Style Edit: Salzburg Festival presents the world’s best classical musicians, while Rolex celebrates tomorrow’s talents
Cecilia Bartoli and Benjamin Bernheim are among the Rolex Testimonees who enthralled audiences in Mozart’s birthplace this summer
For more than a century, some of the world’s most celebrated musical talents have gathered in Salzburg in the summer months of July and August to put on a sensational selection of performances. The event: the Salzburg Festival.
Each year, classical music enthusiasts from around the world gather in the picturesque Austrian town for a chance to see maestros and divas perform. Artists congregate at the renowned festival each year to celebrate their respective craft, from opera to musicals, and spanning the spectrum from classical to modern fare.
Best known as the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg is home to a beautiful Baroque old city centre; the Mirabell Palace and Garden where the iconic Julie Andrews film The Sound of Music was set; as well as Europe’s oldest restaurant.
Together with the festival, these cultural gems make the town one of the most storied sites in the region. The Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative has been in motion for more than half a century, injecting energy and lending support to various artistic pursuits and events in the fields of cinema, dance, literature, theatre and architecture, among other disciplines.
The initiative is a patron of prestigious music and performance art organisations, including London’s Royal Opera and Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
