Merry Christmas from Incantato with a special video from our talented Virgil Rosales and his band

Join Biola University Chorale in Germany and Prague

Leipzig, Germany

Leipzig, with a population of approximately 519,000, is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. Since the 17^th century, Leipzig has reigned as a major European center of learning and culture, thriving especially in the fields of music, astronomy, and optics.

Leipzig later played a crucial role in the fall of communism in Eastern Germany, through events taken place in and around the Saint Nikolai Church. Following the Reunification of Germany, Leipzig underwent significant change with the restoration of historical buildings and the development of a modern transportation infrastructure. In 2006, the city hosted key matches during the World Cup.

Leipzig was ranked 35^th of 265 world cities for cultural, economic, and social innovation in 2009. The following year, the city earned the rank of 68^th highest quality of life in the world.

First documented in the 1015, Leipzig has fundamentally shaped by the history of Saxony and the nation of Germany. The city has always held a reputation as a place of great commerce. The Leipzig Trade Fair remains the oldest, and most internationally important, trade fair in the world since its beginning in the Middle Ages. Leipzig probably receives most if its international recognition, however, for its rich and diverse musical history.

Johann Sebastian Bach famously worked in Leipzig from 1723 to 1750. 1813 marked the birth of composer Richard Wagner in Leipzig. Felix Mendelssohn established Germany’ first conservatory of music in Leipzig in 1843, and personally invited Robert Schumann to study there. Gustaz Mahler served as conductor at the Leipzig Theater from 1886 to 1888 where he received great acclamation for completing and presenting Carl Maria von Weber’s opera “Die Drei Pintos.”

The conservatory is now the University of Music and Theater, offering students a broad variety of both performance and education studies in all orchestral instruments, voice, interpretation, coaching, piano chamber music, orchestral and choral conducting, and composition. Musical styles studied at the University include jazz, popular, musical theater, classical, and sacred. The school also hosts a drama department offering classes in acting and dramaturgy.

The city’s musical tradition is also reflected in the worldwide fame of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the choir of the St. Thomas Church. Leipzig has offered for the past sixty years the country’s oldest “School Concert” program, presenting more than 140 concerts annually, educating and inspiring over 40,000 children through music.

Leipzig is also well known for its contemporary, independent music scene and subcultural events. Additionally, the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts hosts a variety of worldly art, including the Neo Rauch retrospective that opened in April 2010. The New York Times praises Leipzig as the “the toast of the contemporary art world” in the past decade, featuring the city in the Top 10 of its “31 Places to Go” article published, in 2010.  

Leipzig hosts a multitude of annual cultural events throughout the year, including an a capella vocal music festical, Bachfest in honor of Johann Sebastian Bach, the city’s famous holiday Christmas Market, Jazztage contemporary jazz festival, Stadtfest city festival, and the Pop-Up independent music trade fair and festival.

Welcome to Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) with its capital Berlin, is located in Central Europe. The North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea border Germany to the north; Poland and the Czech Republic lay on the eastern border; Austria and Switzerland border on the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands on the east. There are over 82 million persons living in Germany. And that, for a land about the size of Montana, U.S.A. (Germany is 357,021 km2, slightly less than Montana), making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Even though there are that many people living in Germany, the Germans have succeeded in keeping almost 1/3 (31%) of the country covered with forests and woodlands. And, as you rarely see buildings on top of the mountains, you have the feeling of being surrounded by green vegetation and of wilderness close by. Which makes Germany one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Even though they have one of the best public transport systems in the world, a lot of Germans own a car. They love cars - just think of famous brands such as BMW, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, and the Autobahn where you can drive at 180 mph!

Historically nicknamed Das Land der Dichter und Denker, “The Land of Poets and Thinkers,” Germany’s history has been shaped by major intellectual and popular European trends of both religious and secular influence. The strength of German culture has produced such historical figures as Johann Sebastian Bach, novelist Franz Kafka, and poets such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe boasts an exorbitant array of scholarly culture.

