Munich - the Music Metropolis

Few cities in the world offer so many star-studded classical concerts every evening - and few cities have so many internationally renowned conductors as the Bavarian capital. Munich's music scene throbs to the batons of Christian Thieleman, Zubin Mehta and Mariss Jansons, and it thrives through concerts of new music and chamber music, piano recitals and open-air events highlighting operas or symphonies. The city where Mozart would have liked to be court conductor and where Richard Wagner had some of his greatest triumphs, has started the third millennium with a musical agenda that other cities can only dream of.

On average, an audience of some 15,000 attends a musical performance each day. This means more concertgoers in one week than the spectators of a single top-notch Champions League or Bundesliga soccer game.

The mecca of superstars and operatic diversity

World-class conductors compete with each other at the head of the city's three most famous orchestras. Christian Thielemann is General Music Director of the Munich Philharmonic and is one of the most sought-after conductors in the world.

Since the season 2006/2007 began, the American Kent Nagano has been the director of the Bavarian State Orchestra (of the orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera). Nagano has gained an outstanding international reputation as conductor of several 20th century operas between Lyon and Salzburg.

Latvian conductor Mariss Jansons has given a new direction to the Symphony Orchestra of the Bayerischer Rund- funk. In a recent survey carried out by the British trade journal “Gramophone" among the most renowned international music critics, the orchestra was awarded sixth place. This makes it the only radio orchestra in the world to have made it to the Top 10. In 2006, Jansons and the Orchestra received a Grammy Award for a Shostakovich recording.

Thielemann, Nagano, Jansons: like their predecessors, these first-rate conductors attract music lovers from Munich and around the world.

Since the mid-1990s, the Munich Chamber Orchestra has acquired a distinctive profile. Under the direction of Alexander Liebreich, the ensemble presents a daring program between classical and contemporary music. The Munchner Symphoniker is now under the direction of Georg Schmohe.

Miiller'sches Volksbad

A rare sight, the public Muller Baths built in the Jugendstil style were the most modern of their time.

Rosenheimerstrafie 1, 81667 Munich Tel. 0180-796223

S1-8, tram 171 sartor

daily 9am-11pm, Ladies' days: Tue 9am-11pm, Fri 9am-3pm

Volkssternwarte

Munich's astronomical observatory was built in 1947. It organizes regular con-ferences, guided tours for children, and observation evenings.

IsarfloRfahrten

Riding a raft on the River Isar is, and always has been, a true Bavarian "Mordsgaudi" - in plain English, "great fun". In other words, it's a wet and wild day trip to the accompaniment of lively music.

Booking in all travel agencies www. Wolfratshausen, de S7 Wolfratshausen April to September

Party celebrations With the tram

Why not organize your next party in one of Munich's trams? Celebrate a festive event with the food and beverages of your choice, for example, with a Bavarian or Mediterranean flair. Our friendly team aims to please, and can provide live music or an exciting guided tour! This is ideal for groups of 20 to 200 people, and a favorite for family parties and weddings, but also for company events and incentives.

Zaubertheater Miinchen

The Munich Magic Theater is Germany's first close-up theater. Here, the magician sits with the audience at the Magic Table: up to 35 spectactors can attend one of the exclusive shows. Everything happens before your very eyes, and you can examine every prop and watch the magician perform his tricks from every angle.