“The music is not in the notes,

but in the silence between.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

RHINE

DUDOK QUARTET

A�er comple�ng their studies with dis�nc�on at the Dutch

String Quartet Academy in 2013, the Quartet started to have

success at interna�onal compe��ons and to be recognized as

one of the most promising young European string quartets of

the year. In 2014, they were awarded the Kersjes Prize for

their excep�onal talent in the Dutch chamber music scene.

The Quartet was also laureate and winner of two special prizes

during the 7th Interna�onal String Quartet Compe��on 2013 à

Bordeaux and won 1st place at both the 1st Interna�onal

String Quartet Compe��on 2011 in Radom (Poland) and the

27th Charles Hennen Interna�onal Chamber Music Compe��-

on 2012. In 2012, they received 2nd place at the 6th Joseph

Joachim Interna�onal Chamber Music Compe��on in Weimar

(Germany).

The members of the quartet first met in the Dutch street sym-

phony orchestra “Riccio=”. From 2009 un�l 2011, they stu-

died with the Alban Berg Quartet at the School of Music in Cologne, then to study with Marc Danel at the Dutch String Quartet Academy.

During the same period, the quartet was coached intensively by Eberhard Feltz, Peter Cropper (Lindsay Quartet), Luc-Marie Aguera (Quatuor

Ysaÿe) and Stefan Metz. Many well-known contemporary classical composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Calliope Tsou-

paki and Max Knigge also worked with the quartet. In 2014, the Quartet signed on for several recordings with Resonus Classics, the world’s

first solely digital classical music label. They performed with many renowned guest musicians such as Pieter Wispelwey, Dmitri Ferschtman,

Quirine Viersen, Hannes Minnaar and Mikhail Zemtsov. The musicians have also performed at many pres�gious fes�vals and performed con-

certs at every major concert hall in the Netherlands, as well as venues in France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, the Czech

Republic, Hungary and Cyprus.

The quartet took its name from Willem Marinus Dudok (1884 – 1974) who was a famous Dutch architect and a great lover of music. He came

from a musical family and composed music in his spare �me. “I owe more to composers than I owe to any architect”, he wrote. “I feel deeply

the common core of music and architecture; a�er all, they both derive their value from the right propor�ons.”

NATHAN QUARTET

The Nathan Quartet (Dana Anka, Maja Hunziker, Ro-

switha Killian, Arne-Chris�an Pelz) was founded in Ham-

burg and is firmly anchored in the musical life of the

Hansea�c city. Since 2005, the Nathan Quartet has

been organizing two concert series of its own: in Ham-

burg's Laeiszhalle and in Scala Basel. With five concerts

in the season, the Nathan Quartet shows its unique

con�nuity in the concert ac�vity, always featuring spe-

cial programs.

The fresh and lively musical style of the ensemble is

characterized by a musical commitment to the con�nu-

ous development of the works for the concerts in Basel

and Hamburg. The Quartet followed masterclasses with

the Amadeus Quartet and the Borodin Quartet, thus

developing a large and varied quartet repertoire.

One focus of the quartet work is the performance of

modern and contemporary composi�ons, which are

carefully selected according to musical content. These

are works by famous composers of the 20th century

such as Kurtág, Lige�, Shostakovich, Bartók and Lera

Auerbach as well as by contemporary composers who

find a podium through the composi�ons commissioned by the Nathan Quartet.

The Nathan Quartet is the ini�ator of chamber music highlights in the concert life of Hamburg and Basel. The four musicians strive to create

many inspiring moments and shared musical experiences, as they are possible in the atmosphere of a concert hall in front of a music-

interested audience.

2019

PIANIST MARTIN IVANOV

Born in 1990 to a Bulgarian family of musicians, Mar�n Ivanov is quickly establishing himself as an outstanding and cap�va�ng pianist. He

began playing piano in 1994 with his mother, and graduated the Na�onal Arts School of Ruse in 2009. He par�cipated in over 50 piano com-

pe��ons in Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Russia, Spain and the USA, with huge success at each one of them. In 2008, Mar�n was awarded the

prize Ruse XXI Century (Bulgaria) for extraordinary accomplishments in music. In 2009, he began studying with Prof. Maisenberg at the Uni-

versity for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and later with Prof. Stevan Vladar. Mar�n has given concerts at fes�vals in Bulgaria, Austria,

Spain, Holland, the USA, France, Italy and Romania. In 2012 he was invited to play at the Life Ball Vienna charity event in front of Hollywood

stars and famous singers.

ORGANIST DANIEL MAURER

Daniel Maurer studied in Paris with Jean Langlais, who dedicated one of his organ composi�ons (“Noël N ° 3 avec varia�ons”) to him in 1979.

