Forgive me if this is a repeat question, but does Rick Steve ever offer a music centric tour? We are particularly interested in going to some of the great choral and organ concerts- Cambridge holiday services as an example. Or classical performances- or anything for that matter. If not RS, would anyone have other recommendations for tapping into the music scene in Europe?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34324 posts
no, I am not aware of any specialist tours ever being offered by Rick Steves.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4682 posts
You could put together your own tour. The Sunday service at the Augustiner Church in Vienna(Hofburg complex) has sublime music. Vienna also has an interesting music museum. Salzburg has a Mozart dinner concert that includes some opera. If you don't have a car to go to Cambridge, Westminster Abbey has Christmas services on the 23rd and 24th but you have to get tickets far in advance. Many churches in England have evensong-we have been to those at York Minster, Salisbury Cathedral, and Cambridge. Sainte Chappelle in Paris has music concerts.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2334 posts
Rick's guidebooks are great about listing musical events available in the various cities as well as how to find other events when you're on the ground in each city. I have attended classical performances in many countries I've visited in Europe. Standouts: Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest.
Edited to add: I also enjoy attending student recitals at the conservatories in bigger cities.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7998 posts
I enjoy classical music arts - have been playing the piano since I was 4 years old.
Some of the events I have enjoyed to give you some ideas:
- Ballet at the Vienna Opera House
- Operas in Palermo, Italy; Verona, Italy (amazing experience at the outdoor historic Roman Arena); Venice, Italy
- Stresa Music Festival (Italy)
- MITO Music event - we attended in Torino; it’s also in Milan, i.e, Milan+Torino is MITO.
- Salzburg, Austria music venues
- Evensong at York Minster, Chester Cathedral & Westminster Abbey.
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
50 posts
The Rheingau Music Festival centred around Wiesbaden, Germany, has concerts all through the Rhein-Main area and into the Rheingau. Also Leipzig has a lot of music history:
https://www.leipzig.travel/en/discover/music-and-culture/music
Lavandula
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7179 posts
Actually there are some European river cruises that highlight music and musical performances, most likely on the Danube River. You can google them. I think AMA might offer something like that, at least they used to. As far as land tours I'm not sure but do some online research and you might find something.
I found one that's a land tour: https://inmozartsfootsteps.com/. But it looks like they only offer tours a couple of times a year. And this one looks like they are mostly operas: https://www.europeanoperatours.com/.
Posted by
Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️
3612 posts
If you want to go to Ireland, check out Inishfree tours. Private concerts! We did one led by John Smith in 2017 and we really enjoyed it.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8076 posts
It's important to understand that most high-end (I mean, non "tourist concert") events in Europe, and summer festivals, tend to sell out. A real musical tour would have to collect a lot of money a year in advance, yet still have considerable risk for the promoter.
When I have wanted to go to the Concertgebouw or the Vienna Opera or the Bavarian Opera, I have bought myself, far in advance. I often have to accept an opera or a concert other than my first choice. In Munich, it was ballet time, not opera time, so we bought ballet tickets. Most theater tickets are non refundable of course. Tour buyers can be very picky. I wouldn't want to have to try selling a contemporary opera to a Verdi lover!
Think how people complain about a cruise port change, or an extra hour on a bus. It's not a pretty picture.
Posted by
OP
Duvall, WA
9 posts
Thank you everyone for chiming in. No pun intended. I appreciate the insights and links.
Posted by
12 posts
My husband and I participate in OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute hrough ASU, although it is offered by many universities. We have attended numerous music sessions with the recently-retired choral director from ASU. Through OLLI, he will be "conducting" a music/art tour in Europe the fall of 2026. We plan to go as we often enjoy music events in Europe and LOVE his discussions! let me know if you are interested in more information!
Posted by
44 posts
Concerts are one “experience” that I enjoy and make trips memorable. Whenever I am planning travel, I always keep my eyes peeled for classical concerts, and sometimes plan travel dates around them. My first RS tour, I got tickets to a Vivaldi concert in Venice during one evening’s free time. I found that listed in the guidebook and it was a highlight of the trip.
Now as soon as I sign up for a tour, I will start hunting for concerts to attend. On a trip to London, my friend and I got tickets for the London Symphony and Academy of St Martin in the Fields. And last summer, I got tickets for the Edinburgh Festival international (months in advance) and ended my trip with a free organ concert at St Giles.