Join WFMT’s Carl Grapentine and enjoy the performances of the Vienna Philharmonic with Riccardo Muti at the world famous Musikverein, as well as Puccini’s “Tosca”, Donizetti’s “Elixir of Love” and “Tales of Hoffmann” by Offenbach at the Vienna State opera house as well as a Mozart Concert in Salzburg.
Includes
Itinerary
Tues, May 11, 2021 (Departure from the U.S.)
Depart Chicago O’Hare to Vienna on overnight flight. (D)
Day 1: Wed, May 12, 2021
Upon arrival we will be met by our guide and private motor coach driver and taken to our luxury hotel – the hotel InterContinental Vienna.
Tonight, we will have our Welcome Dinner at the hotel. (B, D)
Day 2: Thurs, May 13, 2021 (Orchestra)
Today we will have a guided tour of the beautiful city of Vienna, including Schönbrunn Palace.
Tonight: Vienna Philharmonic with Riccardo Muti (Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms). (B)
Day 3: Fri, May 14, 2021 (Opera)
Breakfast at our hotel and day at leisure to explore all that Vienna has to offer. Tonight, we will go to Piccini’s “ Tosca” at the Vienna State Opera. (B)
Day 4: Sat, May 15, 2021 (Opera)
Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure to enjoy the sights and sounds of Vienna.
Tonight we attend “Elixir of Love” at Opera or Vienna Philharmonic at Musikverein. (B)
Day 5: Sun, May 16, 2021 (Opera)
Breakfast at hotel. This evening we will be going to Offenbachs’s “Tales of Hoffmann at the State Opera.
Day 6: Mon, May 17, 2021
Breakfast at hotel and we will have a farewell luncheon on our last day in Vienna.
Day 7: Tues, May 18, 2021
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Salzburg. Along the way, we will take a boat trip on the Blue Danube from Krems to Durnstein. We will also tour Melk Abbey. Later in the afternoon we will arrive in Salzburg where we will stay at the historic Goldener Hirsch Hotel situated in the Old Town section of Salzburg. (B, L)
Day 8: Wed, May 19, 2021
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a tour of the delightful city of Salzburg. (B)
Day 9: Thurs, May 20, 2021 (Concert)
Free day in Salzburg to spend time in the city or take a tour to “Eagle’s Nest or the “Sound of Music Tour”. Tonight, we will have a farewell dinner and Mozart concert in the baroque hall. (B, D)
Day 10: Fri, May 21, 2021 (Departure)
After breakfast we will depart Salzburg for Munich for our afternoon, non-stop flight home from Chicago. (B, L)
Carl Grapentine
After 22 year with WFMT Radio Station, Carl Grapentine has retired as the host of the Morning Program on WFMT/ 98.7 FM, Chicago’s Classical Fine Arts Station. Carl first joined WFMT in 1986 and had been the host of WFMT’s morning program since 1996.
Carl presents pre-concert lectures for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Music of the Baroque. He also performs as narrator with the Chicago Pro Musica and hosts concerts for numerous community orchestras and bands. He has been the host for the nationally-syndicated broadcast concerts of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra on the WFMT Fine Arts Network, and he hosts the National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis each spring.
An alumnus of the University Of Michigan School Of Music, Carl has been the “stadium voice” of the University of Michigan Marching Band for 44 seasons–his voice being heard on national telecasts of sixteen Rose Bowl games and numerous other bowl games. In 2006 he assumed additional duties as the game announcer at Michigan Stadium.
An accomplished conductor and singer, Carl has thirty years of experience as a church music director. Currently he sings in the choir of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IL. He has also sung the national anthem for professional and collegiate sporting events at Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park, Tiger Stadium, the Pontiac Silverdome, and the University of Michigan’s Crisler Arena.
