Following our collaboration in 2008, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is once again thrilled to join forces with MS Reisegesellschaft and Kuenstlersekretariat Buchmann on this unique Baltic Sea voyage. Key highlights will be three concerts featuring the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Our first concert is scheduled for St. Petersburg's majestic Mariinsky Theatre where the Russian maestro Valery Gergiev will take to the podium. Rising gloriously from the edge of Toolo Bay, Helsinki's Finlandia Hall, with its symphony of modern lines, is the amazing setting for our second concert, where the celebrated Rudolf Buchbinder will perform Beethoven piano concertos.

Our final concert is scheduled for the wonderfully atmospheric city of Kaliningrad, (formerly known as Koenigsburg) in the westernmost territory of Russia. Kaliningrad was the birthplace, in 1810, of the German composer and conductor Otto Nicolai, the Vienna Philharmonic's illustrious founder. We chose Kaliningrad as the ultimate setting in which to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this extraordinary man. Classical music's rising star Christian Thieleman will conduct works by Nicolai and Beethoven on this momentous occasion. Soloist will be Rudolf Buchbinder and he will perform all five Beethoven piano concertos during the cruise.

In addition, soprano Ildikò Raimondi will perform a unique solo concert, in the Estonian capital Tallinn, accompanied by an ensemble of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. We invite you to join us on board the beautifully engineered Mein Schiff where you'll listen to and mingle with some of the finest musicians in the world. As well as the rare opportunity of watching the Vienna Philharmonic in occasional rehearsals, guests will also enjoy four chamber concerts, performed by members of the Vienna Philharmonic.In essence, we urge you to sit back, relax and enjoy the classical music experience for the duration of this extraordinary voyage.
As Ludwig van Beethoven once proclaimed,"from the heart to the heart."