Lots of celebrities

Kick-off: Let the Whitsun Festival begin

Gallery owner Thaddaeus Ropac was accompanied by Louise Blouin, Ariane Dandois and Pierre Pelegry (from left to right).(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

The premiere of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival once again attracted many celebrities to the city of Mozart on Friday. The opera "La Clemenza di Tito" opened the four-day classical music festival.

The Whitsun Festival is regarded by classical music lovers as a dress rehearsal - for the "big" festival from July. For the ladies and gentlemen of high society, it was therefore a case of practising the show on Friday evening for the summer.

Elisabeth Princess von Auersperg-Breunner(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

Festival President Kristina Hammer with husband Christoph(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

The sons of painter Georg Baselitz: Anton Kern and Daniel Blau (from left)(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

This art quartet is already a perfect fit: gallery owner Thaddaeus Ropac, Louise Blouin, Ariane Dandois and Pierre Pelegry. As a regular festival guest, Ropac noted during the interval after the first half: "It's rare that an opera can be translated into modernity in this way. But here with 'La Clemenza di Tito' it has succeeded, I like it".

Elisabeth Princess von Auersperg-Breunner also presented herself as modern - in fashion terms - with a richly embroidered dress. Festival President Kristina Hammer opted for color, Baroness Eva-Mariavon Schilgen wrapped herself in a creation by German designer Susanne Wiebe. Not even the typical Salzburg rain could harm them.