Highlights of the arts calendar
Rolex fosters excellence in the arts through its support for major events on the international arts calendar. These treasured occasions – the annual Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert, the Summer Night Concert and the Salzburg and Whitsun festivals – take place in Austria, which has a rich history as a cradle of classical music.
Founded in 1920, the Salzburg Festival has established itself as one of the most prestigious of its kind, an event where the city itself becomes a stage. Its broad artistic programme brings together the world’s best conductors, stage directors, singers, musicians, actors and orchestras for incomparable performances in opera, drama and concerts. Rolex has been proud to be Main Sponsor of the Festival since 2012.
Rolex believes in quality and it believes in things that stay with us, and classical music is something that stays with us.
The Salzburg Whitsun Festival features an impressive repertoire of operas and concerts over the Whitsun week. This musical celebration is led by world-famous mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, who has been a Rolex Testimonee since 1994. Rolex has been Exclusive Sponsor of the Whitsun Festival since 2012 as part of its long-standing commitment to artistic development worldwide.
For more than 80 years, the annual Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert, performed on the morning of 1 January, has mesmerized audiences with its sheer beauty and brilliance. The concert is traditionally a showcase for the music of Johann Strauss, his family and contemporaries. Millions of people in more than 90 countries are able to enjoy the music, which is broadcast live from Vienna’s Musikverein. Rolex has been Exclusive Partner of this prestigious orchestra since 2008 and, since January 2009, the Exclusive Sponsor of the New Year’s Concert.
Every year, in May or June, 100,000 people gather in the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, Vienna, for the Vienna Philharmonic’s greatly anticipated Summer Night Concert. This renowned open-air performance has been presented by Rolex annually since 2009. It marks the brand’s partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic, one of the world’s finest musical institutions, and its commitment to making classical music accessible to all.