silver javelins. They admire the handsome young man. Papageno, with the bird cage on his back and the little faun's flute in his hands, sings his entrance aria as the bird-catcher. His mother is said to have served the “starry-flamed Queen of the Night”. For his birds, the Three Ladies give him sweet bread and sugared figs. He claims to have slain the serpent himself. So today he receives water, a stone and a golden padlock over his mouth. The Three Ladies give Tamino the portrait of the queen's daughter Pamina. His reply is the aria: “This portrait is enchantingly beautiful!” She has been abducted by a villain. The Queen of the Night laments the abduction in her coloratura aria: “I was born to suffer”. In the quintet, the Three Ladies free the silenced Papageno from his padlock, hand him a glockenspiel and give Tamino a golden flute that is meant to grant him omnipotence. The two are to seek out Sarastro's castle, to which three boys will show the way.
Transformation. In an Egyptian chamber, three slaves make merry over the cruel Moor Monostatos and Pamina's escape; she reminds him of Sarastro, who has her put in chains. Papageno recognises her by the portrait around her neck. In the duet “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” the two speak of love and its purpose: “Nothing nobler than man and woman. Woman and man reach towards the divine.”
Transformation. Three temples: of Wisdom, of Reason, of Nature. The three boys exhort Tamino: “This path leads you to your goal”. Two gates turn him away. An old priest opens the third gate: “Where are you headed, bold stranger?” Tamino hates Sarastro. The priest: “So a woman has bewitched you?” Pamina is alive! Animals of every kind rush in at the sound of the magic flute. Monostatos threatens with “bonds and ropes”. Papageno plays his glockenspiel: “That sounds so wonderful...” Sarastro's entrance is accompanied by trumpets and timpani. Pamina tells of the importunate Monostatos. The ruler of the Temple of the Sun does not wish to force her to love, yet neither will he grant her freedom. The couple Pamina and Tamino are led to the Temple of Trials.
The 20-year-old prince is to unite virtue, discretion and charity within himself. Sarastro invokes Isis and Osiris to strengthen the couple with patience in danger.
Transformation. In the forecourt of the temple, Papageno and Tamino are frightened by claps of thunder. His goal: “Let the teaching of wisdom be my victory; Pamina, the lovely maiden, my reward.” Papageno is already content with sleep, food, drink and a pretty little wife. The second priest promises him “Pa-pa-pagena”. The three ladies see the two lost in Sarastro's hands and plunge down through the trapdoor.
Transformation. Pamina in the midst of a grove. The Queen admits her powerlessness. Pamina's father once handed the sevenfold circle of the sun to Sarastro. The Queen demands that her daughter kill Sarastro with the “steel” in order to win back the sun circle: “Hell's vengeance boils in my heart”. Pamina is to love Monostatos! Sarastro's comfort: “Within these sacred halls, vengeance is unknown”.
Transformation. A flying machine on stage. Papagena, disguised as an old woman (18 years and 2 minutes old), woos Papageno, who is ten years her senior. Pamina meets Tamino. He remains silent. She: “Ah, I feel it, it has vanished”.
Transformation: The vault of the pyramids. Chorus of priests: “O Isis and Osiris”. Papageno, cheerfully: “Papageno wishes for a girl or a little wife!” She transforms into a young woman. In the garden the three boys prophesy: “Soon, to herald the morning, the sun shines forth on its golden path”. Pamina wishes to stab herself out of grief.
Transformation: Two great mountains with a waterfall and fire-breathers.
Pamina and Tamino united: “By the power of music we walk joyfully through death's dark night!” Papagena and Papageno find each other as well.
Transformation: The theatre as sun. Monostatos, the Queen and her ladies sink from view. Sarastro proclaims: “The rays of the sun drive out the night, destroy the hypocrites' ill-gotten power”.
The chorus of priests thanks Isis and Osiris: “Strength has triumphed and, as reward, crowns beauty and wisdom with an eternal crown!”