Follow In The Footsteps Of Germany’s Classical Music Superstars

If you are in search of classical music in Germany, you won’t have to look very far. My country has bred some of the most famous composers in the history of the world.

Everyone knows the names, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner. Let their music be your soundtrack as you visit the old haunts of these legendary musicians.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus may have been born in Salzburg — once part of Germany, but today found inside Austria’s borders — but he is still embraced by us Germans. Cue up Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, one of his most signature pieces as you tour around Germany.

For an authentic German-Mozart experience, visit Munich, where he wrote his opera La finta giardiniera.

The Mozart family also spent a lot of time in the Swabian city of Augsburg. Explore the Mozart House, home of the great composer’s father, which showcases many exhibits about the life of the world-famous Wolfgang.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is another native son of Germany, and undoubtedly one of the most loved and respected composers the world has ever seen. Listen to his instantly-recognizable Für Elise as you board a train to his old stomping grounds, the city of Bonn.

Bonn was Beethoven’s birthplace and hometown. Guests here can have a chance to see how the great composer lived with a visit to his house — the Beethoven Haus on Bonngasse — an essential stop for those seeking Beethoven’s legacy here. You can also view one of the theaters where he used to perform — like La Redoute.

The current Beethovenhalle is the third incarnation of a concert hall dedicated to him. It is well-known for its excellent acoustics and is regarded as an important piece of Bonn’s cultural history. Currently, it is the home to the Bonn Beethoven Orchestra and a venue for the annual event, Beethovenfest.

Johannes Sebastian Bach

While not as revered as his two heavyweight compatriots, Mozart and Beethoven, Johannes Sebastian Bach made his own impression on world classical music. His most famous piece, Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor, conjures visions of haunted houses, vampires and an assortment of nightmarish imagery.

With a trip to Leipzig, you can learn all about this famed composer. You should start with a visit to St. Thomas’s Church. These days, it is doubly famous as the home of the eponymous boys’ choir and because of their former cantor, none other than Bach himself. In fact it is thanks to Bach that the choir enjoys the international reputation it does today.

Each summer, the city hosts a tribute to their favorite son, the Bachfest. You can also learn more about his life and music at the Bach Museum. It is home to one of the world’s largest collections of research on Bach.

Richard Wagner

For a true appreciation of Richard Wagner, you must head to Bavaria. Wagner enjoyed the patronage and respect of the Mad King Ludwig II, and helped to inspire many of the king’s castles.

Scenes from Wagner’s operas, like Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, may be seen in many of these Bavarian palaces, most famously at Neuschwanstein Castle.

While Tannhäuser was the inspiration for many paintings, many people will be most familiar with Wagner’s epic piece, Ride of the Valkyries.

—Marcus