Celebrity struts at Salzburg

Those who read only official festival programmes don’t know what they’re missing. Next Wednesday, at that fancy hostelry the Goldener Hirsch, the true spirit of the modern Salzburg Festival will be celebrated by a display of Montblanc’s ‘new fine jewellery’.
Montblanc is a leading and ‘exclusive’ sponsor of the Salzburg Festival (see press release below). It is involved with a special tribute to Max Reinhardt, the idealistic founder.
The guest of honour at the Hirsch will be Jerry Hall, sometime supermodel and rockstar moll. What Ms Hall has to do with Max Reinhardt is some way beyond satire.
I am rather glad to be missing Salzburg this year.

Montblanc still exclusive project sponsor
Contract renewed till 2011
Montblanc International has renewed its contract as sponsor of the Young Directors Project at the Salzburg Festival by five years until 2011. The company is expanding its commitment and will increase again the amount sponsored as from 2007. The agreement was signed at the beginning of the week by Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler, the Commercial Director Gerbert Schwaighofer and Lutz Bethge, the Managing Director of Montblanc International.
“Montblanc is continuing a project which it holds dear!”, was Lutz Bethge’s comment on the renewal of the contract. “We are looking forward to new and creative contributions from young, international theatre directors under the guidance of Theatre Director Thomas Oberender.” Helga Rabl-Stadler especially appreciates the cooperation with Montblanc: “If you want to describe the ideal sponsor in one word, then it’s Montblanc. That company creates and lives culture in the widest sense of the word.”
Montblanc has been exclusive project sponsor partner of the Salzburg Festival since 2002: Jürgen Flimm, the designated Festival Director and at the time Theatre Director, convinced the company to support the Young Directors Project. His successor Thomas Oberender, who will be responsible for theatrical productions as from 2007, now enjoys the advantages of this sponsorship. “I’m looking forward to the long-term prospect of an exceptional competition such as the Young Directors Project”, says Oberender. “The signing of the contract gives our work a sure and – thanks to the sponsor Montblanc – a
generously funded foundation until the year 2011. The Young Directors Project will present in the coming years innovative theatre from all over the world as a festival-in-festival.”
In addition to the agreed sponsorship amount, Montblanc will donate – as in previous years – part of the sales revenues from the Special Edition “Hommage à Max Reinhardt” to this exciting theatre project.