A CLASSICAL JOURNEY TO COPENHAGEN HAMBURG AMSTERDAM March 5-16, 2019 Join KDFC host Robin Pressman on an extraordinary classical journey to Copenhagen, Hamburg and Amsterdam. Bound to the sea, these three historic cities offer world-class museums and fabulous cultural experiences. In addition you ll attend Turandot, performed by the Royal Danish Opera, Nabucco at the Hamburg State Opera and Girls of the Golden West performed by the Dutch National Opera Company. And not to be missed, the Rotterdam Philharmonic! You'll enjoy three great cultural capitals, leisurely stays, local dining and numerous cultural events. Don t miss out - join fellow classical music lovers for an extraordinary journey to Copenhagen, Hamburg and Amsterdam this coming March. Space is limited. TRIP AT A GLANCE 3 Nights Copenhagen 3 Nights Hamburg 4 Nights Amsterdam
INCLUDED Hosted by KDFC's Robin Pressman Fully guided by an Earthbound Expeditions guide Six top tickets to classical performances Superior four-star hotels Private transport All breakfasts plus eleven multi-course meals Backstage tours of opera houses and symphony halls Tickets and guided tours to world-class museums Pre-concert talks with your hosts TRIP FACTS $6,949 per person based on double occupancy land (without air) $1,399 single supplement March 5, trip departs the USA March 6, trip begins in Copenhagen March 16, trip ends in Amsterdam GROUP FLIGHT OPTION: $995 Optional group flight on KLM departs San Franciso on March 5, 2019 WAYS TO SAVE $500 *KDFC or Earthbound alumni save $100 *Reserve by December 15, 2018 and save $300 *Pay your final balance by check and save $100
YOUR CLASSICAL KDFC JOURNEY BEGINS DAY 0: Tuesday March 5 Depart the USA for wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen! DAY 1: Wednesday, March 6 - Velkommen til Danmark! Welcome to Denmark! Your KDFC classical journey begins this evening at a Copenhagen hotel. An airport transfer is included from Copenhagen Kastrup to the hotel for those on the group flight. Stretch your legs and enjoy a short stroll along the waterfront to view the Little Mermaid sculpture and the Amalienborg Palace before dinner. This evening enjoy a Welcome to Denmark dinner with your KDFC host, Robin Pressman, and fellow guests. Sleep in Copenhagen (D) DAY 2: Thursday, March 7 - Charming Copenhagen This morning you are invited to join a knowledgeable local guide for a fascinating walk through the old alleyways of Copenhagen. We ll visit the city s charming harbor of Nyhavn and stroll down the Strøget, Copenhagen s main pedestrian avenue. After enjoying a group lunch featuring regional specialties in a local restaurant, you ll be treated to a private chamber music concert featuring local musicians. The evening is yours to relax and explore Copenhagen at your own leisurely pace. Sleep in Copenhagen (B, L)
DAY 3: Friday, March 8 - North Sealand and Frederiksborg Castle Today we journey to North Sealand, filled with quaint villages, historic palaces, lovely lakes, and dense forests. We ll visit 17th-century Frederiksborg Castle, built by Christian IV in Danish Renaissance style. You ll savor regional fare at local restaurant and drive the Yellow Roads along the "Danish Riviera" back to Copenhagen. This evening, return to Copenhagen and rest up before joining your host for an evening at the Royal Danish Opera Company presenting Puccini's Turandot. Sleep in Copenhagen (B, L) DAY 4: Saturday, March 9 - South to Hamburg, Germany Enjoy a relaxing morning in Copenhagen before traveling south to historic Hamburg, Germany. Like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, Hamburg is tied to the sea and shares a common history. For Hamburg, it all began in 808, when Emperor Charlemagne ordered the construction of a castle on the marshy land between the River Alster and the River Elbe to fend off Slavic tribes. The fort can still be seen in the city s code of arms. In 1189 Frederick I Barbarossa allegedly gave Hamburg the title of Free Imperial City within the Holy Roman Empire. This tax-free access to the Lower River Elbe enabled the city to become a key trading power in Europe. For the next three days we will set out to discover the art, culture, food and music of this important German port. Sleep in Hamburg (B, D)
