A Ring production that is intelligent and relevant is what Willy Decker created at the Semperoper in Dresden and the Saxon capital is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the reopening of the rebuilt house with a revival featuring some of today's leading Wagner singers, including Evelyn Herlitzius as Brünnhilde and the Wotan of Alan Titus. The conductor is the outgoing music director Fabio Luisi. We stay in a 4* hotel overlooking the rebuilt Frauenkirche and an easy walk to the opera. During the day we will visit the palace along the Elbe by boat, the cathedral city of Meissen with its famous porcelain factory and museum, and of course the many galleries and collections in Dresden itself. The reopened Green Vault with highlights of the treasury of Augustus the Strong, displayed in their original baroque setting, is itself worth a journey.

We will also have introductory illustrated talks by the distinguished Wagnerian conductor Lionel Friend with a chance to listen to and discuss Wagner singers of the past.

Tuesday 9 March
bmi flight departs Heathrow 14.25 arrives Berlin 17.15
Coach transfer to Dresden and hotel.

Wednesday 10 March
Walking tour of Dresden. Introductory illustrated talk.
DAS RHEINGOLD

Thursday 11 March
Boat along the Elbe, Moritzburg

Friday 12 March
Introductory talk and visit to Green Vault
DIE WALKÜRE

Saturday 13 March
Full day visit to Leipzig, Wagner's birthplace and the Mendelssohn Museum and of course Bach's Thomaskirche

Sunday 14 March
The Frauenkirche - morning service. Illustrated talk
SIEGFRIED

Monday 15 March
Meissen - cathedral, porcelain factory and museum

Tuesday 16 March
Coach journey into Saxon Switzerland, the limestone mountainous region and Graupe (Wagner Museum) and Königstein - largest fortress complex in Europe

Wednesday 17 March
Free morning for galleries
Illustrated talk
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

Thursday 18 March
Coach to Berlin
bmi flight departs Berlin 18.00 arrives Heathrow 19.05