Rolex and the Opera

.Arts.
Rolex named its first arts testimonee, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, in the 1970s and has since been inextricably tied to the world of opera. The list of testimonees has grown to include such greats as Plácido Domingo, Cecilia Bartoli and Jonas Kaufmann since then and the watchmaker has also become the official timepiece of many of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. 

Plácido Domingo in Simon Boccanegra, at The Royal Opera House in 2010 (photo: Rolex/Catherine Ashmore)
Teatro alla Scala has been one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world for over 200 years, setting the stage for memorable performances from some of the most gifted operatic talents of all time. It has hosted the premier of many famous operas in its lifetime, including Verdi's Otella and Falsta, Bellini's Norma and Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Plácido Domingo gave a memorable Otello performance there and Cecilia Bartoli has also graced the stage of La Scala.

Rolex is also official timepiece of the Royal Opera House in London. The photo above shows Domingo in Simon Boccanegra at the Royal Opera in 2010. Rolex is also the official timepiece for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the Ópera National de Paris. The watchmaker is Exclusive Partner of the New Year's and Summer Night Concerts at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The New Year's Eve concert celebration is shown in the beautiful photo below.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, New Year's Concert (photo: Alamy images)
Other notable arts testimonees include tenor Juan Diego Flóres, bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and Rolando Villazón. Rolex is also Main Sponsor of the Salzburg Festival, featuring 180 classical and contemporary performances that include opera and drama. The festival is known for introducing new works onto the international music scene. I have embedded the trailer for the 2016 festival, which is currently under way. For more information on Rolex and its ties to the arts, visit the arts and culture section of rolex.com.


The Metropolitan Opera in New York City

.Arts.
The largest classical music organization in North America, The Metropolitan Opera saw its first season in 1883. After the industrial revolution created a large number of newly wealthy families in the late nineteenth century, The Academy of Music refused to allow them to purchases boxes for their performances. This inspired families like the Roosevelts and the Vanderbilts, who were considered 'new money' at the time, to band together and create what we now know as The Met.

Photo of The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City (photo: Rolex/Ambroise Tézenas)
The Metropolitan Opera in New York City (photo: Rolex/Ambroise Tézenas)
The original building, or 'Old Met' as it is often called, was located on 39th and Broadway. It wasn't until 1966 that The Metropolitan Opera House moved to its current location at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The Met presents up to 27 performances in a season featuring classical works from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as more modern and minimalist presentations. Many of the greatest opera singers have performed on their stage, including Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti and Jonas Kaufmann.

In September of 1999, Rolex Testimonee Plácido Domingo set the record for the most opening night performances with his 18th appearance on the stage. The tenor, baritone and conductor has been an Arts Testimonee since 1982. Rolex has been the official timepiece of The Metropolitan Opera since August of 2011.

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