Germany’s sixteen states offer 240 subsidized theaters, hundreds of symphony orchestras, thousands of museums, and over 25,000 public libraries. The abundance of culture attracts throngs of tourists each year, resulting in an annual average of 91 million museum visits, 20 million theater and opera attendees, and 3.6 million symphony concert-goers. Germany claims many of the world’s most renowned classical music composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Wagner. Since 2006, Germany has been recognized as the fifth largest music market in the world.
There are hundreds of castles in Germany. Some are still inhabited by aristocratic families, others have been transformed into hotels and restaurants, and still others are in ruins.
A popular German saying translates to “breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar.” German cuisine varies according to region. The southern areas of the nation share a culinary culture with Switzerland and Austria. Pork, beef, and poultry are the main source of protein consumption. Meat is often eaten in sausage form. Germany produces more than 1,500 varieties of sausage. You would have to try one kind of German bread per day for almost a whole year in order to be able to taste them all! There are over 300 different kinds of bread in Germany. 
With Germany's newly established comprehensive system of social security, the country continues to develop a very desirable higher standard of living. Germany holds a key position in European affairs as the government strives to perpetually strengthen international relations. Germany is recognized as a leader in many scientific and technological advancements.

Weimar, Germany: A city of culture

Weimar, Germany is best known for its cultural heritage. Located in the federal state of Thuringia southwest of Leipzig, Weimar dates back as far as the year 889. The city previously served as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar. Weimar is historically recognized as the locaton of the signing of Germany’s first democratic constitution following World War I, lending its name to the Weimar Republic period of German politics (1918 – 1933). The city was also the focal point of the German Enlightenment and the home of Goethe and Schiller, the prime authors of the literary genre of Weimar Classicism. Additionally, Weimar is the birthplace of the Bauhaus fine arts movement, founded in 1919 by artists Walter Gropius, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Oskar Schlemmer, and Lyonel Feininger. Weimar is home to Germany’s most important musical and theatrical venue, the Deutsche National Theater and Staatskapelle Weimar. The twin institution, consisting of the German National Theater and the symphony orchestra Staatskapelle Weimar, operates a total of six stages throughout the city, hosting touring orchestras and theater companies from throughout the world. Throughout the years, many of Weimar’s historical landmarks have become designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Weimar was even selected by the European Council of Ministers in 1999 as the European Capital of Culture.

Johann Sebastian Bach up close in the Bachhaus in Eisenach - Germany

The Bachhaus in Eisenach (Bachhaus Eisenach) is the oldest museum devoted to the composer Johann Sebastian Bach, who was born and baptized in Eisenach and lived in the city until he was 10 years old. Today, Eisenach is home to the Bachhaus, which is the world's leading museum about the great composer and his works. It is located in a 550 year old half-timbered house on the Frauenplan that was purchased by the Neue Bachgesellschaft (New Bach Society) in 1906 and reopened as a museum in 1907. It contains original documents by Bach and provides a specialist library for researchers. In the summer, visitors to the museum can also visit a small Baroque garden behind the house. A modern wing, called the Penkues Building (after the architectural firm that designed it) opened in 2007. The exhibits will lead you through the life in Bach's time, musical instruments from the Bach era, the composer's works, and a few surprises (such as the step-by-step forensic reconstruction of Bach's head), or a movie that shows a rehearsal of the Thomaskirche Boys Choir in Leipzig, which Bach directed from 1723 to 1750.

As a bonus, you'll be treated to a mini-concert of Bach's music on a clavichord, a harpsichord and an organ during your visit to the museum. If you have time, you can sit in a "bubble chair" and listen to recorded music with headphones.

The Bachhaus also has a shop that sells recordings, books and posters. The "Café Kantate" will provide snacks and drinks after you've had your fill of history.

Hours. The Bachhaus Eisenach is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

The Bach Museum in Eisenach

A first itinerary for the Biola Chorale Tour

The Biola University Chorale is touring Germany and Prague in the footsteps of composer Johann Sebastian Bach in the spring of 2012. The itinerary below is a first outline and still work in progress. 