He accompanied Langlais regularly on tours as an assistant and played several concerts for four hands and four feet with him. Daniel also

studied with André Marchal, Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet and Lionel Rogg. In 1982 he won the Premier Prix d'Honneur at the Interna�onal

Compe��on in Paris, as well as the Premier Prix d'orgue at the Conservatoire Na�onal Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Daniel Maurer is a �tu-

lar organist at the J.A. Silbermann organ of the St. Thomas church in Strasbourg. He teaches as a professor of organ and improvisa�on at the

Conservatoire and at the Académie Supérieure de Musique in Strasbourg.

STUTTGART STRING QUARTET

Stefan Balle (1st violin) was born in StuWgart in 1966 and has been first violinist of the StuWgart Philharmonic since 1996. He studied with

Prof. Lukas David in Detmold and with Prof. Tibor Varga in Sion, for whom he also worked as an assistant. In addi�on to chamber music train-

ing with Christoph Poppen (Cherubini Quartet), he also studied in the master class of Young-Uck Kim (Beaux Arts Trio). In 1989, Stefan found-

ed the Arensky Trio, with which he won numerous prizes and awards during compe��ons. He performed as a chamber musician in various

ensembles and, as a soloist, performed at fes�vals in Switzerland, in the south of France and South America.

Julius Calvelli-Adorno (2. Violin) received his first violin lessons at the age of six and by the age of eleven, he had begun his musical career in

the Taunus string orchestra, successful at the Würzburg orchestra compe��on in 1986. He studied violin at the Hochschule für Musik Det-

mold. Julius devoted himself intensively to piano trios and string quartets, with mentors like the Opus 8 trio, the Cherubini and the Vogler

Quartets. Between 1991 and 1998, he was ac�ve as a member of the Detmold Chamber Orchestra, mainly as voice guide of the second violin

and concertmaster. A�er working at the Staatstheater Kassel, at the Städ�schen Bühnen Osnabrück and at the Münchener Kammerorches-

ter, Julius Calvelli-Adorno joined the StuWgart Philharmonic (March 2000). As a sought-a�er chamber musician and commiWed educator, he

regularly takes part in various ensembles and fes�vals in Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, the USA and Japan.

Mar+n Höfler (viola) studied violin and viola at the Freiburger Musikhochschule and the Amadeus Quartet in Cologne. With the Spohr

Quartet, which was founded in 1984, he won first place at the Freiburg University Compe��on in 1985. This ensemble not only represented

the ARD at the “Interna�onale Musiktage” in Salzburg in 1986, but also performed numerous concerts and broadcasts for various ins�tu-

�ons. As an orchestral musician, he has played with the SWR-Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern, the baroque orchestra Collegium Aureum in

Cologne, the Ensemble Aventure for contemporary music in Freiburg and the Bach-Collegium StuWgart of the Interna�onal Bach Academy. As

an accomplished chamber musician, Mar�n is also involved in chamber music performances of various combina�ons with colleagues of the

StuWgart Philharmonic.

Bernhard Lörcher (violoncello) was born in Freiburg in 1970 and toured throughout Europe as a youth with the “Landes- und Bundesju-

gendorchester”. With his cello trio, he won 1st place at the “BundesweWbewerb Jugend Musiziert”. He studied with Prof. Mar�n Ostertag in

Karlsruhe and received his chamber music educa�on in Vienna with the Alban Berg Quartet and the Haydn Trio. Together with various cham-

ber music ensembles, Bernhard was a guest at many music fes�vals and received invita�ons to concerts all over Europe. In 1994, he won the

Mendelssohn Compe��on in Berlin. Since 1999 he has been a cellist with the StuWgart Philharmonic and has been a solo cellist since 2001. In

2006, he performed for the first �me at the Santa Catarina Music Fes�val in Brazil, where he has since been invited as a guest lecturer and

soloist.

2019

DAY 1 | NETHERLANDS: AMSTERDAM

Begin your classical music odyssey in the Dutch capital city of

Amsterdam. A�er embarking and seWling into your home for the

next 8 days, join the cruise director for a Welcome Cocktail follo-

wed by a special Welcome Dinner. This evening listen to the

sounds of Mozart and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in a special con-

cert onboard - a wonderful beginning to your cruise.

Wri�en in 1772 when Mozart was just 15 years old, the Diver�-

mento K. 138 in F major reflects not only his youth period, but

also his journeys around Europe and especially in Italy. The y-

oung Mozart immersed himself in the Italian musical styles, new

explora)ons that would influence him later in preparing his work

for stringed instruments. This bright composi)on embracing the

Italian grace was meant as background, outdoor music for social

events, such as garden par)es. The )tle Diver)mento in the ma-

nuscript is not Mozart’s handwri)ng.

