Arrival at leisure in Baden-Baden.

Recommended train: departs Paris Gare de l’Est at 10:54 am / arrives Strasbourg at 12:39 pm (ICE no. 9573).

Private transfer to Baden-Baden for those who have booked the recommended train (1-hour journey).

In Amadeus, winner of the 1984 Academy Award for Best Picture, Milos Forman tackled the enigma of Mozart’s genius. How did a slight young man so easily develop such transcendent genius? After settling in at the hotel, we’re off to rehearsal to solve this mystery. Under the direction of their favourite conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe takes on two Mozart monuments: the celebrated Symphony No. 40 and the no less than mythical Requiem from 1791, a sublime testimony to the composer’s last days. Always affable and available, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin will answer your questions while you wait for the concert at the Festspielhaus.

We then walk to the city’s legendary Casino, the largest and oldest in Germany. This incredible establishment, built by Friedrich Weinbrenner, exudes an irresistible charm. Actress Marlene Dietrich called it the most beautiful casino in the world! Its glass-domed winter garden and French chateau-inspired salons are the perfect backdrop for cocktails and an original dinner, before the more adventurous among you try their luck at blackjack, poker or roulette…

Dinner at the casino, return and overnight at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Baden-Baden is an enchanting stopover. The Romans named it Aquae, after the thermal springs on the site of today’s Market Square (the remains of the first ancient baths can be visited today). From the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th, it was a golden age. The splendid casino opened in 1838, and the whole of Europe flocked here in summer, giving the German town an incomparable lifestyle. From the lovely old town, perched on a hill, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of the Rhine valley, and when the weather’s fine, you can see the blue line of the Vosges mountains. Near the river Oos below, the Belle-Époque town unfolds with its superb residential houses. Our English-speaking guide will show you all the city has to offer.

Lunch and afternoon at leisure.

Whether you prefer to relax and enjoy a wellness program or take a more in-depth look at the city, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities. The magnificent Frieder Burda Museum, for example, designed by American architect Richard Meier, houses a superb collection of modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The abstract expressionism of Richard Pousette-Dart is eloquently displayed. And Baden-Baden couldn’t fail to honor one of its most beloved children: Johannes Brahms. Since 1967, a museum has been reconstructing the German composer’s home, including the Salon Bleu in which he composed his first two symphonies. Finally, the Fabergé Museum is a marvellous curiosity to discover. Nearly 700 pieces by the famous Russian jeweler are on display, including his famous imperial Easter eggs made for the Tsar’s family.

In the evening, we head for the superb Festspielhaus, one of Europe’s most renowned concert halls. Conducted by Nézet-Séguin, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the RIAS Kammerchör (RIAS Chamber Choir) will perform the two masterworks rehearsed the day before.

8 p.m. at the Festspielhaus:

REQUIEM, W. A. Mozart

Chamber Orchestra of Europe
RIAS Chamber Choir

Yannick Nézet-Séguin : Musical Director

Program :

– W. A. Mozart: Symphony No. 40

– W. A. Mozart: Requiem in D minor, KV 626

In June 1788, the entire Mozart family was forced to move to a less expensive apartment on the outskirts of Vienna. Worse still, on June 29 of the same year, their daughter Theresa died at the age of just six months. And yet, Symphony no. 40 bears little trace of autobiographical torment. The passionate agitation of its two extreme movements, the supreme refinement of the Andante and the fierce, dark impetus of the Menuetto evoke the fulfillment of a lifetime of symphonic writing. As for the Requiem, the circumstances surrounding its composition remain a mystery. Commissioned by Count Walsegg to pay tribute to his young wife, who had died a few months earlier, the work remained unfinished after Mozart’s death on December 5, 1791. On the initiative of the composer’s wife, Constanze, the Requiem was completed by Joseph Eybler – who gave up before the magnitude of the task after having orchestrated the Dies irae – and Franz-Xaver Süssmayr, Mozart’s assistant, who, within a few weeks, finished the orchestration, completed the Lacrimosa and created the Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus dei from scratch ; all in imitation of his master’s handwriting, so as not to arouse Count Walsegg’s suspicions! Whatever the extent of Mozart’s contribution, the Requiem remains a universal monument to human history. Dinner with musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Yannick Nézet-Séguin after the concert (subject to the conductor’s availability).