DAY 5: Sunday, March 10 - Discover Hamburg and Enjoy Nabucco! Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and its most important port. Accompanied by a local guide, this morning we will set out to discover the history of this extraordinary city. Enjoy an included lunch highlighting local fare before having a free afternoon to explore Hamburg on your own. This evening we will attend Verdi's Nabucco at the Hamburg State Opera. Sleep in Hamburg (B, L) DAY 6: Monday, March 11 - An Outing to Beautiful Lübeck Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Lübeck is unique and wonderful. The water-enclosed Old Town with its roughly 1,800 listed buildings, historical alleyways and criss-crossed lanes is not, just pretty to the eye, it is also the hub of a lively city with about 214,000 inhabitants. Lübeck was once the most important city in the Hanseatic League*. And is now an important port on the Baltic Sea. J. S. Bach made his famous 400 km journey by foot from Arnstadt to Lübeck to hear the great organist and composer, Buxtehude play at the St. Mary's Church which we will visit. After enjoying an in-depth city tour you'll have a bit of time free to shop and stroll the merry streets and an included lunch before heading back to Hamburg. Sleep in Hamburg (B, L)
*THE HANSIATIC LEAGUE The Hanseatic League was an organization founded by north German towns and German merchant communities abroad to protect their mutual trading interests. The league dominated commercial activity in northern Europe from the 13 th to the 15 th century. DAY 7: Tuesday, March 12 - West to Amsterdam After breakfast this morning we depart for Holland. On our way, we'll visit the city of Arnhem which has two outstanding museums: The fine Kröller-Müller Museum which contains the second-largest collection of works by Van Gogh in the world and the nearby Airborne Museum which tells the story of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. Immortalized in the movie A Bridge Too Far, this museum is a must-see for history buffs. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner with your host and guides. Sleep in Amsterdam (B, L, D)
DAY 8: Wednesday, March 13 - A Day with Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hall After breakfast, discover the hidden and historic sights of this fascinating city. Enjoy a private tour of the Rijksmuseum and see Rembrandt s famous Night Watch. History and garden lovers may wish to visit the Anne Frank house or the Hortus Botanicus independently. A relaxing canal cruise is also a great way to experience the city. There will free time this afternoon to pursue your interests. This evening enjoy a visit to the Dutch National Opera for a great production of John Adams' Girls of the Golden West with stage direction by the legendary Peter Sellars. Sleep in Amsterdam (B, L) DAY 9: Thursday, March 14 - Delft, Rotterdam and The Hague After breakfast we set out to discover The Hague. Capital of the Netherlands and home to the world court, The Hague also possesses one of the most famous paintings in the world, Vermeer's, The Girl with the Pearl Earring. For lunch we ll stop in Delft. Famous for its blue porcelain pottery, Delft is one of the most charming cities in all of Holland. Enjoy the sights of this wonderful town before our evening concert with the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a program of Debussy, Stravinsky, Bloch and Ravel conducted by Music Director Lahav Shani. Return to Amsterdam in the evening. Sleep in Amsterdam (B, L)
DAY 10: Friday, March 15 - Van Gogh Museum and Evening Concert Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning before we head off for a backstage tour of the elegant Royal Concertgebouw and the impressive Van Gogh Museum. Let's toast to our musical journey today at a farewell lunch at an outstanding local eatery. Your afternoon is free to catch up on any last minute shopping or sightseeing you wish to do! For our final evening, we will attend a piano recital at the Muziekgebouw by pianist extraordinaire, Marc-André Hamelin in a highly contrasting program of gems by Castelnuovo-Tedsco, Schubert, Weissenberg, Fauré and Chopin. Sleep in Amsterdam (B, L) DAY 11: Saturday, March 16 - Return home with a lifetime of memories! Your KDFC musical journey concludes after breakfast this morning. A complimentary transfer to the Amsterdam Schiphol airport is included for those travelers on the group flight. -Itinerary Subject to Change
YOUR KDFC CLASSICAL PROGRAM COPENHAGEN The Royal Danish Opera presents Turandot Private chamber music concert HAMBURG Hamburg State Opera presents Nabucco AMSTERDAM The Dutch National Opera presents Girls of the Golden West An evening at the modern Muziekgebouw with pianist Marc-André Hamelin ROTTERDAM The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra presents Debussy, Stravinsky, Bloch and Ravel