Composer, conductor, pianist and organist, Felix Mendelssohn-

Bartholdy significantly developed the German musical scene.

Given his Jewish heritage, his reputa)on was altered when the

Nazis banned his music and tore down his statue in front of the

Leipzig Gewandhaus. The String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80

was composed in 1847 as homage to his sister Fanny who had

died on 17 May of that year and it bore the )tle "Requiem for

Fanny." It was the last major piece he completed before he died

two months later on 4 November 1847.

DAY 2 | AMSTERDAM - UTRECHT

Explore the beau�ful canal city of Amsterdam during this morni-

ng's city tour. As a special highlight, we will visit the beau�ful

Dominicus Church for a private concert. Relax as you listen to

the strains of Schubert and Schumann are performed. Con�nue

through the picturesque countryside in the north of Holland, to

rejoin the vessel for a peaceful a�ernoon onboard.

Born in the Heaven’s Courtyard (Himmelpfortgrund), a suburb of

Vienna, Franz Schubert did not have what we can call a paradisi-

ac life. One of the nineteen children of a school master, Franz

was considered an extremely talented musician from an early

age. Despite his rich work, he lived in poverty and died at the age

of 31, before his 32nd birthday. When he died, his only possessi-

ons were a bed, some clothes and his music. He was buried next

to Beethoven, whom he admired so deeply that he acted as one

of the thirty torch bearers at Beethoven’s funeral.

Robert Schumann commenced his remarkable instrumental

explora)ons in 1842 with three string quartets. The Quartet No.3

is the most structurally tradi)onal work of the group. The very

first gesture of the first movement's brief introduc)on is iden)-

cal, harmonically and mo)vically, to the opening gesture of

Beethoven's Op.31, No.3, and one must suspect a conscious or

subconscious debt on Schumann's part.

DAY 3 | GERMANY: COLOGNE - BONN

A�er breakfast venture out into the vibrant city of Cologne

with its famous twin spired cathedral, through an op�onal

walking tour or on your own. Return to the ship for lunch as

your vessel con�nues to the next stop along the Rhine river

- Bonn. Con�nue your music educa�on with a visit to the

Beethoven House - a memorial site and museum focusing

on the life and work of composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Music of Beethoven is the focus of a private piano concert.

To understand Ludwig van Beethoven’s work of art, one

must comprehend the young man’s childhood. His first years

in Bonn were tragically unhappy, because of his father’s

demented ambi)on to turn his boy into a “child prodigy”

like Mozart. A musical enthusiast, but a violent alcoholic, his

father, who was also his first teacher, forced him to prac)ce

all the )me and if mistakes were done, he would punish

him. The father would oGen wake up the boy in the middle

of the night to play for his drunken friends. Yet, the suffering

was transposed in sensi)vity and joy for music.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s deafness started by the age of 26

and aggravated deeply in )me, so aGer the age of 50, the

musician was in complete silence. Though devasta)ng the

brilliant pianist, his public performances and social events,

the composer’s deafness revealed more of his capacity to

create music, ringing freely in his inner ear. The

“Conversa)on Books” are a priceless tes)mony of that peri-

od; records of conversa)ons between the composer and his

friends or visitors that facilitated their discussions in wri)ng.

In Beethoven House Museum in Bonn, one can view his hea-

ring aids, such as a special ear horn.

DAY 4 | COCHEM

Relax onboard while cruising the lovely Moselle River to the

roman�c wine-growers village of Cochem. Spend the

a�ernoon exploring the village or join a walking tour with a

tas�ng of the famous wines of the Moselle region. This eve-

ning enjoy an exclusive concert onboard highlighted by mu-

sic of Haydn and Mendelsohn-Bartholdy. Your vessel de-

parts later this evening.

Born in 1732, Franz Joseph Haydn is one of the most influen-

)al composer of his )me and not only. Known as the “father

of symphony”, his work had a great impact on all the other

genres, also. His crea)ons are as present today as in the

past because one of his songs, “The Deutschland Lied", is

the na)onal anthem of Germany. “Papa Haydn”, as he was

called by his friends in apprecia)on of his good sense of

humor, never had children, but helped as much as he could

young struggling musicians as Mozart, whose s)rring Requi-

em was played at Haydn’s death.