Day 1, Saturday, April 7, 2012  
Depart USA    
Overnight flight to Germany.

Day 2, Sunday, April 8, 2012  
Willkommen in Deutschland   
Your  Incantato Tour Manager and Driver welcome you at Munich airport and bring your group to the musical city of Bayreuth. After check-in, enjoy a traditional German welcome dinner.

Day 3, Monday, April 9, 2012  
Easter Monday in Bayreuth - Celebrations, sightseeing & performance    
Experience Bayreuth‘s rich history with a special focus on Wagner, before presenting your first tour performance - the choir will sing either Easter Mass or in an Easter Service. After some time at leisure, continue to Weimar for an orientation tour, check-in and evening at leisure.

Day 4, Tuesday, April 10, 2012  
Weimar Exchange, Mayor‘s Reception and Concert  
Bach and Liszt - along with Goethe and Schiller - have left their mark on the city of Weimar and so will the Biola Choir today by presenting a highlight concert in or near this UNESCO world heritage site.  There is the opportunity to visit nearby Buchenwald - a former Nazi concentration camp.

Day 5, Wednesday, April 11, 2012  
In Bach‘s footsteps  
Retrace J.S. Bach‘s life by visiting two very important cities in his life: Eisenach and Arnstadt. Visit the Bach Museum and present a concert in one of the churches the composer worked at followed by a cultural exchange.

Day 6, Thursday, April 12, 2012  
Leipzig in-depth — Recital at Thomaskirche   
Continue your journey in Bach‘s footsteps by driving to Leipzig where a local expert guide will show you around prior to the choir‘s recital at Thomaskirche and/or a concert in the adjacent Bach Museum.

Day 7, Friday, April 13, 2012  
Via Dresden to Prague   
Often referred to as the “Florence of the North,” Dresden is a must-see city. After a guided tour and performance opportunity at Frauenkirche, bid farewell (or “Auf Wiedersehen”)  to Germany and enter the Czech Republic. After check-in, take a guided walking tour of Prague.

Day 8, Saturday, April 14, 2012   
Prague Sightseeing and Concert
The morning is at leisure to experience the many sides of Prague and get some last-minute shopping done. The Biola Choir presents a finale concert later followed by traditional Czech farewell dinner.

Day 9, Sunday, April 15, 2012  
Return home with memories to last a lifetime    
After a leisurely morning with the opportunity to go to church, head to the airport for your return flights to LAX.

Weimar, Germany: A city of culture

Weimar, Germany is best known for its cultural heritage. Located in the federal state of Thuringia southwest of Leipzig, Weimar dates back as far as the year 889. The city previously served as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar.

Weimar is historically recognized as the locaton of the signing of Germany’s first democratic constitution following World War I, lending its name to the Weimar Republic period of German politics (1918 – 1933). The city was also the focal point of the German Enlightenment and the home of Goethe and Schiller, the prime authors of the literary genre of Weimar Classicism. Additionally, Weimar is the birthplace of the Bauhaus fine arts movement, founded in 1919 by artists Walter Gropius, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Oskar Schlemmer, and Lyonel Feininger. Weimar is home to Germany’s most important musical and theatrical venue, the Deutsche National Theater and Staatskapelle Weimar. The twin institution, consisting of the German National Theater and the symphony orchestra Staatskapelle Weimar, operates a total of six stages throughout the city, hosting touring orchestras and theater companies from throughout the world. Throughout the years, many of Weimar’s historical landmarks have become designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Weimar was even selected by the European Council of Ministers in 1999 as the European Capital of Culture.

FRANZ LISZT - A European in Weimar

On the occasion of his 200th birthday, Weimar will be location of numerous events to remember the great composer.
From 1848 to 1861 Franz Liszt is chief conductor of the Hofkapelle Weimar. To mark the 200th birthday of the great composer, the Schiller Museum and Castle Museum are presenting the State Exhibition “Franz Liszt – A European in Weimar”.

See what the Fullerton College Choir did in Weimar