After the concert, we will dine at the authentic and sophisticated AIDA restaurant in the Festspielhaus. Its parquet flooring, stuccoed ceiling, mirrors on the walls and imposing crystal chandelier will take you on a culinary voyage back to the Belle Epoque.

Return and overnight at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Private transfer to the Black Forest.

The Black Forest is a land of legends. Baden-Baden is surrounded by gentle hills and vineyards. You’ll find all the beautiful trees and plants of the European woodlands, but with the help of the sunshine, you’ll also find rose gardens, redwoods and exotic flowers. There’s nothing more pleasant than a stroll along the Lichtentaler Allee, where you’ll find the rarest species in a verdant setting. It’s this floral paradise that we invite you to discover on a walk punctuated by countless anecdotes and legends. It’s in this chic, lush setting that you’ll enjoy a gourmet break full of surprises.

Back to the hotel around noon.

After a lunch and afternoon at leisure, it’s time for the second concert by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

At 6pm : at the Festspielhaus:

YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN AND FRIENDS

Yannick Nézet-Séguin       Musical Direction

Soloists from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Soloists from the RIAS Chamber Choir

Programme :
– R. Schumann : Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47
– W. A. Mozart : Arias

Composed during a period when Schumann focused almost exclusively on chamber music (between June 1842 and January 1843), the Piano Quartet stands as one of the supreme masterpieces of this unique formation, blending the shimmering sound of strings with the fluid harmonies of the piano. Beyond its sheer sonic beauty, the quartet also showcases Schumann’s mastery in intertwining lyricism, depth, and formal innovation, making it an essential pillar of the Romantic repertoire.

In the second half, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will conduct a delightful selection of arias from Mozart’s operas. These sublime pages, filled with grace and emotion, will round off an evening dedicated to musical virtuosity and elegance.

After the concert, dinner will take place at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jardin de France, housed in the historic Stahlbad building, a former 19th-century thermal hotel. Owners Sophie and Stéphan Bernhard are committed to offering a high-end culinary experience, blending classic and reinvented dishes made with seasonal ingredients. A true cuisine from the heart, sure to delight epicureans!

Return and overnight stay at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

The morning will begin with music, as you attend the rehearsal featuring both works from the evening’s concert.

Following this, you will depart for the rolling hills surrounding Baden-Baden, where the vineyards of the Black Forest flourish. The Neuweier Estate and Castle, owned by the Schultze family since 2012, boasts a top-tier terroir. Robert Schärtle crafts exceptional wines, which are further elevated by chef Jan Hoffmann in his gourmet restaurant. It will be impossible to resist the charm of this exquisite lunch, with its breathtaking view over the vineyards.

In the evening, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe will present its third and final concert dedicated to Mozart.

At 5:00pm, at the Festspielhaus:

GRAND MASSE IN C MINOR, by W. A. Mozart

Chamber Orchestra of Europe

RIAS Chamber Choir
Yannick Nézet-Séguin       Musical Direction

Programme :
– W. A. Mozart : Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551
– W. A. Mozart : Jupiter Symphony
– W. A. Mozart : Grand Mass in C minor, K. 427

Comme As is often the case, the subtitle Jupiter for Symphony No. 41 was coined by an impresario aiming to boost the work’s posthumous reception among the public. However, the name aptly reflects the symphony’s imposing and majestic nature. With its intricate counterpoint, harmonic exploration, and masterful combination of sonata and rondo form, this final symphony stands as a brilliant testament to Mozart’s orchestral expertise at the peak of his creative powers.

In 1783, five years earlier, the composer was already paying tribute to the great masters of the past with his Grand Mass in C minor, also known as the “Great Unfinished Mass.” Upon arriving in Vienna, Mozart attended the weekly musical salons hosted by Baron Van Swieten, who possessed manuscripts of Bach and Händel. Enthralled, Mozart meticulously studied these Baroque giants, and his Mass reflects their influence—vast proportions, intricate counterpoint and fugue, and the alternation of solo arias with grand choral forces, reminiscent of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Händel’s Messiah.

After the concert, enjoy a convivial dinner at a high-end restaurant selected by our team.

Return and overnight stay at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Departure at leisure from Baden-Baden.
Private transfer to Strasbourg Station for guests who have booked the recommended train (1-hour journey).

Recommended return train : Departure from Strasbourg à 10:46am / Arrival at Paris Gare de l’Est à 12:31 (TGV INOUI n° 9576).