Vacation for someone interested in classical music history?

[Frumaster]

I want to take a trip to Europe this summer for a couple weeks and see one or two major places with a rich history with regards to classical music.  Of course, if I visit more than one place, they would need to be close in proximity for timing/logistical reasons.  Obviously places around central Europe would be my best bet since thats where so many great composers are from.  If you could just name some cities and some important attractions/reasons for visiting, it would be a help.  I would also like to see at least one concert while I'm there, but I don't know where the good symphonies are currently.  The only two places I have thought of so far are Leipzig (Bach) and Prague (Mozart).  Yes or no on these?

[SonicMan46]

Well, I've been to Europe a dozen or so times, but never the central or eastern portions of the continent where much great music occurred; a trip that I would have loved to do would have combined visits to Vienna & Salzburg - I'd probably have done a week just in those locations, but could combine areas close by such as Prague - not sure about the concerts/festivals that might be available @ the times you plan to go - but give the dates - we have plenty of European friends on this forum that can provide more specific advice - hope that you go & have fun! 

[Hollywood]

You do know that you must come to Vienna Frumaster. Afterall, Vienna was and still is the classical music capital of the world. So many famous composers lived here or were born here. Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Vivaldi, Gluck, Salieri, Brahms, and the Strauss dynasty, just to name a few. Vienna is still known as "The City of Music" and there are many places to visit where these famous composers lived. For example, I live in Heiligenstadt (in Vienna's 19th district) and there are at least 5 addresses in this area where Beethoven lived at one time or another. Then there is our Vienna Central Cemetery where you can see where Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Salieri, Gluck and the Johann Strauss family are buried. Also there is the St. Marx Cemetery where Mozart is buried.

So I highly recommend a visit to Vienna and if you do choose to come here, let me know and I would be more than happy to take you around to any of the famous composer sights you wish to see.

[pjme]

The possibilities are enormous. So, your choice depends also a bit on your tastes and finances. Vienna is -even without music!- worth a visit. You could travel by boat on the Danube to Budapest...eventually Bratislava.
During the summer months however, you could travel from the Flanders' Festival ( Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels - lots of old music & Baroque, many Big orchestras & famous soloists) to the Holland Festival ( Amsterdam) , visit plenty of French and Italian cities that offer art & music in equal amounts....At this moment not all programs are available yet.
I visited Dresden and Berlin a couple of times and would ( will) go back any time. More than Paris, Berlin seems to be the most vibrant European capital at this moment. My last visit of London ( don't forget the Proms) was exiting, but the traffic and sheer buoyancy of the city centre proved to be very tiring and almost intimidating.
Prague & Brno is a good combination aswell - the Czech republic is lovely in summer!
If money is no problem; Tuscany is wonderful : see Philippe Herreweghe & friends at work at the "Crete Senesi" festival ( held in small churches).
Idem : Luzern/Switzerland and its Festwochen .
Ah, I forgot the Nordic countries.....and Athens!

I'll look for some Low Countries program/festival/details later today.

Bratislava's Hot summer of culture
http://visit.bratislava.sk/en/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=700014&id=1149&p1=2511

Bruges Musica Antiqua ( Mafestival)
http://www.mafestival.be/index.php?taal=en

Holland Festival
http://www.hollandfestival.nl/page.ocl?pageID=71

Le crete senesi
http://www.accademiadellecrete.com/en/editoriaal/

[Coopmv]

Eisenach is quite an interestng place, as JS Bach was born there and Martin Luther lived there for a period of time as well ...