Because they tend to visit some of Europe’s most culturally rewarding cities, river cruises lend themselves especially well to music-themed cruises. Though you can explore the musical heritage of these cities on many a Seine, Danube or Rhine cruise offered by any river cruise line, there are a number of lines which offer themed cruises aimed specifically at music lovers.
An excellent choice for the music-loving river cruiser, Avalon Waterways offer both Jazz and classical music-themed river cruises. The line’s Jazz-themed river cruises take place on the rivers of France and are scheduled so that, during your cruise, you’ll be able to visit famous musical events such as the world-famous Vienne Jazz Festival and check out the local scene in the various ports of call you visit. On-board, your journey will be enriched by the presence of a jazz expert, who will provide entertaining lectures on the genre’s history and experience musical performances by local bands. There’s also the chance to take in a performance at Paris’ Petit Journal Montparnasse jazz club.
On Avalon Waterways’ Music River Cruise, you’ll travel the Rhine and Danube rivers and benefit from the experience of local experts, as they explore the history of European music, and enjoy an on-board piano performance. You can delve deeper into the history of classical instruments as you visit a Regensburg violin-maker and Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum in Rudesheim. You’ll enjoy an organ recital in Austria’s Melk Abbey and visit Hungary’s capital Budapest and its famous Opera House. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience a famous Royal Waltz performance in Vienna and have the chance to visit Salzburg, where The Sound of Music was filmed.
Speaking of The Sound of Music, the film’s anniversary year, 2015, sees Uniworld partner with Elizabeth von Trapp, grandaughter of Baron and Maria von Trapp, whose story inspired the legendary film. Guests will personally join the real life von Trapp on two different Enchanting Danube summer sailings on-board the line’s River Beatrice. As well as accompanying them ashore, Von Trapp will greet guests at a welcome reception and also hold a singalong performance on-board.
Tauck River Cruises offer you a little Musical Magic along the Danube, arguably Europe’s most musically significant river, as it inspired Austrian composer Strauss to compose his celebrated waltz The Blue Danube. On this cruise, you’ll explore Strauss’s legacy and those of some of history’s other famous composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt. You’ll visit some of their former homes and a number of historic concert halls and palaces where their works have been performed over the years. Throughout the cruise, you’ll hear from the line’s appointed ‘maestros’, who’ll share their expertise on European music with you, and you’ll be able to enjoy on-board performances, lectures and interactive workshops.
By Simon Brotherton
Google