2019

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s quartet in D major op. 44 no. 1

was completed on 24 July 1838. On 30 July 1838 Mendelssohn

wrote from Berlin to the violinist Ferdinand David that “I have

just finished my third Quartet, in D major, and I would like it a

lot if it pleased you too. I almost believe it will, since, it appears

to me, it is more fiery and more grateful to the players than the

others.“ Mendelssohn’s op. 44 is concerned predominantly with

the element of buffoonery that exists in Roman)c irony.

DAY 5 | KOBLENZ - RÜDESHEIM

Enjoy a music-filled day in Koblenz and Rüdesheim! This morn-

ing, visit the ancient city of Koblenz, a gateway to the terraced

vineyards and castle ruins of the Rhine Gorge. A�er your visit,

your ship travels through the roman�c Rhine region. Enjoy a

musical tea party onboard, taking in the passing scenery while

listening to beau�ful musical pieces from the world of opera

and waltz. Before dinner arrive in Rüdesheim, where you will

have the opportunity to visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Mu-

seum, which is, as the name suggests, all about music and in-

struments. A�er a delicious dinner, your vessel con�nues along

the Rhine.

DAY 6 | SPEYER

A�er breakfast, arrive in the former imperial residence of Spey-

er, which you can explore during a leisurely morning stroll

through the city. A�er lunch, travel to the university town of

Heidelberg. Tour this well-preserved old town, famous for its

picturesque castle ruins. This evening the captain invites you to

a fes�ve Captain's Gala Dinner.

DAY 7 | FRANCE: STRASBOURG

At breakfast �me, you arrive in Strasbourg, which boasts a ma-

gical, historic old town. A city sightseeing tour is part of the

morning’s program, culmina�ng in an organ concert in the

church of St. Thomas, featuring the music of Bach, Händel, and

Mozart. This evening, celebrate your musical journey with a

farewell concert celebra�ng the music of Mozart and Dvorak.

Johann Sebas�an Bach’s interest in playing the organ started

early in his childhood. AGer his parents’ death, he moved to

Ohrdruf, Germany, to live with his brother, Johann Christoph,

who was the organist at St. Michael's Church. His brother gave

him the first lessons on keyboard instruments. Bach explored

the organ building when his brother had to repair the larger of

the two organs at Ohrdruf. The organ brought him later a repu-

ta)on, but also got him in trouble; once for a conflict with a

fellow musician and once for being caught distrac)ng a

"strange maiden" in the balcony.

Though born in a German family from Halle, Germany,

Georg Friedrich Händel will spend most of his life in Eng-

land (over 45 years) un)l his end. There, he becomes the

na)onal idol and composer, but also the headline musician

of the Teutonic musical galleries. Deeply appreciated among

the aristocra)c and intellectual groups, Handel was ap-

pointed Musical Director of the Royal Academy of Music – a

society meant to promote the opera works. For its opening,

Radamisto was Händel’s first opera that he wrote, his grea-

test performance un)l that moment.

Mozart's Diver)mento in D major, K. 136 (K.125a) is the

first of a group of works collec)vely known as the

"Salzburg" symphonies. These works stands apart from Mo-

zart's remaining symphonies, in that they are set for strings

alone, rather than for the otherwise customary mixed in-

strumenta)on including winds. Mozart's Diver)mento mir-

rors the style of Italian concertos for strings, which he must

certainly have encountered during his several visits to Italy.

Antonin Dvořák’s en)re life and work strongly resonate

with his statement registered on his 7th Symphony, “God,

Love and Country”, showing his emo)onal connec)on with

the Czech homeland. There was though also something mo-

re personal: the recent deaths of his mother and eldest

child. His spirituality may be the very reason why Neil Arm-

strong, the first man to walk on the moon, chose the com-

poser’s 9th Symphony to take it with him among stars, as

the highest peak of human crea)ng powers. Ambassador of

the Czech musical culture, Dvořák was the Director of the

Na)onal Conservatory in New York.

The String Quartet No. 12 Op 96 "The American" was com-

posed in the summer of 1893, during Dvořák’s stay in Ameri-

ca. Retreated in the small town Spillville of Iowa, a farming

community of 400 people, he found the spirit of his country-

men that he yearned for. There, the Czech composer writes

in only two weeks the quartet that would become the most

known and appreciated of his work. The melodic inspira)on

melts itself with the rigors of musical architecture in a work

of art, but nevertheless, the composi)on reflects themes

encountered by Dvořák in the American space.

DAY 8 | SWITZERLAND: BASEL

Arrive this morning in Basel. Enjoy a generous breakfast on

board before disembarking. The en�re AMADEUS team

wishes you a pleasant journey home and many great me-

mories of your trip on board. We hope to welcome you

again soon!

2019